\S 


^.V' 


^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


11.25 


£f  |£°    12.0 


■lUU 

■  1.8 

U  11.6 


FhotograiJiic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


A. 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTIR,N.Y.  14StO 

(71«)«72-4S03 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICiVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian^  fnttitut*  for  HittorJcal  Microraproductions  /  Inatitut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


Tachnioal  and  Bibliograpliie  NotM/NotM  taehniquM  at  bibliographiquM 


Th«  Inatitut*  haa  anamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  wliicli  may  ba  MbiiographieaHy  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  ehanga 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chaekad  balow. 


L'InatitHt  a  microfilm*  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lul  a  it*  poaalbia  da  aa  procurar.  Laa  d*taila 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua,  qui  pauvant  modif  iar 
una  imaga  raproduita.  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
mo<Nfleation  dana  la  mithoda  normaia  da  filmaga 
aont  indlquAa  ci'daaaoua. 


Thd 

pc 
of 
filn 


□   Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  ooulaur 

□   Covara  damagad/ 
Couvartura  andommagAa 

□   Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raatauria  at/ou  pallicuMa 

□   Covar  titia  mlaaing/ 
La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

r~n   Colourad  mapa/ 


D 
D 

D 


0 


D 


Cartaa  g4ographiquaa  mn  coulaur 

Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  biua  or  black)/ 
Enera  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noiral 


Colourad  piataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 
Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  mn  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Rail*  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


yi   Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
'    along  intarior  margin/ 
Larcliura  aarria  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
dialoraion  la  kHig  da  la  marga  intirioura 


[2( 


Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaalbia,  thaaa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  sa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajoutiaa 
lora  d'una  raatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
maia,  loraqua  cala  Atait  poaalbia,  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  4t*  f  llmAaa. 


D 


D 

D 


Colourad  pagaa/ 
Pagaa  da  coulaur 


□  Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagAaa 

□   Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Pagaa  raataurAaa  at/ou  paliicuiAaa 


..   Pagaa  diacoiourad,  ttainad  or  foxad/ 
^   Pagaa  dicoloriaa.  tachatiaa  ou  piquiaa 


Ori 

b«( 

tha 

aio 

oth 

fira 

aioi 

or 


r~n   Pagaa  datachad/ 


Pagaa  d*tach4aa 

Showthroughy 
Tranaparanca 


Fyl   Showthrough/ 


r~~|   Quality  of  print  variaa/ 


Quaiiti  inAgala  da  I'impraaaion 

Includaa  aupplamantary  matarial/ 
Comprand  du  matirial  auppMmantaira 


Tha 
aha 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
diff 
anti 
bag 
righ 
raqi 
mat 


Only  adition  availabia/ 
Savia  Mition  diaponibia 

Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  arrata 
alipa.  tiaauaa,  ate  hava  baan  rafilmad  to 
anaura  tha  baat  poaalbia  imaga/ 
Laa  pagaa  totalamant  ou  partiallamant 
obacurciaa  par  un  fauillat  d'arrata.  una  palure. 
ate.  ont  At  A  film  Aaa  A  nouvaau  da  fapon  A 
obtanir  la  maillaura  imaga  poaalbia. 


Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  aupplAmantairaa.- 


WrinkM  pagH  may  film  slightly  out  of  foeu*. 


Thia  itam  ia  f  ilmad  at  tha  raduction  ratio  chaekad  balow/ 

Ca  document  aat  filmA  au  taux  da  rAduction  indiquA  ci-daaaoua. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

MX 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


aox 


a4x 


28X 


32X 


TiM  copy  fllmMl  hw  hM  bMn  raproduecd  thanks 
to  ttM  gwMroalty  of : 

U  BIMiollikiiM  <to  la  VHI*  di  MontiM 


L'oxMnptalro  fllniA  f ut  raproduit  grioo  A  to 
gAndroaM  do: 

La  BIMhMMqM  d»  la  ViMt  d«  MontrM 


Tho  imasoo  appoaring  hara  ara  tha 
possibto  eonaidaring  tha  condition 
of  tha  original  copy  and  In  Icaaping 
filming  contract  spacif  ications. 


quality 
toglMNty 
tha 


Laa  imagas  auivantaa  ont  4t4  raproduitas  avac  to 
plua  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  to  conditton  at 
da  to  nattatA  da  faxamptoira  fiini4.  at  mt 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fiimaga. 


Original  coplas  in  printsd  papar  covers  ara  filmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  llluatratad  impraa- 
ston,  or  tlw  back  covar  whan  appropriate.  All 
othar  original  coplas  ara  filmed  beginning  on  tlie 
first  page  with  e  printed  or  lliustratad  impres- 
sion, and  anding  on  tlie  tost  page  witl<  a  printed 
or  illustrated  Impreaston. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  eech  microficlie 
sImII  contain  the  aymbd  — »>  (maening  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  ▼  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemptoiree  originaux  dont  to  couverture  en 
pepier  est  ImprimAe  sent  film4s  en  commen^ant 
par  to  premier  ptot  et  en  terminant  soit  par  to 
damlAre  paga  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreesion  ou  dlHustration,  aoit  par  to  eecond 
ptot.  seton  to  caa.  Tous  lee  eutres  exemptoiree 
originaux  sent  f  iim4s  en  commen^nt  par  to 
premlAra  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreeaion  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
to  damlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  telto 
empreinte. 

Un  dee  symboles  suivanta  apparattra  sur  to 
derntore  imege  de  cheque  microficlie,  seion  le 
cas:  to  aymbola  -^'Signifle  "A  SUIVRE",  to 
symboto  ▼  signlfto  "FIN". 


■Maps,  ptotes,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  retios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ere  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hend  corner,  toft  to 
right  end  top  to  bottom,  ee  meny  fremes  aa 
required.  Ttie  following  diagrams  iilustrste  the 
method: 


l.es  certes,  piencltes,  tabiaeux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
fiimto  *  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  to  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
reproiduit  en  un  seui  clictiA,  ii  eet  film*  A  pertir 
de  I'engto  supArtour  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  lieut  en  bea,  en  prenant  to  nombra 
d'Images  nAcessaire.  Las  diagrammee  suhranta 
lllustrent  to  mAtliode. 


i 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

JT^ 


'^^MiM 


,   ^-J^fe,,'      ' 


€r  . 


mm. 


'*    -'rft'' 


a.ic 


/w^ 


i-t' ►'.«-„   .Jf., 


^^^F  ^*k 

^  /.i 

,*;,'- 

Kfevi^fe^' 

i£ 

4* 

Wj^^^r^ 

Ir' 

"  .,n 

fe     ■■ 

»* 

::  ,^y 

a ,.  *.^ 

1 

r  *     ' 

/ 

&'        / 

, 

*. 

K-    '^ 

■ "  '4' 

^^          'P  r^ 

■"-'?' 

%'. 

^          -?^^ » 

-</  xi^ 

.fV,     ' 

' '     -.A^ 

M^ 

.  "3  ' 

fSiyM  I7  t^«4a  S^f^^oi^r  1/4^6 


MlCAti 


M^A^iy 


#:-' 


.  I. 


"•\. 


No.  106,  WXT«».Syii«aT. 


»7f4 


rv, 

9       » 


SMSilC 

in 


moft 


'^^w,| 


.^-  '^  ^.  1 1-  5.  H 


>    ,^h'"< 


ii  t' 


•'•'*^'^^''^'^'  •<!?  t«^'> 


at-*?' 


A'^'^-JE^ 


t/;i  .■>  t:.<u  ,^t 


■•'UCJ 


^^U/' 


Ptf; 


fitwted  under* 


%n  widi  the  Aise^ 

^h  ^00^  place  |iri«r  to  t>^ 

N  ti»e  Itberfset  of^l|i  United 

,«n^ent  coipniM.of  ^a^into 

iVfit^^j'     i^  ^  /  O' '^^w  «  ftfWty  of  common* 

tS^^t  ^''"^  y4riv^tii„U  lifter  the  lf4kle.o? 
»ew  worid   huMt  fupp6rted  by  a  fy^em  of  «pine,  munUr 

^  «»¥  m  Amewcai  but.  in  Europe  and  Africi.      She  ha^ 
i^;^^"^  >"!f  ^'»«  ^  it.  for  herftrength,  commoS 

S^  S  oft"*"'  "^^^  "^  ^"^-^  -  ^ 
WP«W  Of  the  ^<^  of  the  new  continent.    With.  Gxf^u^^. 


r*^ 


j^  MM  1^4^^,     ♦ 


epoch  of  M' 
her  luttonkl 
^^,>i|*j(k  de 


coQknmce  witl| 
laded  to  hCf  lii|' 


.Jl^hiM)^  of  IM  rryoliiMpni  tHe  sufluenfa  of  Anwilkt     ' 

vhiph  the  Unii^  5ti^  A#Wt  •«»*  ^^  w^Mtm  to  whsfb 
that  «i^«^«yf#yiii  ^A^^^  «l^  *(i^  '^'^  manl^md  firea|      \ 
that  ftile  ^m^MSf  M  <k|nd«tifl)<lt  IQ  W^^ifh  defputtfia,    /;,; 

^iy  fuperwSMpfci  funi  them ;  fcoipi  thiil  period  th«  r\0fB^  ;^^ 
be^m  to-<^iMftbda/  eii^  Hie  ftiii^^^  ^¥S  9^  ■^■ 

,J^  liberty%jPl^ti  tten^^  ^tb>  fice^  hel^(«  im-     ^ 
i2Ll|«ndtli^fiNhi^  hM  cgtewMi^r^f  fi^  ^  |p^«^ 
t6-3£|kttiMf  iiripi^.^  rtvd^vaSott  m  ihe^  UteJhtitHh  Ai^et 

m^^^'&i^^^*^^  f^lonie*  on  thtlf  «<^itl^t,  hd| 

JWe  h«^  ^Iwlis^^  «  HrtfH«  Hiti^  tifUd  *»r  ^  »»«^  ^ 
Icnglit  l«r  tht  owf»  «f  ffoidKA  itod<r  W«<bti^|^  fl«^Uii( 
lilsiMw  his^lefrk  M  h<^^  *^d  ««  h«¥^  •fknrffed^ 
^iWd^t«KpMi»|  liiifrt?w««»»^He  (atmt  m  fh«  «o«»- 
fmnd  rf  •  pcopk  »pi»l«l  tf^  »  i»k  pf  thfir  i^ri«»  «ad  ri|^|i^ 
by  men  who  hid  aj^fted  m  eOablHhinpi  <A«  lftiii«»  of  AMtricif 
— Inr«fl?ain|  91*  th<^e, '(jpenea  as  ipdividiwl*,  vre  can  only  Ur 
nSent  the  want  of  tufcefs  W^^hia  ittfepdfed  the  former,  and 
it^tt  the  crimei  of  a^i>^Kpaa  «n|.rincipled  mdfviduala, 
Wiilch  Itave  certainty  tamlfhpfli  pot  M%e4,  tW  J^oiy  <4 
the  rcv6tut4n»  'flitch  has  aUefifeA  jptie  Uttpr.  ;The  |^nn  w^l, 
howev4  ere  long'  pats  iwiy,'  M  iftumi^|  peice  iir^^v»  Um 
other  nations  t>if  Europe  at  liberty  to  contem|>latc  withflpl^^- 
fficc,  not  only  their  own  fituation,  but  the  rc&urce$oif  Fi^Cft 
drawn  forth  into  aaion  und'er  the  irifluence  of  an  energ^i^^  go, 
vprnment,  founded  on  the  will  of  the  peopU,  and  adminiftered 
at  an  expenfc  far  lefs  than  what  the  penfioned  inmiona  of  it»  for« 
tocr  corrupt  f purt  alone  devoured.    Whenever  that  period  af. 
rives,  and  arrive  it  will,  it  needs  nOt  a  fpirit  ^f  infpir^ion  to 
aflfert,  that  (he  other  nations  of  Europe  mjift  fiibmit  to  a  tho- 
rough rtfotinatibn,  or  be  contcftt  to  behold  their  pomtnerce^  a|ri- 
iculttire,   and  ^population  decline.  ■ 


.'*» 


^m^Mw^^x 


hav* 


llNnMni  iaflueiue^  tndy^  Siiyitiiig  to  the  m, 
Mater,  the  meehanic,  aiid  the  indu^fi^  — ppp^*  normv* 
IbelSb  atom  found  the  y»itedL  Stat^  adyai^eoiis ;  the  oeascuted 
in  Fiance  or  IngUiid  fc«ve  there  |ou«dj«,^,^^^ 
^ivea,  property  and  libeit/  are  ftcurei  :||«|e  thc^  ^'      ^ 
1^  «i»ey^<*edpcafelromtroubUng,  liS  ^^ 

Kor  can  any  doubt  he  entertiined,  but  ^Mbort  peripd  jhe^ 
pf  fcienc^  aa  weH aa the  contertiphtive i5««p«.r;m^».i •  yLy^ 
Ibpher,  will  ^nd  the  fhom  of  Coiuinbia  e^Iy  rrfiiiil|S|^ 
lMrwi&«.    ^ducatkm  i.  litodtng  tpnh  ilM  illuminpt^i' „y,, 
and  Its  influence  on  the  ri^ng  |enenUo#  ^idd  th^, 
in  ail  their  ether  purfuitt,  ^\Si 

The  inhabitants  of  £utppe  are  not  TPj|flifi  .|  thei^  Cmmau 
ble  drpumftaniw.  ji*  chanps  of  civil  aijd  leligfotti  libeny  the 
advantages  of  an  e»ten^ve  and  fertile,  Wt  uncultivated  eoaatry, 
pf  an  in^reaftng  commerce^  un^aclded  and  un^icumbemi  by 
Navy  and  impoUtif  ^duties  imd  impofts,  Jiave  alteaity  i»^^ 
numbeia  to  leave  iu  bofcta-^nun^  which  the  i^JkuMf 
pcrfecutuw  and  Ihe  awlul  profpeftaof  intelMoe  ^viSm  or  alrfea 
ilavesy,  will  continue  tp  infreafo. 

ITie  attention  of  ^uropp  f^fenenil,  a|id  of  Ci^-Biitain  in 
partic^r^being  thus  d«a*^^e  new  world,  the  Editor^  ,fei» 
l^sh^'T"^  '^^^  „„dertoo|c  the  |.|k.  wlS^ 
he  hoperhe^a.  la^fotw!  dfegree  ac^mpH^ed  in  th*  fallowing  vo. ' 
fumes,  of  affording  his  countrymen  an  opportunity  pf  bcc^i„- 
'::;^lf^'^^'^^^^^^ntM  Europeans^the  .Z"s 
0iat  led  to  the  eftablifhment  and  independence  of  the  United 
§^tcs^.the  nature  of  their  |overnment...their  prefent  fituation 
M  advantages,  together  with  their  future  profpefts  in  commerce, 
nunufafturcs  and  agricultmr.  Tliis  formed  the  principd  defign 
of  the  work  i  but  he  farther  wiihed  with  this  to  conneft  a  gofc- 
?alv,ewof  the  fituation  of  th6  remaining  European  pofleffions 
in  America  and  the  Weft-India  iflands;  this  has  been  therefore 
?ttcm|»ted,  and  nearly  a  volume  is  dedicated  alone  to  this  fubjeft 


Tti  thi  <^ii  il' 


t<         <  -1  -    1 


rR'/; 


£••1,;  .  V 


i     'J 


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'"'■■1: 


|«!^' 


■»;■. 


VOL.    I. 


■;>*,•>• 


-^„ 


« 


) 


A'«, 


t,y 


■V-. 


M 


mK 


« 


.<4»'; 


.■"#?' 


-  St 


inhabited* 

continent  .i 
but  the 


'the 


i^iltany,  thttiheeni 

Jif  •  »eW  itNirM J  ind  fevend  11...,,.^. 

'witlott  of  thi.  opinion.    Int^o^ 
.       ,        AriftoUe,  we  are  tdd  thtl  t       ^ 
rmifkad ftr  be)roiU  the  pilUri  of 
My  witered  with  navigable  riv. 
.«iwrf  WM  diilani  i  jfe^  diye  i^fa», 
iMml^  induced  the  difcoveim  to  fttO*  ■ 
^tAlJff^Mged  the  colony,  «riWd  i^ 
m  (ub|eai  of  the  ftate  not  to  attempt  1^1 
Thia  tceount  ii  aM^eonfoaieiiiy^l,    -* 
who  rdatea,  that  the  Trriina  iifmM 
the  new-difcov^^  iilaiid,  but  wem. 
niwia  tdr    ftate  r^afonts    Senkca, 
quoted  la  fupport  oRthia  bcUeli  '*«i>iPi 
mkody  ever  believed  the  e)ii<lence«f '^ 
ij^Jn  Sueft  of.  it;  al  leail  theie  ai«  no.«ce(|Mi|| 
|oite<l_|ittt  America  i«ceived  any  part  o#  ita  firft 
»W  Eiwope  prior  to  the  1  jth  centuiy.    111,1  Weip 
«n»ifin»,  that. their  country  contribut«id,  in   ii^oi  t^  mm^m 
^^^!u^  ^  '»»  «Khrent«re  of  Madoc.^fWrf^y 
Gwynedd,  w|«von  the  death  ^f  hi.  father/ fcilcd  theiTS^ 
tolomwdpartdftJwcoutaiy,    AU  ^hat  ia  advanced r^Sf" 
«S  a  i^uotaCion  AfMi  one  of  the  Britifti  J^oeta,  wbfch^  ^mw^M 

t:2fftfri  '^'  ^^^  '^*  ^*»"'  thal<&Jing.M^2 
*^I«kndfo  far  to  the  North,  that  he  caae tlTlaad  J^! 
gj^here^he  iaw  many  ftrange  thing,,   that  h^  momed 
*««^^  making  a  report  of  the  fruitfulncfi  of  the  new- 
wwed  founl^,  pievailed  on  numbera  of  the  Welfli  0$ 
«^  to  accomjHmy  him  on  a  fecond  voyage,  from  Which  h^| 

Wdft  worda»  fueh  aa  gwrando,  «to  hearken  or  lifteni 
.fle  of  C«*A  or  «  wefc^e,"  Cape  Breton,  from  the  nem^ 
B^;^jy»«rf«^  oj  "the  wWte  watcr-and^,^^      «^ 
bird  witha  wke  head;"  are  to  be  found  in^Vhe  AaeriSn 

■"    ,     ■       :  A-      •• 


,^  .p' fiirllr^t^  in  a  ^W  .ifeiy  1^  Wl^ 

lui^cntito  eftablifti^he  faft;  dpecially  if  the 

n  cvidiiiUjr^rycrtea:   for  example,  the  Whole 

have  urvfoftttnately  not  oiiiy  black  hc»ds,  but  ■M 

itants  of  the  ^Northern  hcmifphcrci,  the.  name  WiM 

cd  on   thera  by  the    Dutch,  r  jinguedine^  fronf'thteir 

ve  fatneft:    but   the  invcntcr  of  thji,  thinking  t6 

tOr  |hii(  ooiliitiy,  inconfideratcly  caught  at  a  iVwrd 

liig^iij  aii:cl  unhcjkrd  of  in  the  New  World.     It 

t^  the   WeMh   were  never  4  naval  people}    thai? 

tjpeiti  which  MadoC  UiVed  was  peculiarly  ignorant  in  navP 

tion ;    and  the  mpfil  jWhi^h  they  could  have  attempted  mu|t 


j*oyage.»  ' 

inpDr  X  ihare  ci  the  ^ory,  on  grouAdar 


,-*«%, 


have  been  a  mctt  cc 
The  Norwegian* 

r  better  thah  the  lifcUh*     By  tlieir  fettlethents  in  Iceliand 

enlaiU^IMpJud  arrived  within  fo  finall  a  diftance  of 

Ne%;r  World,  ^St  there  is  at  leaft  a  pofiibility  of  iU  havm|g 

pebple  fo  veirfed  in  mariJtiniB  affiitrs^  aii^ 

iif  jBlNiii^''^^i^'^-'liii  iH^ient  Normanai'  were.'  .  The  .proofs  ara 

ih  thofe  produced  by'  the  Britifiir 
ivbry  is  n&ian«raned  in  feveral  of  the 
11^;  The  period  was  about  the  year  i6o'2« 
<|^lfliti'!^RI  vlfited;^b>y  one  Biorb;  arid  the  difcb\  sry  pdrlited 
;leil|f  tft^St  by'  Leif,  the  fi>a  of  Enc,;  the.  ^feoverer  ef 
'^  nd.  a  ,does  not  appear  that  thc^  reached  fat  Cher  than 
o^  which  coaft  they  met  With  the  £f(^imaUx,  od' 
;<iltn  t%fey  befiowed  \he  name  iii  SAraeUrigtieSj  or  dWkrfiflt 
le,'  fFoMv  their  fhiall  Aature.  They  were  armed  with  bows 
vtr&i/ftf  and  had  leathern  canoes^  fueh  as  they  have  at  p]*efentt« 
lit'  t^is  is  probaB>fe ;  nor  ihotdd  the  tale  of  die  German^  tailed' 
'TVclz/^  oqebf  tlie  erew,  invalidate  t^e  account.  He  was  one 
iilaymiffir^;  buit  Toon  returned^  leapifclg  and  fmging  with  ^' 
4kt  <ixttava§aht  marks  of  joy  a  bon  vinakt  could  ftibw,  on  dlfco-' 
Vering  the  inebriating  fruit  of  his  countty,  the  grape :  Torfieuir 
even  lays,  that  he  returned  in  a  idats  of  intoxication,  "^o  con- 
l^ce  his  commander,  he  brought  fev6ral  Punches,  whb  fnnh 
t^  circuinftance  mnted  that  country  rtnfo>Mf.  It  is  not  to  be 
dfetiied^ that  North  America  produces  the^ true  vine;  tut  it  ib 
fouhd'  in  far  lower  latitudes  than  our  adventure's  could  reaclit 
']^  the  time  employed  in  their  voyages,  Which'  was  ^cdmprt- 
l^ded    its   a  very   fmall   fpace.      T^ere  appears   no  reafoh 


*  If  ^he  reaA;r,  hoWever,  wifltiei  to  examUw.thlf^ttrioiu  queftidn  fttU  ftfibcif^ 
be  will  meet  with  all  that  ean  be  faid  utton  the  fu^jeft,  in  Williams'*  M»fuifyt 
nUt  Ike  ttulh  oj  tht  tradilunt  conctrning  tkiDifi0Hrf  tf  Amrka  ty  PriMt  Utubg.  S^ttv 
*»Sce  alfo  Im  lay 'i  Aecwnt  of  /SmfbcAjf,  page  377,  ad  Edit. 


^^H 

^^V            '^1^ 

, 

^^n^'^ 

1 

m.^i 

■^Klk 

^Hkt-. 

I^Hk 

^^KHiikiiv 

^H 

^^^Hffiri^ 

B 

^H|^^|i 

^H^i 

^Kt^-Y  i 

'^i 


eS^i 


are 


tSi 


m-. 


idrlilted 

CTcr  c^ 

»  than 

lUix,  oil' 
irfiflt 

;h  bow» 
>refent* 
talM' 
as  oiict 
ith  all 
difco- 
orfeuiF  , 
'o  con- 
to   fifOlw 
it  to  bie 
ut  it  i* 
Id  reach 

realon 


$0  doubt  of  the  difcovery;  but  aa  the  land  waii 


m 


^^ponsized    nor    any   advantages  madis^  it,    it   may 
g^onjeft  that    they    reached   no    farther  than  thfebatytSiV: 

\  ^country  of   Labradon      Ii;t   Ihort^   it  is   from  a  tauch  lat^ 
'     'liSodthat  we  muft  date  the  real   difcovery  of  America*?> 
Tov^arda  ^the  clofe  of*  the  i^th  century,  the  navigation  of  EW* 
'fCMWB  ynp  fcarceily  exjCendied  beyond  the  limits  of  ffkc  Mediteitttf' 
lieui,  ^  TKe  marinter's  compalsihad  been  invented  and  in  com- 
jnjpn  uCe  for  more  than  a   century;  yet  with  the  help  of  tbif 
il^re  guide,  prompted  by  the  mdft  ardent "IjfHrit  pf  difcc(very, 
"^imd  encouraged  by  the  patronage  of  ^^nces;  the  maruiers'of 
'fhofe  days  rarely  ventured  from  the  'light 'of'  land.      Thty 
acquired  great  applaufe  by  failing  ajoing  iHi  coafl  of  Africa  afld 
jdifcoyeruig    fonie    of   the    netghbouriiig^  iilands ;    and   aftti* 
pufhing  ^heir  refearpheS  ^ith'tl^  |iNi||efl  induftry  and  per^ 
Severance    for    more   thap    half  a   century,    the    Portuguc^ 
9vho    were   the    moft  fortunate    and  'ie#j;<|rpriring^   extendicl 
their'  dificoveries  Southward  no  fairther*f%4iai^lthe  equator.       >  ^ 
The  rich  commodities  of   the  'B»SL'  \»ii$  for  iever^  agtf 
|)een  brought  into  Europe  vby  the  yf9ll^^-^:.iCo^L0tM  an4 
'^:hc  Mediterranean;    and   it  '  had  '"n<ni':il||i|Bine'''''|h<l"  '''"'*''''  "  '  * 
the  t*ortyguefe  to  Hnd  a  paflage  to 
the  Southern  extremity  of  Africa  and  tli^^ 
ticm  courfe.     This  great  obje^  engaged  the  gexleraf^^i^tiOKr 
ti   mankind,  and  drew   ipto  the  Portuguefc  ferVice   sdV6n* 
turers  f|:<mi  every  maritime  nation  in    Europe.     Every.,  ■^jfef'- 
a£ied    to    their    experience    in    navigation,   and   feeaKv!j|lQ). 
prcmufe  a  reward  to  their  induftry.     The  profpod:,  IhIm^v^^ 
pf  arriving  at  the  Indies  was  extremely  diftuit ;  ^^ty  yttir^ 
perfeverance  }n  the  fame  track,  l^id  brought  them  only  ■km 
|he  equator,  dad  i^  was  probable  that  as  iinny  moi'e  woullf 
elapfi 'before  they  could  accomplifh  their  purpofe^  ^^9^1 
CbivMvus,  by   an    i^ncoimnon   ei^ertion   of  genius,   fonbe# 
a  deugn  no  lefs  aQoniihinjg  tp  th^  age  in  ii^hich  he '  liv^ 
|han  Deneficial  to  pofterity,  * 

Among  the  foi-e^gners  whom  the  fame  of  the  diffrdveriea^ 
Ifiaae  by  the  I'ortuguefe  had  allured  into  their  fervice^ 
was  Chriftopher  Colon  or "  Columbus,  a  fubje^  of  the  H* 
public  of  Cenoa»  Neither  the  time  nor  place  of  his  hWth 
are   kno^yn   with    certainty;    but  he    wm   defcended  of  4n 

,  t,  la  Uie  ad  VoUof  the  Tranfa£Uon^  qf  the  Philofophtcal  Society,  at  PhilMel^ 

.Bl^a,Jl^.  6tto,  in  a  AtoMir  im  lAei)^«wry^i4)iirric«,  ftrenuouily  cohtciM^t 

'  ihit  diie  kiBKM,  a  CernMA,  discovered  tiie  American  Continent  prior  to  ittbe- 

\ng  dtlittfveKd  by  CoLutiaii4.    For  the  ingenioiM  arguiacBU  in  lujppof  t  of  lhi| 


•ih/ 


M 


M'- 


fi"  t',  -^ 


Pm^VERY 


\M$RtCA, 


*■ 


li^pouriible  famllyi  though  reduced  to  indigence  by  y^B^u* 
miffortuQef,      Hi»   anccfton  having  betaken  themfelves  for 
fubfiftance  to. a  fea-faring  life,   Columbus  difcove^ed,  in  hii 
<arly  youth)  the  peculiar  f^ra£ker  and  talents  whi^h  mwfc 
out  a   man    for   that   profeflion.      His   parents,    infltesui  of  v^'^^ 
thwarting  this  opginal  propeufity  of  his  mind,  leem  to  hftye, ' 
(encouraged  and  congrmed  it,  by  the  education  which  thcj  '' 
gave    him.     Aftfr  scquiring   fofie.  l^noYrledge  of  the,  ^tin 
tongue,    the  only  language  in  yrhich  fcien^e  waf  tat^h|  i|^ 
that 'time,  he  yf^s^  inftrumd  in   geometry,  cofmog^p^^  d|i. 
tronomy,   and   th«    aJrC-  of  dra\ying.      To  thele  he  jippU^  , 
-with  fuch  ardour  49i4  jprediie^on,  on  account  of  their  cooo' 
ne^on  with    n%vi|Miisui,    his   f&vourite   objeft,    that  he  id'^  ' 
vanced  with  rapi4y^^|p|ciency  in  the  ftudy  of  thenu     Thu« 
qualified,  in  t(he  ^j^f   14I1*  he  went  to  lea   at  the   age  of 
fourteen,  and  Jbaigvi  h$s  career  on  tha(  element  which  ^on- 
duded  him  to  fo  Imuch  gloiy,      Hi^  early  voyages  were  \o 
thofe  ports  in  ^e  Nf editerranean  which  his  countrymen  the 
QenocA|s^,frcqu«ntd<jL  >/^T^     being  a  fphere  too  narrow  for 
hU(  a^l^Jldft^  J^^^^^        excuriion  to  the  northern  j|e«t, 
j^'^^ll^llittid'II^P^' ..the  coalls  of  Iceland,    to.  which  the  ' 
"^lllf^l^l^plplQil^^  lotions  had  begun  to  refort   on  account 
!of  ii^ji|wcy>     Af  i^avieation,  in  every  direflion,  was  now 
fbefon^^   ttn^erprifing,    he    pfpceeded   beyond  that  ifland,   the 
7hu^    of  the    ancients,  and  advanced,  Ibyeral  degrees  with<^ 
ill    tW   polar    circle.      Haying    fatisj^ed  hb   pi^riofity  by    a 
voyage  which  .tended  more  to  enlarge  his  kndwiled^-  qIT  na<- 
v^  a^rs^  than  to  improve  hi^  fortune,  he  entered  into  the 
•i  iiervici^    of  %   famous  fea-capjtain,   of  his  own  nune   and  fa- 
mily.    This  man  commanded  a  fina^  fi^uadron,  fitted  out   zi 
hi*   own   expence,    and   by   Fruifing    fometimes    agajuft   the 
'  iiahometans,  fometimes  againft  the;  Venetians,  the   rivals  of 
his  count^ry  ii>   tradcf  had   acquired   both   wealth  and  repu- 
tation.     With   him    Columbus   continued  for  feyer^  years, 
no  lefs  4i^ingui{hed  for  his  courag?,  thai>   for  his  ek^rU 
cnce  as  \  failor.     At  length,  in  an  obllinate  engagement,  off 
ihe   coaft    of   Portugal,   with   fpme    Venetian   Caravels,   re- 
V^ttming  richly,  laden   ifpv^  the   Low  Countries,    the   veflel 
>.^  board  which  ((e   ferved  ^ook   fire,  together  wi^h  one  of 
the  enemy's  (hips,  to   which  it  was  fall  grappled.     In   this 
dreadful  extremity  his  intrepidity  and  prel'ence  of  mind -did 
not  foriake  him.     lie  threw  himfelf  into  the  fea,  laid,  hold 
(»f  a  floating  ear,  and  by  the  fupport  of  it,  and  his  dexterity  in 
Iwimming,  he  reached  the  fhore,   though  above  two  league j| 
diftant,  and  faved  a  life  referyed  for  great  undertakings. 


H^- 


2)ISC0VJtK7Mf  AMi 


r4^'    .  A*feol^a^  he  recovere4  ftrength  for  Uw  journey,  he  repaired 
jto  Lifbon,  where  imny  of  his  countrymjefi  were  fettled.    They 
foon  conceived  fueh  a  favourable  opinion  of  his  merit,  as  Well  its 
jtalents,  that  they  warmly  folicited  hifi^  to  remain  in  that  kiqg-  ^ 
dom,  where  his  naval  (kill  and  experience  could  not  fail  of 
re;idenDg  him  confpicuous.     To  every  adventurer,  animated 
either  with  curiofity  to  vifit  new  countries,  or  with  ambition 
jto  diftinguiih  hiipfelf,  thjB  Portuguefe  fervice  was  at  that  time 
extremely  inviting.     Columbiis  liftened  with  a  favorable  ear 
to  the  advice  of  his  friends^  and  having  gained  the  efteem  of  a 
Poirtuguefe  lady,   whom   hp   married,   fixed  his  refidence  in 
LilJaon.     This  alliance,  initead  of  detiching  him  from  a  fea- 
nring  life,    f:ontributed   to  enlarse   the  fphere  'of  his   naval 
Knowlec^e,  and  to  excite  a  deiire  of  extending  it  ftill  far- 
ther.   '  i^is'  wiiPe  was  a  daughter  of  Bartholomew  Pereftrello, 
one  of  the   captains  employed  by  Prinpe  Henry  in  his  ear- 
)y    navigations,   and  who,  under  his  prote&ion,   had  difcorj" 
vered  and  planted  the  iflands  of  Poito  Santo  and  Madeira. 
Columbus  got  poQieffion  of  the  jouri^9  p&d  diarts  ef  this 
experienced  nayigaibr,  and  from  thetai,^i^vne4:|$^  courfe 
which  the  Portuguefe'  had  held  in  ini|p^p:th«ii;  diCcpverifl 
as  well  as  the  various  circuml^nces  wlu^  guided  ^  encc 
raged  them  in  their  attempts. '  Tlie   S^ai^^'  thefe  footl 
and  inflamed  his   fayourite   pafi^on;   and  while   he  contea^ 
plated    the    map^,  and  read   the   defcriptions    of   the    n< 
countries   whi<:h    Pereftrello     ^ad    ^n,     his  impatience   to  ^ 
yifit  them  bepme   irrefilUblCr    In  order  to   indulge  it,,  HlP^ 
made   a  voyage   to   Madeira,    and  continued    during  feveral 
years  to  trade  with  that  ifland,  with  the  Canariel^  the  Azo^ 
res,  the  fettlements  in  Guinea,  and  all  the  other  ^ijplaces  which 
the  Portuguefe  had  difco^  ^red  oi^  the  continent  of  Afritia*^ 
Ely  the  experience  which  Columbus  acquired,  during  fui 
variety  of  voyages,  to  alinoft  every  jpart  of  the  globe  with  which, 
at  that  time,  an^  intercourfe  was  carried  on  by  fea^  he  waj)  no# 
become  one  of  the  moft  fkilful  navigators  in   £urope^     But, 
not  fatisfied  with  that   praife,   his   ambition,  aimed  at 
thing  mor^.     T^e  fuccefsful   progref^  of  the  Portuguefe  i|»vi 
gators  had  awakened  a  fpirit  of  cu'riolity  and  emulation,  whic 
fet  every  man  of  fcience  upon  examining   all  the  circumfiancc 
that  led  to  the  difcoveries  which  they  had  made,  or  that  ajFord<| 
ied  a  profpe£fc  of  fucceedihg  in  any  new  and  bolder  undi^r|a) 
ing.     The   mind  of  Columbus,   naturally  inquiiitive,  cat 
of  deep  reflection,  and  turned  to  fpeculations  of  this  kiitd» 
fo  often  employed  in  levolving  the  principles  upon  which 
Portuguefe  had  founded  their  fchemes  of  difcovery,   ao^^ths 


■f* 


pi^^qr^RrW4fili:^^(4. 


\ 


■V  ]|{|^e  m  iillhich  t)\ey  tu|d  csgriiied  the^.on,  that  he  gradually  l|egan 
IP  ^rm  ^  i^d^a  of  improving  upon  $heir  pUn,  and,of  ac^oipplilh- 
j^c  difcpyeries  w,h^c|i  hitherto  they  had  attejnpttqd  in  vain. 
'       To  ^n4  out  a  paiTase  by  fea  to  tl^e  ^afl  Indies,  was  the  g^eat 
,^je^  i|i  vieiAT  at  that  ^riod.     From  the  time  that  the  P^or^i. 
,    csusfe  doubled  Cape  de  Yerd,  this  was  the  point  at  which  they, 
,     j^ll^tefl  in  all  their  navigations,    and  in  fojmparifon  yrith  it,  jSX 
^Heir  ^i^cpve^ies  m  A/rica  apjpearcd  incqnnderabljB.     T^h.e  feV« 
,|ility  ,and  riches  of  Ipdia  1^  peon  knpwn  for  mapy  a^es  ;  iu 
(pices  ^d  o|l^y  yuluaole  cpmi|io^ities  were  in'  higb  requeft  > 
j^hroUjg^qut  Eu^pe,  t|pd  the  yaft  wealth  of  the  Venetians  artf* 
|ng  from  .their  hayiM  er^rpfled  this   trade,  had  raifed  the  ^nyy 
.^jTall  ijatjons,     ^i^t  how   intent  fpeyer  ^he  Portugi^efe  wei.nBv 
,^pop  4i^(pove^mg  a  new  route   to  thofe  defirable  rejuott^,  th^, 
^if;ar<;hed  :for  it  only  by  jfuering  towards  the  fbuth,  »j|i  hopes  of 
.arriyji^j^  at  Indja,  by  tit|i}ing  to'  the  eaft,  after  they  had  failed 
roi^idtl^e  fartber  extnc^ity  of  Africa.     This  cpurfewasftill 
unkncuvn,  and,  evchif  difcpvened,.>yas  of  liich  immenfe  length, 
■t^at  a  v,9yMe  f;irom|^i|ii^6pe  to  India  muft  l^ve  appeared)  at  that 
^enjod,  ig^  l^ndklii^  ofv.ery  uncertain 

.,|,ii^ue.    ;]|j^(»e  i^aafim^  a  ceiitury  }aA  beer|  employed  in  advan-^ 
§<4^ing  frain  J^^^  "^i^^  i^   thd,equator  ;  a  much  longer  fpace  of 
Jjygif^jl^t.eli^^  the  more'  extenfive  navigation  ^rom  that 

V,  to^India  iiouldjbe'tt^om^  Thefe  refte£):ipns  upon  (he  un- 

^\ffertain(y,  the   <Wcer  ,  afid  j<^(^o^fnefs  of  the  courle.  which  the 
.Fortugiyvefe  were  purfu^ng,  i^atui^Jy  led  Columbus  to  confider^ 
,i  Mrhetber  a  Ihorter   an^  more   direj^  p^flage  to  tbeE^fl  Indies 
jfni^bt  jipt  be  ^und  put.     After  ,  nevpjving  Ipngand  feripufly 
every  4;irC|jp^^9e  ^ugge^ed  by  his  fuperior  knowledge  in  the 
^'f.^^^Ty  if^^l^  »s  pra^i^e  of  navigation,  after  comparing  atten- 
tively tlie,  pi^Geryations  of  mpdern  pilots  with  the  hints  and  conr 
jf^res  i^f  #iM;ient  authors,  he  at  jlift  concluded,  that  by  f^iluig 
^lee^i^y.tpyr^r^Jthe  weft,  acrofs  (be  A^^lantic  ocean,^new  coun-' 
/.tdes,  .^bich  .prpbably  formed  a  part  of  the  great  cpiuini^nt  of 

..India,  inu,f^i^fal^bly^difi^o>^r«4. 

1  ^^Princip|es  ^and  arguments,  of  various  kinds,  an4  di;nyf:d  from 
'  c^j^K^nt  fpurces,  induced  him  ^o  .adppt  this  ppinion,  feemujgly 
.as  ^himrrifal  as  it  was  new  apd ^tr^ordinary.     The .(phen(^al 
.figuie  of  the  pairth  was  known,  and  its  magnitude  afcertained 
,  yitdx  fomc  degree  pf  accuracy.     From  this  ,it  was  evident,  that 
.  jtbe  cpntinentft  of  iEurppe,  A^.and  Africa,  a$  far  as  they  yere 
^^l^pwn.at  ihat  time,  ^rxned  but  a  final!  portion  of  the,ter^aq^je- 
l^'C<|!ju-globe,      It  was  a  fuitable    idea   concerning  the   wiit^om 
jind  beneficience   of  the  Author  of  Nature,  to  believe  t^at  tbo, 
yaft  fpace,  i^ill  une](ploi[ed|  jwas  joot  jcqycrc^^enfireljr  by  wj^Rc 


i 

(jcemi  iut  occupied:  by  iduntviel  ftt  fnr  che  to« 
\Auiioti  of  ihan.  It  nffti^  iik^ife  ^xtikritely  probtMe^ 
iiuii  tW  iolitliffeht,  on  this  fl«b  of  thfe  gloBil,  v  iibihricid  ly  arpw 
pbrfional  family  of  lahd  ih  the  other  KemifpK«M.  TK^  cbnehl* 
itdMB  tbnic^rtiing  the  exiftenice  of  another  cohtinettt,  dnwn 
ffbiti  ihe  fiiure  aind  fttuaure  of  the  gt6bfc,  W^fife  cdftfimidd  by^ 
tU  ohfervatiijns  and  cdnjc^rei  of  rnddeftl  navigatort;  A 
fo^iipitQi  pilbt,  having  ftretthtfd  farther  to  thfj  wdi  than  Mrav 
tifU^l  at  that  thttev^bdk  ttp  a  pi^ce  of  tiihbtn-  ax^ificially  etrVed, 
J^oMti^  ti^oh  tfii^  fea :  and  as  it  was  dirilrih  toWirdi  hiih  by  t 
^eMty  wind^  h^cdhtloded  that  it(:a«)efrd&  fdtMuflknoWnlM»4y 
liWeit  ih  tHkt  quarter.  Columhus^  br6th<r-ih4a^  hid  fMliM: 
^  the^  Weft  of  thi;  Madura  ifl^l,  a  fiSitt  6f  tiniffai«r  MhioMdih 
t!ic  &me  itaanttfer,  and  btbught  by  the  ftihc  inrind  j  and  had  (tAft 
Mc^dite  Catiies  of  an  feiibhribus  fiie  flbatiHg  Upbh  OH  WtfVfcs$ 
Wifibh  t^^mlbiled  thofe  defcfibed  by  Plblgmy;  ^  pr>>dl(aibnii 
peculiar  tO  the  Eaft  !n<Ees;  Alter  a  ^He  df  W^ftferllriirindS^ 
tfees,  torn  up  by  the  roots,  Wire  oflih  itt^Bh  UpcSi  the  coliU 
^fthe  A2br&,dihd  at  on^tihife  Uie  dfttdbbdlKi  Of  eWoiMli,  with 
dh^lar  features,  refembing  Mthler  tli^  iiftShbilantk  bf  iutbpe 
AbV  bf  Africa,  Wete  caft  afhore  theifci  •. 

A^  'M  fbir^e  of  t^i|  uniii^  e^iasflctfj  aritlMj^Trah  thlfof^tii^al 

i^iiCi^Ws  ^Hd  prtffticii  bbfier^itib^i^  lU'tmmM  to ejc^dft 

t^i  'MbVery  bf  n6t«r  bbutitrieii  ih  the  WtSftdrh  Oeakhj  dthei^ 

fiktoiii  i^^^d  hhh  tb  btelieve  thai  th^  mUft  be  tErbnneAid 

^ithtlie  ^bKtih^fit  of  lAldia.     Thtttigh  IhJi  anli^nts  had  hi^ 

^er  periettate^  into  India  ^rihtet  thanih'e  hknkk  oFthfc  Gaii|{bi, 

|et  JTo^'e  ti)ctek  iii^ho'rs  hiad  VeirtUi^d  tb  ddc^tbe  the  proviA«)t& 

6eybA(^  ifHt  tWtr,     As  if^eti  are  fiibi^,  aWd  at  lA«hy)  tb  nikgi. 

ifiify  what  is  reMbte  oV  uinX^b^^,  thliy  tej^MiSiHA  iheHn  «^ 

regions  of  an  hbrnettfe  ektent.     CtelhiS  slffltMed  ihA  I«dbi  Hitr^ 

iuifar^^  ^  jkKl  the  reft  bf  Afia.    'Ollieficrit^s,  whotti  Pli^  thfc 

flfSttUMirft  fc^b^s,  tomHiSfA  thai  it  Was  tqual  t^  a  thiM  part 

bf  \hk  iiihMifAitt  dtrth.     Neaidiui  Jrflnbttfd,  that  if  td^^dt^kfe 

fotiV  Ma^k  ia  ikatdh  in  a  ftraight  fine  frbfai  one  tittitii^f 

^f  iisak  tb  Wt  bclin    ^he  jburiial  bf  Marco  Pdo,  who  had^ 

^^e^cted  fb>i^cb  M  tak  %r  beybndthe  Hmiti  to  Vhic9i  A% 

'uifb^^i^  had  e«%r  ^vkhc^d,  fecmed  to  confirm  thefe  exaggt<#ated 

iCcdUnts  of  "the  itticfertds.     ^y  his  inagrtififcent  defcription  of 

he  kingdoms  of  Cathay  and  Ct^ango,  and  of  many  other  cottiltn<» 

he  nanlic^s  of  M^ich  Wef^  onknoWn  in  lEurope,  India  appiehred 

0  be  a  regibn  bf  vaft  tidtttu  ^rofe  thefe  accdmits,  ti^hich,  haW- 

er'defeftiVe.Wefe  theiiioft  icCUrate  that  the  people  ofEurti^ 

iiidfecfeivi^  at  thut  perlbd,  ^hh  refjpeft  to  the  remote  parts  of 

lAt  taft,  "l^lAtiflibiis  ^Vr  ^  juft'cbticliifion*    He  «dnteitd64i 


i 


v^ 


I.'. 


t\9if  in  ptopo^ion  as^he  continent  of  India  ftretcheil  Qut| 
toward*  the  Eaft,  it  muft  in  confequence  of  the  fpherical 
figure  of  the .  ealth   approach  nearer  to  the  iflands  which  had 

•  lately  been  difcoyered  to  the  weft  of  Africa  ;    that  the  dif- 

tance  from  the  one.  to  th,e  other  was  probably  not  very  confi- 

derable  ;    and  that  the  piofi  dire£fc,  as  well  as-  fhorteft  courfe,  t» 

the  remote   reg^jpns  of  the  £aft,  was  to  be  JFoupd  by  failing  due 

weft.     This. notion  concerning  the   vicinity   of    India  to  the 

weftern  parts  oi  OMr  continent,  was  countenanced  by  fome 

eminent  writeiT  amon|^  the  ancients,    the   fan£):ion  of  whoife 

authority  was  aeceflary,  in  that  age,  to  procure  a  favqurtble 

reception  to  any   tenet.     Ariftotle  thought   it   probable^  Uwfr 

the  Columns  of  Hercules,  or  Straits  of  Gibraltar,  were^  hot 

far  removed  from  the  Eaft  Indies,   and  that  there  might  be 

a  communication  by  fea  between   them.      Seneca,   in   terms 

ftill  more  explicit,  affiiins,  that,  witli  a  fair  wind,  one  might 

fail  from  Spain  to  India  in  a  few  days.     The  lamMi»  At- 

lantk  iiiand  deferibed)  by  Plato,   and  fuppofed  by   nu^ny   to' 

be  4II .  r^    country,  beyond  which  an  unknown '  continent 

was    fituate^  is    repreCented  by   him  as  lying   at   no   great 

diftanc^  from  Spain^      After  weighing  all   tbefe  particulars^ 

ColumbuS)  in  whofe  charafter  the   modefty    and    diffidence 

of  tifue    genius  yrt%   united  with  the   ardent   enthufiafin  of 

a  proje^r,  did  not  reft  with  fuch  abfolute  aflurance'  either 

upon  .  his    own    arguments^   or  upon  J^e  authority  of  the 

ancients,   as   not   to  confult   fuch  of  h\i  contemporaries  a^' 

were  capable  «f  comprehending  the  nature  of  the  evidence 

wKich  he  produced  in  fupport  of  his  opinion^    As  jcarly  a» 

the  year   one  thou&nd  four  hundred  and  feventy-four,  he 

communicated  jiis    ideas  concerning  the  probability   of  dif- 

covering)  new    countries,    by  failing   weftwards,   to  Paul,   a 

phyfician  of  Florence,  eminent   for  his  knowledgie  of  eof- 

mographyr  and  who,  from  the  learning  as  wdl  as  candour* 

which  he  ditcovers  in  his  reply,  appears  to  have '^  been  well 

intitlcd  to  the   confidence    which    Colum^uist  placed  in   himv 

lie  wrarmly  approved  of  the  plan,   fuggeftcd  feveral  hJBcs  in 

confirmation  of  it,   and  encouraged   Columbus  to  perfevere 

in  an  undertaking,  fo  laudable,,  and  which  muft  redound  fo 

m\^ch   to    the   honour    of  his    country,-  and  the  benefit  of- 

Europe. 

To  a  mind  lefs  capable  of  forming,  and  of  e|Lecuting  great 
defigns  than   that  of  Columbus^   all  thofe  reafonings,  and  ob- , 
iervations,^  and  authorities,   would  have  ferved    only  as  the 
foundation  of  (bme  plaufible  and  fruitlefs  theory,  which  might 
have  fumiihed  matter  for  ingenious  cUfcourfe,  or  fanciful  con- 


DnCOVERY  OF  AkMRiCA,  9 

jefture.  But  witH  hi|  fanguine  and  }fcnMrprifing  temper  fp6^ 
bilation led4lire£Uy toaftion.  Fully fatisfied himletf withrefpeft to 
the  trtith  of  his  fyilem,  he  was  impatient  to  bring  it  to  the  te(l  of  • 
experiment,  and  to  fet  out  upon  a  voyage  of  difcnyery.  The  firft 
ftep  towai^ds  this  was  to  fecure  the  patronage  of  foihti  6f  the  conft* 
derable  powers  in  Europe,  capable  of  und|;rtaking  fuch  an  enterprifc. ' 
Ai  long  abfence  had  not  extinguilhed  thd  afieftion  which  he  bore,  to 
his  native  country,  he  wifhed  that  it  (hould  rea^  the  fruits  of  his  la- 
Iwurs  and  inventions  With  this  V^ieiy,  he  laid  hiif  fcheme  before 
the  fenate  of  Oenoa^  and  making  liis  country  tli||liirft  tender  of  his 
fervice  Offeted  to  fail  under  the  bannerHr  of  the  republic,  in  quefb 
tiif  the  tieW  regions  whi^h  he  exp.e£lcd  to  difcover.  But  Columbus 
had  refided  for  fo  many  years  in  foreign  parts,  that  his  countrymen 
-Were  unacquainted  with  his  abilities  and  chara£ler ;  and,  though  a 
maritime,  people,  were  fb  little  accuftomed  to  diflant  voyages^  thai 
they  could  form  no  juft  idea  of  the  printiples  on  which  he  founded 
his  hopes  of  fuccefs;  l*hey  intonfideratel^  rejeUed  his  pfopofaU 
as  the  dreaniof  a  bhimeri^al  p^oje^or^  and  16ft  for  ever  the  oppor- 
tunity of  reilofing  their  e<mimdnwealth  io  its  ancient  fplendour; 

Having  performed  what  was  due  to  his  country,  Columbus  Wai 
fo  little  difcouraged  by  the  repulfe  whith  he  had  received,  that, 
inftead  of  relinquiihing  his  undertakings  he  purfued  it  With  frefh 
ardour.  He  made  his  next  overture  to  John  II.  kirtg  of  Portugal, 
in  whole  doniinioni  he  had  been  long  eifabii&'ed^  and  Whom  hm 
tonftdered,  on  that  actount;  as  having  the  (econd  claim'  to  his  fer- 
vice. Here  every  circumiUnte  feemed  to  ptoniife  hint  a  more  fa^ 
vourable  reception.  He  applied  to  a  monarch  of  ah  enterprifing 
genius,  no  incompetent  judge  in  naval  affairs,  and  proud  of  patro- 
hifing  every  atterttpt  to  difcovor  Hew  countt-iei.  His  fub^e^s  were 
ihe  moil  experienjsed  navigators  in  jBurope,  and  (he  leaff  apt  to  bo 
intixiiidated  either  by  the  ifovelty  or  boldnefs  of  any  maritime  expe- 
dition. In  Portugal,  the  profeifiottal  (kill  of  CoIumf>uSj  as  weU 
as  his  perfonai  good,  qualitiesr^  were  thoroughly  known ;  and  at  ths 
homier  hindered  it  probable  that  his  fcheme  was  not  ajfto^'fher' 
yifionatyj  the  lattetekempted  him  from  the  fufpiciohof  ahjr  iinifter 
intention  in  propofipg  it.  Accordingly,  (he  kin|^  IiiEen«4  to  him 
in  the  moft  gracious  manner,  and  referred^  the  conitderation  of  his 
plan  to  Diego  Ortiz,  bifhop  of  Ceuta,  ahd  two  Jewifh  phyiicians; 
eminent  cofmographerS,  whom  he  was  accuftomed  to  confiilt  in 
matters  of  this  kind.  As  in  Genoa,  ignorance  had  oppofed  and. 
difappointed  Columbus ;  in  Lifbon,-  he  had  to  dombat  with  pre. 
judice^  an  enemy  nO  lefs  formidable/  The  perfons,'  according  to 
whofe  decifion  hii  fchenne  Was  to.be  s^pted.  or  rejefted,  had  been 
the  thief  dirc^ris  of  the  Poi^tuguefe  navigations,  and  had  adVUed  to 

B 


i^ 


hUedvsRY  OF  AMinrei^. 


k*tthfdti  pttf»$jb  io  India,  by  (Faring  i  courfe  dircAIy  opp6^0 
tb  that  which  Columbus  recommended  as  (horter  and  ttt6tt  ttrtnH^ 
They  could  not,  therefore,  approve  of  his  ptopofaly  without  fob--' 
mitting  to  the  double  mortification,  of  condemning  thefr  owii 
theory,  and  of  acknowtedgjng  his  fuperior  fa^city.  After  teafing, 
him  with  captious  c^Ueftions,  and  ilarting  innumerable  Objeflions^ 
V^ith  aView  of  betraying  him  into  ftich  a  particular  exphnaf  ion  of  hi» 
fyftem,  as  might  draw  from  him  a  full  dif<boVery  of  its-  nature,  thfcy 
deferred  pafrittg.a  fitial  jud^nent  with  vefpt6)r  to  it^  In  tht  tnt*n 
time,  they  coniptred  to  rob  him  of  the  honour  and  advtntage» 
which  he  expcfted  from  the  fuecefs  of  hi»iieheme,  advi^g,the  kinj 
to  difpatch  a  veffcl,  fecretly,  in  ordct-  to  attempt  th«  propoftd  dif- 
ctovery,  by  following,  exaoly  the  courfe  w>hidi  Cohimbus  feen|t!d 
lb  point  out.  John,  forgetting  on  this  oecaAon  the  icntiments  bt!-' 
coming  a  monarch,  meanly  adopted  this  pejfidious-  cOunlcl.  Btlf 
the  pilot,  chofen  to  execute  Columbus's  pten>  had  neither  the 
genius,  nor  the  fortitude  of  its  author.  Con^ty  winds  jirofe,  no 
tight  of  approaching  land  appeared,  his  Coun^  filiiled,  and  he  re<<^ 
turned  to  Liftton,  ejcecrating  the  proje£l  as  t^Wy  extravagant 
and  dangerous,     t, 

Upon  difeoVering  this  dilhonoutable  traiifaftioA,  CoHtinbus  felt 
^e  indtg;iation  natural  to  an  ingenuous  mind,  and  in  the  *warmt9k 
oiF  his  refentment  determined  to  break  off  all  intercOurfe  with  « 
fiatibh  capable  of  fuch  flagrant  treachery.  He  inftantly  cpiitteid  the 
kingdom,  and  iind^  in  Spaun  tdwards  the  clole  of  the  year  enc 
fhoufand  four  hiindredfind  eighty-four.  Ad  he  was  now  at  liberty 
to  court  the  proteftion  of  any  patron,  whom  he  ^eojtild  <sngage  t^ 
approve  of  his  plan,  and' to  carry  it  into  execution,  he  i^efeWed  t& 
^ropoTe  it  in  perfon  to  F»diii»hd  and  Ifabella,  who  tl  that  tint 
|ov^hed  the  United  kingdoms  of  Caftik  and  ArtSigon.  But  as  he 
hadi  already  experienced  iK  .  Unc^rti^n  iffiteef  aj^pliCationi  to  kin^ 
send  iKtitiiftersy  he  took  the  prei'aution  tof  fending  into  England  his 
brother  Bartholomew,  to  whom  he  had  liiUy  commuhicated  hi» 
iAeaSf  In  order  that  he  might  negoeiktty  ^  the  fame  time,  with 
Henry  VII.  who  Was  reputed  one  of  the  ttio9t  Pdgaeious  as  weU  as^ 
opulent  princes  in  Europe* 

It  was  not  without  reafon  thai  CoKiaiAmi  Entertained  doiAtts  and 
fears  with  refped  to  the  reception  of  his  pVopbials  in  the  SpanilH 
court.  Spain  was,  at  that  junflure,  engaged  in  a  dangerous  waf 
-with  Granada,  the  laii  of  the  Moorifh  kingdoms  in  that  country. 
The  wary  and  fufpieious  temper  of  Ferdinand  was  not  formed  to 
feliih  bold  or  uncommon  defigns.  Ifabella^  though  more  generous 
and  erfterprifing,  was  under  the  influence  of  her  hufb'and  in  all  her 
afiiions.-  The  Spaniards  had  hitherto  made  no  elFores,  to  extend 
tiavi^tion  beyond  its  ancient  limits,.  aBd  had  beheld  the  amazing 


BlSCCVSttYCF  AU$JLie4, 


II 


5Ut  fub-^'  • 
IX  own 
r  teafing;, 

onofhi* 
»»c,fhfcy 

■TO  ttWltt 

theking^ 
lofed  dif- 
s  fetmied 
iMBntsb(i-> 
fcl.    Btir 
ither  the 
iirofe,  n» 
nd  he  re- 

tmbus  felt 
le  vrarmtH 
rfe  with  » 
^ittddthe 

yfewr  ont? 

at  liberty 

e<bWed  t«^ 
that  tiine 
Butttshe 

kk  to  king» 
igUnd  ht5 

iicated  hi» 

irtie,  with 
as  wtU  as 

TioiAts  andt 
ke  SpanifH 
Bfdus  waf 
country^ 
I  formed  to 
I  gcncrbu* 
I  in  all  her 
to  extend 
Le  amazing 


j^fsoycfii  of  di&oyery  ^mpip^  (h»r  peighhpun  thie  f ortuguefr,  wi^h- 
VUt  pi»e  uttempt  |;q  M9it«tfi  or  io  riv4  them.  The  urar  with  th^  In<^ 
6deU  afprded  >n  vmijfU  field  to  ^h^  national  a^ vity  and  love  <)f glory. 
Under  circumflwc^sf  fousfavomable,  it  was  ii^poflthlefor  Columhu* 
to  make  r^pid  piro|rc;(f  with  a  iMtioo,  naturally  {Low  a;nd  dilatory 
Vfi  lipnping  all  itji  ,rcfol)|tion^.  His  cKara6ter,  howetvcr,  wa»  a4^ 
qijrably  adapted  to  that  of  the  people,  whofe  confidence  apd  pro<- 
te£Uon  he  /qlicited*  He  was  grave,  thoi^h  courteous  in  his  At- 
por,ttne^t ;  cireumlpd^  io  hif  words  and  anions ;  irreproachadtle 
in  his  moral; ;  and  exemplary  ii)  his  at^c^tipn  to  all  the  duties  and 
funftions  of  religion.  By  qualities  (b  rel'pe^ble,  he  not  only 
g»inc4  nany  private  frien«^,  ,but  aci)uire4  iuicli  general  cfteem,  that, 
nntwiAhibi^^i  rhe  p^aijMiels  of  his  app^aranee,  i^i^t^lHe  to  th«  mc> 
diocnty^hisiorjune,  he  ,wa^  not  coni]4ei^4iBasp^e  ^^eatuver, 
to  whom  indiffi^e  Iwl-  luggeiUd  a  vifionary  proj/c^,  hut  Vftn  re- 
ceived as  a  pierion  t9  y/hofe  propodtions  fieriot^s  attention  was  due* 
Ferdi9%Rk4.3Q.4  IfahejUUi  thou^  fully  occupied  by  their  operationf 
againA  the  MoorA*  paid  to  much  regard  to  Columbus,  ^  t9  remit 
^e  ^^onfideratioa  of  his  pja^i  to  tbe  queen's  coofeiTor,  jferdiiiii^knd  de 
Jalaycra.  ^e  confuted  ^uch  of  hi$  cpuntiyme^  ^  were  Cuppo^d 
heft  quati^  to  de)ci4e  wUb  refpe^i  to  a  fubje^  of  this  kind.  J^ija 
true  fcjlej(^e  had,  hitherto,  made  Io  lil^tlie  progrels  in  Spain,  that 
^he  pretV^ded  philofophers,  feleifted  to  judge  in  a  matter  of  fuch 
momenti  diidnot  comprehend  the  liril  prinpplf^S  upon  which  Cor 
lumbfi^  fi^maded  his  conje^ures  a,t^d  hopes.  J^me  of  them,  from 
mi(U^e9  notions  CQUf^eri^ ing  the  c^menfions  of  the  globe,  contend- 
ed that  9  vo^rage  to  thofe  remote  pacts  of  the  e^ft,  wi^ich  Columbus 
expend  tp  diicQver,  cpuld  not  l)e  performed  i|i  leff  ^c^  three 
year;.  Qthers  coni^ludec},  ths^  either  he  would  find  the  oceaiji  to 
he  of  inJinite  ^te^t,  ^ccocdin^  to  th^  opinion  of  fome  ancient  phi- 
h>fo{^Qrs ;  Pr«  if  he  (houldper^ft  i^  peering  toinrarda  the  weft  be- 
yond a  certain  point,  that  the  convex  figui;e  of  the  globe  would 
preye|]|t  his  return,  and  that  he  muft  ineyit»bly  periih,  in  the  vain 
attempt  to  f^f^  a  conmrnniff^tion  between  the  two  cp|)ofite  h^f- 
phfp-ej;,  .which  mature  had  for  ever  disjoined,  £y en  without, 
df^igoiag  t0.eat^r  jmto  ^y  particular  diCjpihifEon,  mapy  rejefted  the 
fcheme  in 'general}  mpcm  t^, credit  of  a  xoaxii^  ui;\4er  wh^ch  the 
ignorant  ^nd  une«terpri(ing  jihelter  thoptifelyei  %  every  age, 
"  That  it  is  pr«fumpliuqi|$  in  any  perfon,  to  fnppofe  that  he  alone 
pof^efilps  k,nf^wledge  fuperior  (o  aU  the  cei^  pf  mankuod,  united." 
They  maimaif»ed,  that  if  there  wece  really  apy  fuch  <puntries  as 
Coli^x^i^s  pretended^  they  could  not  haye  remfkipi^  £0  Inng  con- 
c^ed,  n^^-  >\?ould  the  wipilom  and  £igacity  of  former^ges  have, 
ieft  the  ^lo^  pf  thi»  invention  to  an  obfcpre  Gepoefe  pilpt. 

B  a 


!• 


h  required  ill  Columliui'i  pfttCence  and  addreft  to  negocUte  whH 
men  capable  of  advancing  fuch  ftrange  proppfitiona.  He  had  td 
contend  not  only  with  the  obftinacy  of  ignorance,  but  With  what 
is  ftill  more  intraCUble,  the  pride  of  falfe  knowledge.  After  in- 
numerable conferences,  and  wafting  Ave  years  in  friiitlefs  endea- 
vours to  inform  and  to  fatisfy  judges  fo  little  ipa|>ab|e  of  deciding 
With  propriety,  Talavera,  at  laft,  made  fufh  an  uiifayburable  report 
to  Ferdiriaif4  and  Ifabella,  as  induced  them  to  acquaint  Columbus; 
that  until  the  war  Vith  tke  Moors  (hcyild  be  brought  to  a  period,* 
it  would  be  impnidlBnt  to  engage  in  any  new  and  expenfiVc! 
enterprifc.  '  .     ; 

Whatever  care  was  tj&en  to  foften  the  harflinefs  of  this  decla- 
ration,  Columbus  corifidered  it  as  a  final  rejection  of  his  propof|ls. 
But  happily  fbrlhankihd,  the  fuperiority  of  genius,^hich  is  capa- 
ble of  forming  great  a^d  tincomihon  defignSj  is  t^fually  accompanied 
with  an  ar4ent  enthufiafm,  which  can  neither  bi  cdbled  by  delays^' 
Vior  clamped  bV  difappointment.  Columbus  was  of  thif  fanguind 
temper.  Thbugh  he  felt  deeply  the  cruel  bloW  glVen  to  his  hopes, 
and  retired'  immediately  Arom  a  court,  where  he  hiad  been  aintifed 
fo  long  with  Vain  expe^tioni,  his  confidence  in  the  juftheTs  of 
his  own  fyftiem  did  not  dltminilh,  and  his  impatience  to  deihdnftifate 
the  inith  of  it  by  an  aftual  experiment  became  greater  than  ever, 
ilaylng  cburted  the  prbteflion  of  fovereign  dates  without  fuccefii,' 
he  a'pplied,  next,  to  perfons  of  inferior  rank,  and  addreflied  fticcef- 
iflvely  the  dukes  of  Medina  Sidonia,  an^  Medina  Celt,  who,  though 
fubje6):S,  were  pofleiTed  of  power  and  opulence  more  than  equal  to 
^he"enterprife  Vhich  he  proje8:ed.  His  fiegociations  with  them 
proved  as  fruitlefs,  is  thbfe  in  -witich  he  had  be<ih  hithirto  engaged  ; 
for  thefe  noblettien  werb  ieither  as  little  convinced  by  Cblumbus's 
argiuiients  as  theif'  fbperiors,  or  they  were  afraid  of  alarming  ih< 
jealoiify, '  ax^d  bflfbndi'ng  the  Vpde'  of  Ferdinand,  by  countbnancing 
a  fchepnii  which  he  had  reje£led.'  '   ' 

Amid  tlie  paitiful  fenfatiohs  occafioncd  by  fuch  a  fuf;ce{fion  of 
difappoi'ntments,  Columbus  had  to  fuiiaii^  the  addiHpnal  diftrefs, 
of  having  received  no  accounts  from  his  brbther,  whom  he  had 
fent  to  the  court  of  England.  In  his  voyage  ify  that  country,  Bartho- 
lomew had  bb^^n  fo  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  the  Wnds  of  pirates, 
who  having  ftripped  hihi  of  every  thing,  dctainbd  hhn  a  prifbner' 
for  feVeral  yeafs; '  At  length,  he  made  his  efcape,  and' arrived  irit 
l.ondon,  but  in  fucK  ^xtrcmfe  indigence,  that  he  Was  obliged' to 
<!mploy  himlblf  during'a  coT^fTderablb  time,  in  drawing  and  fblllng; 
-maps,  in  order  to  pick'lip  as  much  money  as  would  purchafe  a  de- 
fiant drefSj  in  whibh  he  might  venture  to  appear  at  court.  Hb 
ihen  laid  before  the  kingth*  prbpofals,  With  which  he  had  been  eri- 
trullcld  by  his  brother,  and  notWitbftanding  Henry 'scxccflivc  cau. 


tien  vai  ptrftmony,  which  i^nderei)  him  tycrfe  to  n«w  or  ejipenAve 
underttkingi,  he  received  Columbuv't  ovcrturMi  with  more  ippro- 
hation,  than  aViy  monarch  to  whom  they  had  hitherto  been  prefented. 

Meanwhile,  Columbus  being  unacquainted  witk  his  brother's 
fite,  and  havfng  now  no  profpe£l  of  encouragement  in  Spain,  re- 
folved  to  vifit  the  court  of  England  in  perfon,  in  hopes  of  meeting 
with  a  more  favourable  reception  there.  He  had  idreadv  rli»fbt 
preparations  for  this  purpbfe,  snd  taken  meafures  for  the  difpofal 
of  his  children  during  his  abi'ence,-  when  Juan  Peres,  the  guardiari 
of  the  monaftery  of  Rabida,  near  Palos,  in  which  they  had  been 
educated,  earneilly  folicited  him  to  defer  his  journey  for  a  fhort 
time.  Peres  was  a  man  of  confidcnJ>le  learning,  and  of  fome  credit 
with  Queen  ifabella,  to  whom  he  was  l^nown  perfonally.  He  was 
wsrmly  attached  toC(^umbus,  with  wkofe  abilities  as  well  as  inte- 
grity  he  hsd  many  opportunities  of  being  acc|uaioted.  Prompted 
by  cttriofity  or  by  frieadfhip,  he  entered  upon  to  accurate  examina- 
dion  of  his  Tyftfeon,  in  eonjiinftibn  with  a  phyfician  fettled  in  the 
heighbouthood,  who  was  a  coiifiderable  proficient  in  mathematical 
knowledge.  Tliis  inveftigatton  fatisfiiedthem  fo  thoroughly^  With 
^fpeft  to  the  folidity  of  the  priiicipies  on  which  Columbus  foun<^ 
isd  his  opinion,  and  the  probabi}iiy'of  fuccefs  iin  executing  the  plan 
Which  he  propofed,  that  PerejB,  In  order  to  prevent  his  country 
ifrom  being- deprived  of  the  glory  and  benefit,  which^jnufl.  accrue 
to  the  paApons  of  fuch  a  gnlnd  enterprife,  ventured  to  write  to 
Ifabella,  conjuring  her  to  confider  the  liuttar  anew,  with  the 
Attention  which  it  merited^ 

Moved  by  the  reprefentations  of  a  perfon  whom  flie  refpefted, 
liabella  d(efired  Peres  to  repair  immediately  to  the  village  of  Santa 
F6,^in  which,  on  account  of  the  fiege  of  Granada,  the  court  refi- 
|ded  at  that  time,  that  (he  might  cenfer  with  him  upon  thi^  import- 
ant fubjeQ.  The  firft  efFe&  of  their  interview  was  a  gracious  in- 
vitation of  'Colun^bus  baflk  to  i;ourt,  accompanied  with  the  pre- 
fent  of  a  fmall  fum  to  equip  him  for  the  Journey.  As  there  was 
710W  a  Certain  profpeCk,.that  the  war  with  (he  Moors  Wbuld  fpeedi- 
ly  be  brought  to  an  happy  iflue  by  the  redufiiop  of  Granada, 
which  Would  leave  the  nation  at  liberty  to  engage  in  new  under- 
takings;  this,  as  well  as  the  mark  of  royal  favour,  with  which  Co- 
lumbus had  been  lately  honoured^  encouraged  his  friends  to  ap- 
pear  with  greater  confidence  than  formerly  in  fupport  of  his  fcheme. 
The  chief  of  thefe,  Alonfo  de  QuintaniUa,  comptroller  of  the  fi- 
nances  in  Caftile,  and  Luis  de  Santangel,  receiver  of  the  ecclefi- 
aftical  revenues  in  Arragon,  whofe  meritorious  zeal  in  proinoting 
this  great  defign  entities  their  names  to  an  honountble  place  in 
hiftory,  introduced  Columbus  to  many  perfons  of  high  rank,,  and 
^nterefted  them  warmly  in  his  behalf. 


H 


DjfSCaVJiHY  pf  4¥MMiCA. 


IM  it  W«s  Bol  M  Mfy  nutter  to  tnfpire  Fcdtwuul  with  f»vouiv 
thU  i«ntun«ntl*  H«  AiU  rcfardid  Colurobu»'s  projeft  at  cxtrava- 
giuit  and  chioMrical ;  tnd  an  order  to  render  the  efforts  of  hia  parti.. 
lam  ineibftual,  he  had  the  addrefa  to  employ  in  thia  new  negocia- 
^figk  witJ^  him,  Cmm  of  the  perfona  who  had  formerly  pronounced 
)ii#  ifheme  |o  be  impnQuoble.  To  their  aftoniflunent,  Columbu* 
Ippeaifd  helpie  them  with  the  (ame  confident  hopea  of  fuccefa  ai 
fbrmeiiy,  aiifl  infifled  upon  the  fame  high  recontpence.  He  pro- 
paff4  that  a  Xr.«»u  Aeet  (hould  be  fiued  out,  under  hia  command,  to 
«|(empt  the  difeovery,  and  demanded  to  be  appointed  herediury 
«d»ir«l  «ltd  viceroy  of  aU  the  (eaa  and  landa  which  he  (hould  dif- 
fover,  md  to  l^ye  the  t*nth  of  tliw  profits  arifing  from  them,  fiet. 
tied  irfevpcab^  upon  himfelf  and  his  difcendants.  At  the  if  ma 
ti|D«,  h«l  9#BVf4  to  adwancfj  the  eighth  part  of  the  (ism  neceOary 
for  aejcoimplilhu^  hit  deiign,  on  .condition  that  be  (hould  be  enti. 
tied  lo  •  ppoportional  flure  of  bcne^t  from  the  fdyentun.  If  the 
enieiffiie  fliovld  feotnlly  nntery,  he  made  n^  (lipulation  for  any 
rew«Ml  or  emqlument  whatever^  lnfk»4  of  viewing  this  coodu£^ 
9$  the^easeft«videm»  ^f  hi»  i^^  perfuaAoa  with  refpea  to  the 
it<Ml#h  of  hif  owi)  fy^imt  Of  bei^g  ilnich  with  that  ma^nanioiuty 
Vhif h,  efter  fo  mviy  4«Uyi  apd  rcfiidiea,  wou^  (loop  to  nothing 
infaiiv  t0  its  original  icl«ima»  the  perlens  >f  ith  whom  ColumbuA 
treated,  bcgpn  mftnly  -to  calculate  the  cKpence  of  the  expedition, 
end  the  valiae  of  the  irewiMFd  which  he  domandfd.  The  expcncc^ 
moderate  aa  it  wait,  they  leprefented  to  be  toe  great  for  3pain,  in 
the  prefent  exhauded  (late  of  its  (inanqis,  Tb^  contended,  that 
|heih«imur»mid«melwmfnt«cWniedby  CoiLumbua,  wcreexorbi. 
lant,  eilcn  if  he  (hould  perform  .the  utmoft  of  what  he  had  promii- 
dl ;  and  if  «||  \i>k  (iingiiine  hopes  (hould  prove  iUufw,  fu<^  yaft 
«oncei3i«n»  to  An»a4vcotucer  would  be  deemed  not  only  inoonTidc. 
ntc,  bit  jiiflkMbms*  In  this  impofiiag  pri>  of  caution  and  pvu- 
dence,  tlwir«iHnion  i^peered  (o  pUefibJe,  and  wis  fo  w^Mmly  &^ ' 
ported  b^  Ferdinand,  that  Iiab«ma  declined  giving  wpy  countenan^ 
io  'Celumbucj  end  abruptly  bro^e  offF  the  negociatioti  with  him 
yuhiich  (h^ihad  l»egun. 

•  T^  was  mote  mortifying  to  Columbus  th^n  9^;  the  di(appoint-' 
mcnts  which  he  had  Wlherto  met  with*  Tlie  invitation  to  court 
Iram  I&faelU,.  like  en  uncxpeCled  ray  of  light  had  opened  fuch 
{HTofpei^  of  iuccefsj  as  encouraged  him  to  hope  that  hu  labours 
were  at  an  end;  hut  <no>v  darknels  and  uncertainty  returned,  and 
his  mind,  Arm  as  it  was,  could  hardly  fupport  the  (hockd-  (iich 
|in  unfomfeehireveEfiB.  He  withdrew  in  deep  anguiih  from  court, 
with  an,  inti»ition  of  prqfecuting  his  voyage  to  S^ngland,  as.hM  U^L 
refource,. 


OttCWtlLY  Of  AMtmCJi^ 


h 


f»vourv 
txtr»v«- 

it  parlir 
negocia- 
Buunced 
olumbu« 
uccefft  ai 
He  pro- 

orediury 
lould  4>(- 
h«in,  iJBt- 
thc  ifnift 
neceflary 
i  be  <ntio 
I.  Utb* 
•n  for  my 
iicoodu^ 
left  tQ  the 
gnasiouty 

CdumbiUi 
!«pe4itk»n» 

3p»in,  in 
n  jed,  that 
ire  «M>rf>i- 
i  prooiil- 
iv€h  v.aA 
inqoi^idc* 
and  pKU*  . 

[>pqint* 

to  court 

aed  fuch 

^  Ul»qur» 

[imed)  and 

icV.  ol^iiicK 

Iropi  couvt, 

lasliiisUft 


Abottt  that tiiM OffMiadi furrendercd, and Fei^bM^ lindMMMi^ 
la,  In  triumphal  ponpt  took  foffefCion  of  a  city,  the  ftdvAlon  d^ 
which  extirpated  a  foreign  pow«r  from  the  heart  tf  ihelr  domiiri^ 
•na,  and  rendered  them  mafters  nf  all  the  provincea,  eiliendinf 
from  the  bottom  of  the  Pyrcneea  to  the  frontiera  of  Fortugal*     As 
the  flow  of  fpiriti  which  accornpaniee  Tuccefa  fliwaiee  the  nmid, 
and  rendera  it  enterpriftng,  Q^intaniUa  and  Santangel,  the  vlf^hnt 
and  difceming  patrona  of  Columbua,  took  advantage  ef  thie  fa- 
vourable fituation,  in  order  to  make  one  effovt  nMVt  in  bdtalf  of 
their  friend.    They  addreifed  thcmfelvca  to  IfabeUa,  andtefieir 
exprelfing  fome  furprife,  that  (he  who  had  al%m7a  been  the  muni- 
Acent  patronefa  of  generous  undertakings,  fhouM  hcfit ate  le  lon^ 
CO  coMntenance  the  moft  fplcndid  ^hemt  that  had  ever  been  prtf* 
pofiid  to  any  moiuirch ;  they  repreiented  to  her/ldiat  C<rf«nnbui 
was  a  man  of  a  found  underftanding  and  viftuous  charaftei,  wetl 
«|ttalified,  by  his  experience  ia  navigation,  at  well  aa  hia  knoiwkdge 
ef  gebmetry,  to  form  juft  ideaa  with  refpeCt  to  the  ftmftute  of  th« 
^tobe  and  the  fituation  of  iu  varieaia  regions  i  that,  by  oflering  to> 
riik  hia  9wn  life  and  fortune  in  the  execution  of  hia  feheme,  he 
gave  the  moft  fatiafylng  evifdeoce  both  of  his  integrity  and  liepe<o# 
iucceft;  that  the  fum  i«<)uiiitc  for  equipping  fiich  an  armamem  a» 
he  demanded  was  inconfidenble,  and  the  advehtagea  which  might 
accrue  from  his  undertaking  were  inmienfe }  that  he  demanded  no 
racqnipenoe  for  hia  invention  and  kdioiir,  but  what  waa  to  arife 
from  die  countriea  which  he  fliould  diicover }  that,  as  it  waa  wor-* 
thy  of  ber  magnanimity  to  make  thia  noble  attempt  to  extend  the 
Ijphere  ef  human  knowledge,  and  to  open  an  hiterceevfe  with  rc' 
gtona  hitherto  unknown,  fo  it  would  affonl  thehi^eft  fatiafaftton 
to  her  piety  and  seal,  after  re-eftablifliin^  cheChriftian  fakh  in 
thoie  pmviaces  of  Spain  from  which  it  had  been  long  benilhed,  to 
dtfcovera new  woeld,  to  which  flie  might  communicate  the 4ig^ 
and  MefGnga  of  divine  truth ;  that  if  iiow  flie  did  not  decide  iti- 
ftantly,  the  opportunity  Would  be  irt«trtev«bly  loft :  that  Colum- 
bua was  on  his  way  to  foreign  countries,  wheie  fome  prince,  ro  re' 
fortunate  er  adventuKms,  would  clofe  with  hia  propo(ab,f*nd  S .    -«. 
would  for  ever  bewail  the  fotal  timidity  which  YaA  excluded  her 
from  the  glory  and  advantages  that  flie  had  once  in  her  power  to 
have  enjipyed; 

Thefe  forcible  arguments,  vrged  by.  perien*'  of  fuch  authority, 
and  at  a  junflure  fo  well  chofen,  produced  the  defired  e(Fe£i« 
They  dialled  all  tftbeUa'a  doubts  and  feara ;  (he  ordered  Colum- 
bus to  be  inftantly  recalled,  declared  her  refolution  j^  employing 
him  on  his  own  tenns,  and  regrelttirtg  the  low  (teteof  h)er  finances^ 
generoufly  offored  to  pledge  her  own  jewels,  in  order  te  raife  as 
much  money  as  might  be  needed  in  making  preparations  for  the 


t6 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMEEMAi 


voyage.  Santang^el,  in  a  tranfport  of  gntitu^^jiiflec^tht  QueenV 
hand,  and  in  order  to  iaVe  her  from  having  W<^ourfe  to*  fuch  a* 
mortifying  expeoient  for  proc>iring  money,  engaged  to  adVanee 
immediately  the  (iim  that  was  requifite. 

,  Columbus  had,  proceeded  fome  leagues  on  his  journey,  wheh'the 
melfenger  from  Ifabella  overtook  him.  Upon  receiving  an  account^ 
of  the  unexpe^d  revolution  in  his  favour,  he  returned  direftly 
to  Santo  Fe,  though  fome  remainder  of  diffidence  dill  mingled  it- 
felf  lyith  his  joy. ,  But  the  cordial  reception  which  he  met  with 
from  Ifabella,  together  with  the  near  profpe£l  of  (cttiiig  out  upon 
that  voyage  which  had  fo  long,  been  the  objeft  of  his  thoughts  and 
wifhes^  fooAr  efFaeed  the  rembmbranee  of  all-  that  he  had  fu£Fered 
in  Spain,  during  ei^t  tedious  years  of  folicitation  and  fufpence. 
The  negociatioili  now  went  forward  with-  facility  and'  difpfttch, 
and  a  treaty  of  capitulation  with  Cohanbus  was  figned  on  the 
ieventeenth  of  ApriV  one  thouland  four  hundred  and  ninety-two. 
The  chief  articles  of  it  Were,^  x.'  Ferdinand  and  Ifabella,  as  foVe- 
reigns  of  the  ocean,  conftituted  Columbus  their  high  admiral  inallf 
^  ^he  feas,  iflaads,  and  continents*  which  ihould  be  difcovered  by! 
his>induftry  ;  and  ftijpulated,  that  he  and  his  heirs  for  ever  Ihould 
enjoy  thia  o^ce,  with  the  fame  powbrs  and  prerogatives  wUch 
belonged  to  the  high  admiral  of  Caltile,'  within  the  linlits  of  his 
jurifdi£lion,  a.  They  appointed  Columbus  their  viceroy  in  aE* 
the  iflands  and  continents  lA^hich  he  fhould  difcover ;  but  if,  for 
the  better  adroiniftration  of  ajf&irs,  it  ihOuld  hereafter  be  neceifary 
to  eftablifli  a  feparate  goVensor  in  any  of  thofe  countries,  they  au- 
thoiifed  Columbus  to  name  three  perfons,  of  whom  they  would 
chufe  one  for  that  office ;  and  the  dignity  of  videroy,  with  all  \ti 
mununities,  was  tikewife  to  be  hereditary  in  th6  family  of  Columbus. 
3.  They  granted  to  Columbus  and  hi»  heim  fot  ever  the  tenth  of 
the  free  profits  accruing  from  the  produ£kiqns'>nd  commerce  of  the 
countries  wl^ich  he  (hall  difcover.-  4.  They  declared,-  that  if  any 
controyerfy  or  law-fuit  fhall  arife  with  refpe6fc^tb  any  mercantile 
tranfafbion  in  the  countmes  which  ihould  be  difcoveried,  it  (hould' 
be  determined  by  the  fole  authority  of  Colwnbus,  Or  of  judges  to 
be  appointed  by  him.  5.  They  pennitted  Columbus  to  advance 
one-eighth  part  of  what  ihould  be  expended  in  preparing  for  the 
expedition,  and  in  carrying  on  commerce  With  the  countcieai' 
which'  h«  (hould  difCover,  and  intitled  him,'  in'  return,  to  an' 
eighth  part  of  the  profit. 

Though  the  name  of  Ferdinand  appears  conjoined  with  that  of 
Ifabella  in  this  tnnA&ion,his  diftruft  of  Columbus  was  dill  fo  vic-~ 
lent  that  he  rcfjafed  to  take  any  part  in  the  enterprife  as  King  of 
Arragon.  As  the  whole  expence  of  the  expedition  was  to  be  de- 
frayed by  the  crown  of  Caflile,  Ifabella  referved  for  her  fubje£U 


QVLRY  Of  AMERICA,  17 

cif  that  kingdom  iwi»itlufivg  right  to  all  the  bencHts  which  might 
T^dound  from4ts  mccefs.  ' 

As  loon  as  the  treaty  was  figned,  Ifabella,  by  hct  attenticii  and 
aftivity  in  forwarding  the  preparations  for  the  voyage,  endeavour- 
ed to  make  Ibme  reparation  to  Cblumbus  for  the  time  Svhich  he 
had  loft  in  fruitlefs  foHtitation.  By  the  twelfth  of  May,  all  that 
depended  upon  her  was  adjufted ;  and  Columbus  waited  on  the 
king  and  queen,  in  order  to  receive  their  final  :n(lru£tions.  EVcry 
thing  refpeding  the  dcftination  and  condufl  of  the  voyage,  they 
comniiltid  implicitly  to  tjie  diCpol'al  of  his  ptndencei  But,  that 
they  might  avoid  giving  any  juft  Caufe  of  offence  to  the  king  of 
Portugal,  they  ftriAly  enjoined  him  not  to  approach  near  to  the 
Portuguele  fettlements  on  the  coaft  of  Guinea^  ol-  in  any  of  (he 
other  countries  to  which  the  Portuguefe  claimed  ri^  its  difcovercrs. 
Kabella  had  ordered  the  Ihipsj  of  which  ColumhuSwas  to  take  the 
<bmnuind,  to  be  fitted  out  in  the  Port  df  PaloS,  a  fmall  maritime 
tbwn  in  the  proyincie  of  Andalufia.  As  Ihe  guairdian  Juaflj  Perei, 
to  whom  Columbus  had  already  been  fo  much  indebted,  rcfided  iti 
the  neighbourhood  of  thi^  places  he,  by  th<l  influence  of  that  goot^^ 
ecclefiailic,  as  ^ell  as  by  hi*  own  connection  with  the  inhabitants, 
not  only  ralfed  among  them  what  he  wanted  of  the  fum  that  he 
AVas  bouitd  bV  treaty  to  adVanccj  but  engaged  feveral  of  theili  to 
accoliipany  hiiti  in  the  Voyage.  The  chief  of  thele  affociates  were 
three  brothers  of  the  name  df  Pinzon,  of  confiderable  weaUhj  and 
of  great  ejcperience  in  ntival  ikffairs,  who  were  willing^  to  hiisard 
their  lives  and  fortunes  in  the  expedition. 

But,  after  all  the  efforts  of  Ifabella  and  Columbuis,  the  afttl^ment 
Wits  hot  fuitab|e,  either  to  the  dignity  df  the  nation  by  which  it 
V  was  equiped,  or  to  the  importantc  of  the  fervitre  fbr  Which  it  was 
deftin^d.  It  conflftcd  of  three  Veffeli.  The  largell,  a  (hip  x>f  no 
confiderable  biirden,  was  commanded  by  Columbus^  as  admiral, 
who  gave  it  the  name  of  Saiita  Matia^  out  of  refpefl  for  the  BleiTpd 
Virgin,  whom  he  honoured  with  fingular  devotion.  Of  the  fecond, 
called  the  Pinta,  Martin  PinsSon  Wis  captain^  and  hit  brother  Francis 
pilot.  The  third,^  named  the  Nigna^  was  under  the  command  of 
Viricefnt  Yanez  Pinzon.  Thcfe  two  were  light  veffels,  hardly 
I'upcrior  in  burden  or  force  to  large  boats.  This  fquadron,  if  it 
itlcrits  that  name,  was  viflualled  for  twelve  months,  and  had  on 
board  niniety  men,  moftly  laiUihs,  together  with  a  few  adventurers  / 
w^ho  followed  the  fortune  of  Columbus,  and  lomc  gentlemen  of 
likbella's  court,  whom  fhe  appointed  to  accompany  him.  Though 
the  expeuce  df  the  undertaking  was  one  of  the  circumilances  which 
chiefly  alarmed  the  court  of  Spain,  and  retarded  fo  long  the  nego- 
elation  with  Columbus,  the  fum  employed  in  fittin<T  out  this  J'qtia- 
dron  did  not  exceed  four  thoufand  pounds,  C 


^ 


DJSCaytKY  OF  AMSRTCX* 


As  the  art  of  (hip-building  in  the  fifteenth  century  wu  extireioo-i' 
ly  rude,  and  the  bulk  of  veflels  was  accommodated  to  the  (hort  anct 
eafy  voyages  along  the  coaft  which  they  were  accuftomed  to  per-' 
form,  it  is  a  proof  of  the  courage  as  well  as  enberprifing  genius  of 
Columbus,  that  he  ventured,  with  a  fleet  fo  unfit  for  a  dillant  na- 
vigation, to  explore  vriknown  feas,  where  he  had  no  chart  to  guid# 
him,  no  knowledge  of  ^he  tides  and  currents,  and  no  eXperiencd^ 
of  the  dangers  to  M^ich  he  might  be  eXpofed.'  His  eagemefs  to 
accomplilh  the  great  defign  which  hadib  longehgrofled  his  thoughts, 
made  him  overlook  or  difregard  every  cireumftance  that  would- 
have  intimidated  a  mind  lefs  adventurous.  He  puflied  forward 
the  preparations' with  fuch  ardour,  and  was  fecondedfo  efieftttally . 
by  the  perfonsto  whom  IfabeHa  committed  the  fuperintendenc^  of 
this  bufinefs,  that  ever]^thiiig  was  foon  in  readinefs  lor  th&^byage.- 
But  as  Columbus' was'deeplyimprefled  with  fentimentiiof  reli^ion,^ 
he  would*  not  fet  out  upon  an  expedition  To  afchious  and  of  which 
one  £preat  obje£i  was  to  extend  the  knowledge  of  .^e  Chriftian 
faith,  without  implprir^g^  puhliclj^  the  guidance  and  protlfiOSon  of 
Heaven.  With  this  view,  he,  together  with  all*^he  perfons  imder 
his  command,  ma|ched  in  folemih  prooeffion  to.  the  tnonaftbry  pf 
Rabida.  After  confeifing  their  fins,  and  obtainin§;abfoltition,  they 
received  the  holy  facrament  from  the  hands  of  the  guardian,  who* 
joined  his  prayers- tp  theirs -for  the  fuccefs  of  anenterprife  which; 
he^had- (b  zealoufly  patronii^d*'  ,     '  't  ';    } 

Nextmorning,'b^iiig  Ptiday  th?  third  daybf  Augufl^u  theyeai!? 
one  thdtifand-  four  huhdred  iind  ninety-two,  Colun^us  fet  (ail,  » 
little  before  fua-pife,inprfcfehee  of  avaftcrowdof  fpeQators,  who" 
fent  up  their  fupplications  to  Heaven  fof  the  profperous  iffue  oi^ 
the  voyage,  which  they  wi(hbd,  i^their  than  expefted.  Columbus 
(leered  dire£lly  for  the  Canary  Iflands,  and  arrived  there,  Augufi: 
13,  1492,  without  any  occurrence  that  Wbuld  have  deferved  no- 
tice on  any  other  occafion.  But,  in  a  voyage  of , fuch  expeftationi 
and  importance,  every  circumilance '  was  the  obje&  of  attention.- 
The  rudder  of  the  Pinta  broke  loofe,  the  day' aft«F  (he  left  the 
harbour,  and  that  accident  akrmed  the  crew,.iio  lefs  fuperftitiou*! 
than  unfkilful,  as  a  certain  omen  of  the  unfortunate  deftiny  of  the 
expedition.  Even  in  the  (hort  run  to  the  Canaries,  the  (hips^ere' 
found  to  be  fo  crazy  and  ill  appointed^  as  tobe  very  improper  for 
a  navigation  which  w»s  expe£led  to  be  both  long  and  dangerous, 
Columbus  refitted  them,  however,  to  the  beft  of  his  power,  and 
having  fupplicd  himicif  with  fre(h  pfovifions  he  took  his  departure- 
from  Gomera,  one  of  the  moft  wefterly  of  the  Canary  Iflands,  oo. 
the  fixth  day  of  September. 

Here  the  voyage  of  difcovery  may  properly  be  faid  to  begin;  for 
Columbus  holding  his  courfcduewed,  left  immediately  the  ufual 


>■. 


^•■,< 


DISCOVERY  OT  AMIRICX 


^ 


fknck  of  navigation,  and  ftretched  into  unfrequented  and  unknown 
{foas.     The  firft  dayf  as  it  was  very  calm,  he  made  but  little  wayn 
;but  on  the  fecond,  he  loft  fight  of  the  Canaries  ;  and  many  of  the 
(ailors,  deje&ed  llready  and  diimayed,  when  they  contemplated  the 
4>ol(b>e£>  of  the  undertaking,  began  to  beat  their  breads,  and  to  (hcd 
lUil's,  as  if  they  were  n«yer  more  to  behold  land.     Columbus  com- 
'  forted  them  w|t&  liflurlbccs  of  fuccefs,  and  the  prol'peft  of  va(l 
c#ealth,  in  tfajti^  opulent  regions  whither  he  ivas  condu£ling  thtth, 
't'hi$  early  <ilf<$bvery  of  the  fpirit  of  his  followers  taught  Columbu^, 
ihSt  Ik  vcMR.  prepare  to  ftruggle,  not  only  with  the  unavoidable 
4ifll|^ltiei  which  might  be  expelled  from  the  nature  of  his  un- 
dertaM^g,  but  with  fuch  as  were  likely  toarilefrom  the  ignorance 
4|nd  ttinidity  of  the  people  under  hisxrommand ;  and  he  perceived 
/that  the  art  of  governing theminds  of  men  would  be  no  lefs  requi- 
site for  accoMplifhing  the  dilcove/ies  which  he  had  in  view,  than 
navid  ikill  and  undaunted  jcoMrage.     Happily  for  himfelf,  and  foi* 
the  country  by  which  he  was  employed,  he  joii;re4  to  the  ardent 
temper  and  inventive  genius  of  a  projector,  virtues  of  anotha:,fpe- 
cieij,  which  are  rarely  united  with^hen^.     lie  poifeffed  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  mankind,  an  infiRuating  addrefs,  a  patient  peri'ever- 
ance  in  executing  any  plan,  the  perfect  government  of  his  paflions, 
and  the  talent  of  acquiring  an  afccndant  over  thofe  of  other  men. 
All  thde  qualities,  which  formed  him  for  command,   were  accom- 
panied with  that  luperior  knowledge  of  his  profelfion,  which  begets 
confidence  in  times  of  difficulty  and  danger.     To  unikilful  Spaniih 
failors,  accuftomed  only  to  coafEing  voyages  in  the  Mediterranean, 
4he  maritime  fcience  of  Columbus,  the  fruit  of  thirty  years  experi. 
^nce,  improved  by  an  acquaintance  with  all  the  inventions  of  the 
Portuguefe,  appeared  immenfe.     As  foon  as  they  ^ut  to  fea,  he  re- 
gulated evety  thing  by  his  fdle  authority ;  he  fuperintended  the 
cxecutiicm  of  every  order ;  and  allowing  himfelf  only  a  few  hours 
for  fleep,  he  was  at  all  oth^r  times  upon  deck.     A^  his  courfe  lay 
ilifarough  feas  which   had  not  formerly  been  vifited  the  founding- 
Kne,  or  inftrumenta  for  obfervation,  were  continually  in  his  hands. 
After  the  example#f  the  Portuguefe  difcoverers,  he  attended  to 
the  motion  of  tides  and  currents,  watched  ^he  flight  of  birds,  the 
appearance  of  fifhes,  of  fea-wecds  and  of  every  thing  that  floated 
on  the  waves,  and  entered  every  occurrence,  with  a  minute  exa£l- 
nefs,  in  the  journal  which  he  kept.     As  (he  length  of  the  voyage 
could  not  fail  of  alarming  Tailors  habituated  only  to  (hort  excurfions, 
Columbus  endeavoured  to  conceal  from  them  the  realprogrefs  which 
.they  made.     With  this  view,  though  they  run  eighteen  leagues  on 
the  fecond  day  after  they  left  Gomcra,  he  gave  out  that  they  had 
-advanced  only  fifteen,  and  he  uniformly  employed  t];)e  Ikme  arti^f 

C  a 


ftO 


DISCOVERY  OP  AMERICA, 


of  reckoning  fliort  during  the  whole  voyage^   By  the  fourtaentk 
of  September,  the  fleet  was  above  two  hundP||Jeagu««  to  the  weft 


I  than  any  Spa-^ 
:ftruck.withan 

Kxa^h 


of  the  Canary  Illes,  at  a  greater  diftance  from'- 

niard  had  been  before  that  time.     There  ihaf^ 

appearance  no  lefs,a{lonifhing  than  new.     Thcy^ 

magnetic  needle,  in  their  compafTes  diA&t  |^^ 

polar  ftar,  but  varied  towards  the  weft ; 

variation  increaied.      This,  appearan< 

th6ugHit  ftill  remains  one  of  the  my  ( 

of  which  th^  fagacity  of  man  hath 

led  the  companions  of  Columbus  wif 

a  boundlefs  unknown  ocean,  far  frdn  the  ufual  coi 

tion;  nature  itself  feemed  to  be  alterld,  andt| 

they  had  left  was  about  to  fail  them.     Co^ntb||||^girj^ 

t^uicHnefs  than  ingenuity,  invented  al.  reafQii'^<)r"!d|«hl! 

which,  though  it  di4  not  fatisfy  hin^f,.feet 

them,  that  it  difpelled  their  fears  pr  filerf^edth^ttflttmf 

He  ftill  (Continued  to  fteer  due  weft,  neari)r}iyBi|thliB  iazne^lil 
with  the  Canary  Ifles.  In  this  courfe  hexaiii;wHHin  tKe  I 
of  the  trade  wiAd,  which  blows  invariably  from  eaft  to  wc( 
tween  the  tropics  and  a  few  degrees  beyond  thism*  He  ai^ai 
before  thi^  fteady  gale  with  luch  unifprm  rapidity,  that 
dom  neccfTary  to  ftiift  a  fail.  When  about  fotifr  ,hundre 
to  tbe  weft  of  the  Canaries,  he  found  ^he  fea  fo  coVered  witlfl 
^hat  it  reiemblcd  a  meadow  of  vaft  extent;  .and  in  fome  places t&ey 
were  fb  thick,  as  to  retard  the  motion  of  (he  ^Qtflels.  This  ftrange 
appearance  occafioned  neyir  alarm  and  diiquiel^.  The  faiiDrs  ima- 
ginedthat  they  were  now  a^rriyed  at  the  uimpft  boundary  of  the 
navigable  ocean;  that  t)ie(t  floating  weeds  M^uldqbj^ru^  their  far> 
ther  progrefs,  and  concealed  dangerous  rocks,  or  romc/Jirge  tnCt 
pfland,  whic^  ha4  funk,  they  knew  not  hpw,  in  tha|^ 
l,umbus  endeavpured  to  periuadc  them,  tl^t  what  h 
ought  rather  to  have  encouraged  them,  andJIvas  to  heif;;onft 
a  fign  of  approaching  land.  At  the  fame  )t^^  a  b^Uk«g 
and  carried  them  forward.  Several  birds  vMjHken  h|»^^ 
^he  {hip*,  and  dire6led  their  flight  towards  tm;  w«iftVfl^^hic 
ponding  crew  refunjed  fpnje  degree  of  i'pirit,  an4  l^fegarfjo  cnti^ 
tain  frefli  hopes* 

•  A»  the  Portiiguefe,  in  making  their  difcovcf  Irs,  did  not  d'part  far  frwh  the? 
)H>aft  of  Africa,  they  concluded  tnat  birds,  whofe  flight  they  obfcrved  with  great 
attention,  did  pot  venture  to  any  conrid:rablc  diilance  from  land.  In  the  infancy 
of  navigation,  it  was  not  known,  that  birds  often  ilretch  their  flight  to  an  immenle- 
diilance  from  any  Ihore.  In  failing  towards  the  \yeU-Indian  ifl«nds,^birds  are 
often  feen  at  the  diftance  of  two  hundred  leagues  from  the  nc^rell  c6ait. 
Moane's  Nat.  Hift.  of  Jamaica,  vol.  i.  p.  30.  Catelby  faw  an  owl  at  fea,  when 
j^be  fliip  was  Ax  hundred  leagues  diilant  from  land.     Nat.  Hilt,  of  Carolina,  pref- ' 


•-2/ 


PISftOVERYCF  AUMRICJ. 


•t 


lurtoenth 

■      •  Ufoil  the  firft  of 

the  weft 

I    reckoning, .  f<^<^ 

any  Spa- 

I     panaries ;  butj([j|i 

t  with  an 

■    length  of.  niifilMKk 

tite  the 

1  f^^Mf^mKM 

jlaceiitfcey 
his  Arapge 
'ailgrs  ima- 
ary  of  the 
^  their  far- 
Utfi^e  tra^ 
CpT 


iftt 


to  cnter<P*»^ 


J  far  frown  tlw 
|d  with  great 
the  infancy 
1  an  immenie- 
ISj^birds  are 
eireft  cbaii. 
|it  fea,  when 
arolina,  pref- 


h«^ 


;ober  they  w«%,  according  to  the  admiral'* 
jred  and  fifiVenty  leagues  to  the  weft  of  the 
en  fliotdd  he  intimidated  by  the  prodigious 
4ie  gaVjC  out  that  they  had  proceeded  only 
fouf  leagues ;  and,  fortunately  for  Colum- 
nor  thofe  of  the  other  (hips,  had  ikiU 
or,  anddifjcoverthc  deceit.     They  had 
at  fea ;  they  had  proceeded  far  beyond 
tempted  or  deemed  poflible ;  atl  their 
n  from  the  flight  of  birds  and  other' 
acious;    the  appearances  of  land, 
4f^}^y  or  the  artifice  of  their  commander 
and  arnufed  theih,  had  been  alto- 
tlieir  profpeiElof  fuccefs  feemed  now  to  be  as  dlf- 
efe  xp(3^6t.i6M  occurred  often  to  men,  who  had 
•OilBlPCupttidl^  than  to  reafon  anddifc«urfe  concern- 
6xf.^4V^ijf%umA9nces  of  their  expcditiop*     They 
ffii^f^^kt  uppn  the  ignorant  and  timid,  a&d  extend- 
^nipi^  io-f^h  as  were  better  informed  or  more  refdute, 
ntagiop'^pnead  ajL  le;a£th  from  (hip  to  ihip.     From  fecret 
or  munnurings,  they  proceeded  to  open  cabals  and  public 
Tkey  taxed  their  fovereign  with  inconfiderate  cr6«> 
paying  ]|juch  regard  to  the  vaip  promifes  and  raih  con- 
an  indigent  foreigner,  as  to  hazard  the  lives  of  fo  many 
ot  Qi^^wn  fubje£b,  in  proiiecuting  a  chimerical  fcheme.     They- 
affi|*m^  that  they  h||Nully  performed  their  duty,  by  venturing  fo 
£iir  in  ad  unknown  aflid  hopelels  courfe,  and  could  incur  no  blame, 
for  refi^ii^  to  f(ollow^4  any  longer,  a  defperate  adventurer  to  cer-> 
lain  deftru&ion^     Thoy  contended,  that  it  was  neceflary  to  think 
^  rtturning  to  Spain,  while  their  crazy  veifels  were  ftill  in  a  coV: 
dki<^  ^  keep  the  fea,  but  expreifed  their  fears  that  the  attempt 
y«r<^v^(^rove  vain*  is  tU^  wind,  which  had  hitherto  been  fo  favour- 
theircourfe,  mini  render  it  impoflible  to  fail  in  the  oppofite 
loQ.:    AH  agrecdr  that  Columbus  {hould  be  compelled  by 
e  to  adopt  a  modVe  on  which  their  common  fafety  depended, 
Tl^e  of  tlsc  more  alKracious  prppofed,  as  the  mod  expeditious  and 
in  methflid .  |6r  getting  rid  at  once  of  his  remonftrances, .  to 
[^  him  into  the  ica,  being  perluaded  that,  upon  their  return 

p.  |,  Hift.  NatWdle  de  M.  BufTon,  torn.  xvl.  p.  32.  From  which  it  appears, 
that  this  indication  of  land,  on  which  ColumhOs  feems  to  have  relied  with  Tome 
confidence,  was  extremely  uncertain.  This  obfervation  is  confirmed  by  Captain 
Coo}c,  the  moft  extcnfive  and  experienced  navigator  of  any  age  or  -nation. 
**  No  one  yet  knows  (fays  lie)  to  what  diftancc  any  of  the  oceanic  birds  go  to  fea  •, 
for  my  own  part,  I  do  not  believe  that  there  is  one  Jn  the  whole  tribe  that  caii 
be  relied  on  in  pointing  out  tlie  vicinity  of  land.*'  Voy^c^  towards  the  SbutJi 
Me,  vol.  i.  p.  875, 


M 


Z>nCCVERlre»  AHEfiitA, 


to  Spain,  the  detth  of  an  unfiicceftful  projeAor  would  Aeilc 
little  concern,  and  be  inquired  into  with  nd  curioiity. 

ColuRibui  was  fuUy  ienfible  of  his  perilous  fittfation.  He  had 
dbferved,  with  ^reajt  uneafinefs,  the  fatal  opera^bH  of  ignorance, 
and  of  (ear  in  producing  dil'afFedion  auniong  hisj^vw,  and  iaw  that 
it  was  now  ready  to  buf  ft  out  into  open  >B^pN^  He  ff l^'^^'ill^ 
however,  perfeCk  prefence  of  mind.  HejIfieaealSYeem  ||^9iip|^ 
of  their  machinations.  ^lotwithftanding  the  agihili^  ahdliiAm't 
Cude  of  his  own  mind,  )ae  appeared  #itha  ^heerfiil  cptinteniiUcei 
like  a  man  fatisfied  with'^he  progrefs  vrhich  He  had  mtide,  and  (Con- 
fident of  fuccefs.  Sonfettmes  he  employed  all  the  a^l  pf  infihu- 
ation  to  foothe  '  his  men.  Sometim^  he  endeavqutcid  to  ^Pt^ 
upon  their  ambition  or  avarice,  by  magn^ent  del'c|'iptioha  b^h^ 
fome  and  wealth  which  they  we^rcabout  to  acquire^  Oh  oth«# 
eiccafionS,  he  aflumed  atone  of  authbrity,  and  threatened  them 
with  vengeance  from  their  fovereign,  if,  by  their  daftardly  beha- 
viour,  they  (hould  defeat  this  noble  effort  to  promote  the  glory  of 
God,  and  to  exalt  the  Spaniih  name'  above  that  of  every  othf# 
nation.  >  Even  with  feditious  faiiors,  the  words  of  a  man  wh<^m 
they  had  been  aecuftomed  to  reverence,  wereweighty  and  pwfua' 
five,  and  not  only  reilrained  them  from  thofe  violent  ekcefles, 
which  they  meditated,  but  prevailed  with  them  to  accompany 
their  admiral  for  fome  time  longer.  \ 

As  they  proceeded,  the  indications  of  approaching  land  feenied 
to  be  more  certain,  and  excited  hope  in  proportion.  The  birds 
began  to  appear  in  flocks,  making  towards  the  fouth-weft.  Colurar 
bus,  in  imitation  of  the  Portuguefe  navigators,  who  had  been  guided^ 
in  feveral  of  their  difcoveries,  by  the  motion  of  birds,  altered  his 
courfe  from  due  weft  towards  that  quarter  whither  they  pointe4 
their  flight.  But,  after  holding  on  for  feveral  days  in  thi^  new 
direCUon,  without  aiiy  better  fuccels  than  formerly,  having  feen 
no  objeft,  during  thirty  days,  but  the  fea  and  the  fliy,  the  hopes 
of  his  companions  fubfided  fafter  than  they  had  rifen  ;  their  fears 
revived  with  additional  force ;  impatience,  rage,  and  defpair,  ap- 
peared in  every  countenance.  All  fenfc  of  fiii|prdination  waS  loft ; 
the  officers,  who  had  hitherto  concurred  with  Columbus  in  oplni-!* 
•n,  and  fupported  his  authority,  now  took  part  wicK  tl-  ^  private 
men ;  they  aflemblcd  tumultuoufly  on- the  deck,  expo  tluiated  with' 
their  commander,  mingled  threats  with  their  expoftulations^  and 
reiquired  him  inftantly  to  tack  about  and  to  return  to  Europe. 
Columbus  perceived  that  it  would  be  of  no  ivail  to  have  recourfe. 
to  any  of  his  former  arts,  which  having  b^en  tried  fo  often,  had 
loft  their  efFed  \  and  that,  it  was  impofliUe  to  rekindle  any  zeal 
for  the  fuccefs  oi  the  expedition  among  men,  in  whofe  breafts  fear 
had  extinguiihed  every  generous  Ifentiment.     He  (aw  that  it  was 


J>IS<4>rERY  C^F  AMERICA. 


»^ 


]hQ  kls  vup  to  think  of  employing  either  gentle  or  fevere  m^afureii,. 
io  quell. a  mutiny  fo  general  and  fo  violent.  It  was  nQccITiry,  QVk 
all  theie  accounts,  to  foothe  paflions  which  he  could  np  longer 
tommandj  and  to  give  way  to  a  torrent  too  impetuous  to  be  <;heck«dA 
He  promifed  fokmnly  to  his  men  that  he  would  comply  with  their 
veaueft,  provided  they  would  accompany  him,  and  obey  hit  comF 
mands  for  three  days  longer^  and  if,  during  that  time,  land  wer« 
not  difcovered,  he  would  then  abandon  the  enterprife^  and  dire^ 
his  courfe  towards  Spain. 

Enraged  as  the  Tailors  were,  and  impatient  to  turn  their  faccft 
igain  towards  their  iiative  country,  this  propofition  did  not  appear 
fo  them  unreafonable.  Nor  did  Columbus  hazard  much  in  confim^ 
lAg  himfelf  to  a  term  fo  (hort.  The  prefages  of  difcovering  land 
were  now  fo  numerous  and  promising,  that  he  deemed  them  infa)li« 
b^e.  ,  For  fome  days  the  founding  line  reached  the  bottom,  and  ' 
the  foil  which  it  brought  up  indicated  land  to  be  a^  no  great  dif' 
tance.  Thie  flocks  of  birds  increafed,  and  were  compofed  not  only 
6f  fea  fowl,  but  of  fuch  land  birds  a&  could  not  be  fuppofed  to  fly 
far  from  the  fliore.  The  crew  of  the  Pinta  obferved  a  cane  floating 
"Oirhich  feetned  to  hail!!te  been  newly  cut,  and  likewifea  piece  of  tim- 
ber artij^talty  canf^  The  failors  aboard  the  Nigna  took  up  the 
branch  'of  a  tree  with  red  berries,  perfelUy  frefli.  The  eloudsv 
around  the  Jetting  fun  a(Iwned  a  new  appearance :  the  air  was  more 
mild  and  warm,  and,  during  night,  the  wind  became  unequal  and 
variable^  From  all  thefe  fymptoms,  Columbus  was  fo  confident  of 
being  near^land,  tha%  on  the  evening;  of  the  eleventh  of  0£lober^ 
after  public  prayers  for  fuccefs^  he  ordered  the  fails  to  be  furled, 
and  the  fliips  to  lie  to,  keeping  ftrid:  watch,  left  they  Should  be 
diiven  aihore  in  the  night.  During  this  interval  of  fufpence  and 
expe£bition»  no  man  fliut  his  eyes,  all  kept  yppn  deck,  gazing  in- 
tently towiards  that  miarter  where  they  expend  to  dil'cover  th% 
hnd,  which  had  been  fo  long  the  objed;  of  their  TyiAies. 

About  two  houjrs  before  midnight,  Columbus  ftanding  on  the 
fore-caftle,>  obferved  a  light  at  a  diftance,  and  privately  pointed  it 
out  to  Pedro  Guttierelz,  a  page  of  ^the  Queen^s  wardrobe.    Guttierez 
.  perceived  it,  and  calling  to  Salcedoy^eompt roller  of  the  fleet,all  three 
(itvr  it  in  motion  as  if  it  vctrc  carried  from  place  to  place.     A  lit- 
tle after  midnight,  the  joyful  found  of  land,  landf  was  heard  from 
the  Pinta,  which  kept  always  ahead  of  the  other  Slips.     But,  hav- 
ling  been  fo  often  deceived  by  fallacious  appearances,  evey  man  was 
I  now  become  flow  of  belief,  and  waited,  in  all  the  anguijQi  of  un- 
I certainty  and  impatience,  for  the  return  of  day.      As  foon  as  morn. 
jing.  dawned,  Friday,  Oftober  i2,  all  doubts  and  fears  were  difpel. 
jlcd.     From,  every  fhip  an  ifland  was  feen  about  two  leagues  to  the 


^^  HtSCOVERY  0^  AMERICA, 

T0Mf  HirHofe  flat  ahd  verdant  fields,  well  ilorcd  with  wood,  and 
wiiten^  with  many  rivulets,  prcfentrd  the  afpe£l  of  a  dclijjhtfut 
c<wntry.  '  The  crew  of  the  Pinta  inflantly  began  the  Te  Deum,  as 
a  hymn  of  chankfgjving  to  God,  and  were  joined  by  thofe  of  the 
bthcr  (hipy  with  tears  of  joy  and  tnni'ports  of  congratulation. 
This  offic^f  gratitude  to  Heaven  Was  followed  by  an  i&.  of  jufticie 
to  their  commander.  They  thr^w  themfelves  at  the  fecit  of  Co- 
lunfbus,  with  feelings  of  I'clf-condemnation  mingled  with  reverentcy 
They  Implored  him  to  pardon  their  ignorance,  incredulity,  and  in- 
folence,  which  had  created  him  fo  much  unncccITary  diiquiet, 
f  and  had  fof^  often  obftrufled  the  profecution  of  his  weIl>concertcd 
plan :  and  ^fling,  in  the  warmth  of  their  admiration,  from  one 
extreme  to  another,  they  new  pronounced  the  man,  whom  they 
had  fo  lately  reviled  and  threatened,  to  be  a  perfon  infpired  by 
'Heaven  with  fagacity  and  fortitude  more  than  human,  in  order  to 
accompliih  a  dcfign,  fo  far  beyond  the  ideas  and  conception  of  all 
former  ages. 

As  foon  as  the  fun  arofe,  all  their  boat$  were  mantled  and  armed  ^ 
They  rowed  towards  the  ifland  with  their  colours  dlfplayed,  with 
warlike  mufic,  and  other  martial  pomp.  As  they  approaclied  the 
coa(l,theyfaw  it  covered  with  a  multitude  of  people,  whom  thehovcl- 
ty  of  the  fpeftacle  had  drawn  together,  whofe  attitudes  and  geftures 
cxprefled  worider  and  aftonifliment  at  the  {Irange  objects  which 
prefcnted  themfelves  to  their  view.  Columbus  was  the  firft  Euro- 
pean who  fet  foot  in  the  New  World  which  he  had  difcoVcred. 
He  landed  in  a  rich  drefs,  and  with  a  nailed  fword  in  his  hand< 
His  men  followed  and  kneeling  down,  they  all  kiffed  the  ground 
which  they  had  fo  long  defired  to  fee.  They  next  ereflled  a  cru- 
cifix, and  proftrating  themfelves  before  it,  returned  thanks  to  God 
for  conducing  their  voyage  to  fuch  an  happy  ilTuel  They  then 
took  folemn  pofTeflion  of  the  country  for  the  Crown  of  Caftilc  and 
Leon,  with  all  the  formalities  which  the  Portuguefe  were  accuf- 
tomed  to  obferve  in  afts  of  this  kind,  in  their  new  difcoveries. 

The  Spaniards,  while  thus  employed,  were  furrounded  by  many 
of  the  natives,  who  gazed,  in  filent  admiration,  upon  a£lions  which 
they  could  not  comprehend,  and  of  which  they  did  not  forefee  the 
confequences.  The  drefs  of  the  Spaniards,  the  whitenefs  of  their 
ikins,  their  bekrds,  their  arms  appeared  ftrange  and  furpriling. 
The  vaft  machines  in  which  they  had  traverfed  the  ocean,  that 
fecmed  to  move  upon  the  waters  with  wings,  and  uttfcred  a  dread- 
ful found  refembling  thunder,  accompanied  with  lightning  and 
fmoke,  ilruck  them  with  fuc4i  terror,  that  they  began  to  refpeft 
their  new  gueds  as  a  fuperior  order  of  beings,  and  concluded  that 
they  were  children  of  the  Sun,  who  had  defccnded  to  vifit  the 
c?irth.  :,: 


DtSCOVlRY  or  AMERICA.  ;»4 

The  Euinopeaat  wen  hardly  left  amaicd  at  the  feens  wim  Ik^ 
fpre  them.  Every  kerb,  and  (hrub,  and  tree,  mm  different  fird% 
thofe  which  flouriflied  in  Europe*  The  foil  feemed  to  be  richi  hi' ' 
bore  few  marks  of  cultivation*  The  climate,  even  to  Spaniard, 
felt  warm,  though  extremely  delightful.  The  inkabitanti  appear* 
ed  in  tbe  fimple  innocence  of  nature,  entirely  naked.  ^Xheir  black 
hair,  long  and  unturledi  floated  upon  their  (houldert,  or  wae 
bound  in  -  treflet  around  their  heada.  They  had  no  beards,  #nd 
every  part  of  their  bodies  waa  perfe£Uy  iinooth.  Their  com* 
plexion  was  a  duflty  copper  colour,  their  features  Angular,  rather 
than  difiigreeable,  their  afpeft  gentle  and  timid.  Tliough  not 
lailv  they  were  well  (haped,  and  aftive.  Their  face^  and  feveral 
parts  of  their  body,  were  fantaftically  painted  with  glaring  colours. 
They  were  fhy  at  firft  thx-ough  fear,  but  foon  become  familiar  with 
the  Spaniards,  and  vrith  tranfports  of  jay  received  from  them 
.hawks-bells,  glaiii  beads,  or  other  baubles,  in  return  for  which  they 
gave  fuch  provifionras  they  hfd,  and  fome  cotton  yam,  the  only 
commodity  of  value  that  they  could  produce.  Towards  evening, 
.Columbus  returned  to  his  (hips,  accompanied  by  many  of  the 
iflanders  in  their  boats,  which  they  called  canoes^  and  though 
rudely  formed  out  of  the  trunk  of  a  fingle  tree,  they  rowed  them 
with  furprsling  dexterity.  Thus,  in  the  firft  interview  between 
the  inhabitants  of  the  old  and  new  worlda,  every  thing  was  con- 
du£Ud  amicably,  and  to  their  mutiul  {atisfaftioo.  The  former, 
enlightened  and  ambitious,  formed  already  vaft  ideas  with  refpefib 
to  the  advantages  which  they  might  derive  from  the  regions  thac 
began  to  open  to  their  view.  The  latter,  fimple  and  undifceming, 
had  no  forefight  of  the  calamities  and  defolation  which  were  ap- 
pi<j«ching  their  country. 

Columbua,  who  now  aiTumed  the  title  and  authority  of  admiral 
and  viceroy,  called  the  ifland  which  he  had  difcovered  San  Satva- 
dor»  It  is  better  known  by  the  name  of  Guanahani^  which  the 
natives  gave  to  it,  and  is  one  of  th»t  large  clufter  of  iflands  called 
the  Lucaya  ar  Bahama  ifles.  It  is  fituated  above  three  thouland 
miles  to  the  weft  of  Gomfra,  from  which  the  fquadron  took  its 
departure,  and  only  four  degrees  to  the  fouth  of  it ;  To  little  had 
Columbus  deviated  from  the  weftcrly  courfe,  which  he  had  chofen 
as  the  moft  proper. 

Columbus  employed  the  next  day  in  vifiting  the  coafts  of  the 
ifland ;  and  from  the  univerfal  pdVerty  of  the  inhabitants,  he  per- 
ceived that  this  was  not  the  rich  country  for  which  he  fought. 
But,  conformably  to  his  theory  concerning  the  difcovery  of  thofo 
regions  of  Afia  which  ftretched  towards  the  eaft,  he  concluded 
that  San  Salvador  was  one  of  the  ifles  which  geographers  defcrib- 

D 


•6  hncovERY  or  AyitktCA, 

^  M'fit'mted  in  th«  great  ocean  adjacent  to  Indit.  Having  ekfciO 
ved  that  mod  of  the  people  whom  he  had  feen  wore  (null  plaMi 
of  gold,  by  way  of  ornament,  in  their  noflrils,  he  eagerly  inquired 
wherie  they  got  that  precious  metal.  They  pointed  towards  the  focith, 
and  made  him  comprehend  by  figns,  that  gold  abounded  in  coun- 
triea  fituated  in  that  quarter.  Thither  he  immediately  determki-' 
ed  to  direft  his  courfe,  in  full  confidence  of  finding  there  thoT* 
opulent  regions  which  had  been  the  objcft  of  his  voyage,  and 
would  be  a  recompence  for  all  his  toils  and  danger*.  He  took 
along  with  him  feven  of  the  natives  of  San  Salvador,  that,  by  ac- 
quiring the  Spanifli  language,  they  might  ferve  as  guides  and  in- 
terpreters ;  and  thofe  innocent  people  confidftred  it  as  a  mark  of 
di(lin£licn  when  they  were  Telexed  to  accompany  him. 

He  faw  feveral  iflands,  and  touched  at  three  of  the  largeft,  on 
which  he  bedowedthe  names  of  St.  Mnry  of  the  Conception,  Fer- 
nandina,  and  Ifabella.  But  as  their  foil,  produfkions,  end  inhabi- 
tants, nearly  refembled  thofe  of  San  Salvador,  he  ihad*  no  ftay  ui 
any  of  them.  He  inquired  every  where  fbr  gotd,  arid  the  figns  that 
were  uniformly  made  by  wayofanfwer,confinHedhim  in  the  opi* 
nion  that  it  was  brought  from  the  fouth.  He  lollowed^that  courfe, 
•and  Toon  difcovered  a  country  whii^h  appeared 'Very -extenfive,  not 
-perfeaiy  level,  like  thofe  which  he  had  aln^ady  vifited,  but  fo  di- 
verfified  with  rifing  grounds,  hills,  rivers,  woods  and  pbins,  thst 
he  was  uncertain  whether  it  might  provi-.  an  ifland,  or  part)  of  the 
continent.  The  natives  of  San  Salvadorwhom  he  had  on  board, 
called  it  Cuba  :  Columbus  gave  it  the  name  of  Juanna.  He  enter- 
-ed  the  mouth  of  a  large  river  with  his  fquadrcm,  and  all  the  inha- 
'^bitants  fled  to  the  mountains  as  he  approached  the  (bore.  >But  as 
he  refolved  to  careen  his  fliips  in  that  place,  he  fent  fome  Spaniards, 
together  with  one  of  the  people  of  San  Salvador,  to  view  the  in- 
terior  parts  ^f  the  country.  They,  having  advanced  above  fixty 
miles  from  the  (hore,  reported  upon  their  return,  that  the  foil  was 
richer  and  more  cultivated  than  any  they  had  hitherto  difcovered  \ 
that,  befides  many  fcattered  cottages,  they  had  found  one  village, 
containing  above  a  thoufand  inhabitants ;  that  the  people  though 
naked,  feemed  to  be  more  intelligent  than  thofe  of  San  Salvador, 
but  had  treated  them  with  the  fame  refpe£iful  attention,  kiffing 
their  feet,  and  honouring  them  as  facred  beings  allied  to  Heaven ;  that 
they  had  given  them  to  eat  a  certain  root,  the  tafte  of  which  refembled 
roafled  chefnuts,and  like  wife  a  fingular  fpeciesof  corn  called  maize^ 
which,  either  when  roafted  whole  or  ground  in  meal,  was  abundantly 
palatable;  that  there  feemed  to  be  no  four-footed  animals  in  the  coun- 
try, but  a  fpecies  of  dogs,  which  could  not  bark,  and  a  creature 
refemblinga  rabbit,but  of  amuch fmaller  fize ;  that  they  had  obferved 
iiame  oirnaisents  of  gold  among  the  people,  but  of  no  great  value. 


DitSCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


'7 


Tfacfe  meflbngen  had  prevailed  with  fome  of  the  natives  to  ac- 
company them,  who  itifbrmed  Colurobua,  that  the  gold  of  which 
they  made  their  omamenti  wa«  found  in  Cuianacan,  By  thi« 
word  they  meant  the  middle  or  inland  part  of  Cuba ;  but  Colum- 
bua,  being  ignorant  of  their  language,  as  well  as  unaccuftomed  to 
their  pronunciation,  and  his  thoughts  running  continually  upon 
his  own  theory  concerning  the  ditcovcry  of  the  £a(i  indies,  l.e 
was  led,  by  the  relemblance  of  found,  to  fuppofe  that  they  ^M>ke 
of  the  Great  Khan,  and  imagined  that  the  opulent  kingdom  of 
Cathayt  delcribed  by  Marco  Polo,  was  not  very  remote.  This 
induced  him  to  employ  Ibme  time  in  viewing  the  country.  Ho 
viiited  almoft  every  harbour,  from  Porto  del  Principe,  on  the 
north  coaft  of  Cuba,  40  the  eaftem  extreaaiity  of  the  inland  ;  but 
though  delighted  with  the  beauty  of  the  fcenes,  which  every 
where  prcieuted  ^hemielves,  and  amaxed  at  the  luxuriant  fertility 
of  the  ioil,  both  which,  from  their  novelty,  noade  a  more  lively 
ifapieflion  upon  his  imagination*,  he  did  not  find  gold  in  iucU 
quantity  a«  was  fuAcient  to  iati&fy  either  the  avarice  of  his  fol. 
towers,  or  the  expedations  of  the  court  to  which  he  was  to  return* 
The  people  of  the  country,  a»  much  aftoni(hed  at  his  eagerncls  in 
quell  of  gold,  as  the  Europeans  were  at  their  ignorance  and  Urn* 
;  plicity,  pointed,  towards  the  caft,  where  an  iUand  which  ibey 
called  Hayti  was  fituated,  in  which  that  metal  was  more  abundant 
than  among  th<;m.  Columbus  ordered  his  fquadron  to  bend  its 
courfe  thither ;  but  Martin  Alonfo  Pinion,  impatient  to  be  thq 
fitfi  who  fliould  take  poffeffion  of  the  trealures  which  this  coun- 
try was  fi^poied  to  contain,  quitted  his  companions,  regardlefs 
I  of  all  the  admiral's  fignals  to  flacken  fail  until  they  ihould  come 
up  with  him» 

ColuB]l>u8,  retar^d  by  contrary  winds,  di^  not  reach  Hayti^ 
1  till  the  fixth  of  December,  He  called  the  port  where  he  firfl 
touched  St.  Nicholas,  and  the  idand  itfelf  £fpagnola,  in  honour  of 

*  III «  ktter  of  t}w  Admirar*  to  Ferdinand  and  Ifabella,  he  defcribet  one  of  the 
I  harbours  in  Cuba,  with  all  the  enthuTiaftic  admiration  of  a  difcoverer. — >•'!  difco- 

vercd  a  river  which  a  ^Uey  might  eaiUy  enter ;  the  beauty  of  it  induced  mc  to 
jfoundi  and  I  foiwid'f«oii|  five; to  eight  fathom»  of  ytrater.  Having  proceeded  a 
Iconriderable  way  up  the  river,  eycry  thing  invited  me  to  fettle  there.  The  beauty 
I  of  the  river,  the  ciearneft  of  the  water,  through  which  I  could  fee  the  fandy  bottom, 

the  multitude  of  pahn-tret*  ttf  di^ent  kinda,  the  talleft  and  fineft  I  had  feen,  and 
I  an  infinite  number  of  other  large  and  Qouriihing  treea,  the  biids,  and  the  verdure 
lof  the  plains,  are  fo  wonderfully  beautiful,  that  this  country  excels  all  others  ag 
■far  as  the  day  furpaflcs  the  night  in  brightnefs  and  fplendour,  fo  that  I  gften  faid, 
■that  it  would  be  in  vain  for  me  to  attempt  to  give  your  highneffes  a  full  account  i* 
lit,  for  neither  my  tongue  nor  my  pen  tould  come  up  to  the  truth,  and  indeed  I 
lam  fo  much  amaaed  at  the  fight  of  fuch  beauty,  that  I  knqm  oat  how  to  defcribe 
lu"    J^ifeof  Columb,  c.  90. 

D  B 


•9 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA, 


the  kingdom  by  which  he  wm  employed;  and  it  is  the  only  eoufi# 
try,  of  thofe  he  had  yet  difcovered,  which  hat  retained  the  nam* 
that  he  gave  it.  As  he  could  neither  meet  with  the  Pinta,  nor 
have  any  intercourfe  with  the  inhabitants,  who  fled  in  great  con- 
ftemation  towards  the  woods,  he  foon  ouitted  St.  Nicholas,  and 
failing  along  the  northern  coaft  of  the  ifland,  he  entered  another 
harbour,  which  he  called  the  Conception.  Here  he  was  more 
fortunate}  his  people  overtook  a  woman  who  was  flying  from 
them,  and  after  treating  her  with  great  gentlenefs,  dilmiflied  her 
with  a  prefent  of  fuch  toys  as  they  knew  were  moft  valued  in  thofe 
regions.  The  delcription  which  (he  gave  to  her  countrymen  of  the 
humanity  and  wonderful  qualities  of  the  ftrangera ;  their  admiration 
of  the  trinkets,  which  Aie  (hewed  with  exultation ;  and  their  ^ager- 
nefs  to  participate  of  the  fame  favours ;  removed  all  their  fears, 
and  induced  many  of  them  to  repair  to  the  harbour.  The 
Arange  objefts  which  they  beheld,  and  the  baublea  which  Co- 
lumbus  beftowed  upon  them,  amply  gratified  their  curioftty 
and  their  wilhes.  They  nearly  refembled  the  people  of  Guana- 
hani  and  Cuba,  They  were  naked  lilie  them,  ignorant,  and 
Ample;  and  feemed  to  be  equally  unacquainted  with  all  the  afts 
which  appear  moft  necelfary  in  poliflied  focicti<;is;  but  they  were 
gentle,  credulous  and  timid,  to  a  degree  which  rendered  it  eafy 
to  acquire  the  afcendan^  oycf  them,  efpecially  as  their  exceflive 
admiration  led  them  into  the  fame  ^ror  with  the  people'  of  the 
other  iflands,  in  believing  the  Spaniards  ^o  be  more  than  mortals* 
and  defcended  immediately  from  Heaven.  They  pofliefled  gold 
in  greater  abundance  than  their  neighbours,  yrhi^h  tHiey  readily 
exchanged  for  bells,  beads,  and  pins;  and  in  this  unequal  traffic 
both  parties  were  highly  pleafied,  each  confidcring  themselves 
as  gainers  by  the  tranfa^ion.  Here  Columbus  was  vifited  by  « 
prince  or  cazique  of  the  country.  He  appeared  with  all  the 
pomp  known'  among  a  fimple  people,  being  carried  in  a  fort  of 
palanquin  upon  the  |hpvlders  of  four  men,  and  attended  by 
many  of  his  fiibjcQis,  whp  fcfyefl  him  with  great  refpeft.  His 
deportment  was  grave  and  ftate|y,  very  refierved  towards  his 
Awn  people,  but  with  Columbus  and  the  Spaniards  extremely 
courteous.  He  gave  the  admiral  fom^  thip  .plates  of  gold,  and 
4  girdle  of  curious  workmanH' ip,  receiving  in  return  prefents 
of  fmall  value,  but  highly  acceptable   o  him. 

Columbus,  ftill  intent  on  difcovenng  the  lyiines  whic)^  yielded 
gol^.  continued  to  interrogate  all  the  natives  with  whom  he 
had  any  intercourfe  concerning  their  fituation.  They  concurred 
in  pofnting  out  a  mountainous  country,  which  they  called 
Ciboaf  at  lome  diftance  from  fhc?  fea,  and  farther  towards  the  | 
paft,     Striif  k  with  this  founc^i  which  :ippearcd  to  him  the  fanje 


^^' 

g**^!^ 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMSAiej, 


with  Cipanft  th«  name  by  which  Marco  Polo,  and  other  tn- 
vellera  to  the  eaft,  cUftinguiflied  the  iflands  of  Japan,  he  no 
longer  doubted  with  refpc^  to  the  vicinity  of  the  countries 
which  he  had  diicovcrcd  to  the  remote  parta  of  Afia ;  and,  in 
full  expefiation  of  reaching  loon  tlu^fe  regiona  which  had  been 
the  obje£l  of  his  voyage,  he  dircAed  hia  courfe  toward*  the  eaft. 
He  put  into  a  commodious  harbour,  which  he  called  St.  Thomaa^ 
and  found  that  diftrift  to  be  under  the  government  of  a  powerful 
cazique,  named  Guacanaharif  who,  aa  he  afterwarda  leamed» 
waa  one  of  the  five  fovereigna  amoi>g  whom  the  whole  ifland 
was  divided.  He  immediately  fent  meflengera  to  Columbua» 
who,  in  his  name,  delivered  to  him  the  preleat  of  «  maikt 
eurioufly  fiihioned,  with  the  ears,  nofe,  and  mouth  of  beaten 
gold,  and  invited  him  to  the  place  q|  bia  refidence,  near  th« 
harbour  now  called  Cape  Francoia,  fome  leagues  towarda  the 
eaft.  Columbua  dilpatched  fome  of  his  officer*  to  vifit  thi* 
prince,  who,  u  he  behaved  himielf  with  greater  dignity,  feemcd 
to  claim  more  attention.  They  returned,  with  fuch  favourable 
accounta  both  of  the  country  and  of  the  people,  a*  made 
Columbua  impatient  for  that  interview  with  Guacanahari  to 
which  he  had  been  invited,    '  ^ 

'  He  ^iied  for  '|hui  purpofe  from  St.  Thoma*,  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  oif  December  with  a  fair  wind,  and  the  lea  perfeftly  calm ; 
and  as,  amidft  the  multiplicit>  of  his  occupatioi^,  he  had  not  ihut 
his  eyes  for  two  days,  he  retired  at  midnight  in  order  to  take  fome 
^pepofe,  having  committed  the  helm  to  the  pilot,  with  ftrift  injunc- 
tions npt  ^o  .qut  i^  fur  a  moipent.  The  pilot,  dreading  no  danger, 
carelefsly  left  the  helm  to  an  unexperienced  cabin  boy,  and  the 
ihip,  carried  away  by  a  current,  was  daflied  againft  a  rock.  The 
violence  of  the  (hock  awakened  Columbus,  ^e  fan  up  to  the 
deck.  There,  all  waa  confufion  and  defpair*  He  alone  retained 
prefence  of  mind.  He  ordered  fome  of  the  failor*  to  take  a  boat, 
and  carry  out  an  anchor  aftevn  \  bi^t,  inftc;ad  of  obeying,  they 
made  off  towarda  the  Nigna,  which  was  a)>put  half  a  league  dif- 
tant.  He  then  commanded  the  mails  to  be  cut  down,  in  order 
to  lighten  the  Ihip ;  but  all  his  endeavours  were  too  late ;  the 
veffcl  opened  near  the  keel,  and'  ^Ued  io  fad  with  water  that 
its  lofs  was  inevitable.  The  Imoothtif^is  of  the  fea,  and  the 
timely  afliftance  of  boats  from  the  Nigna,  enabled  the  crew  to 
lave  theji:  |ives.  As  foon  as  the  iilanders  heard  of  this  difafter, 
they  crowded  (6  the  (hore,  with  their  prince  Guacanahari  at 
their  head.  Inftead  of  taking  advantage  of  the  diilrefs  in  which 
they  beheld  the  Spaniards,  to  attempt  any  thing  t<^  their  detriment, 
they  lamented  their  misfortune  with  tear*  of  fincere  condolence, 
Not  latisfied  with  this  unavailing  expreOion  of  their  fympathy« 


$m  J>JStOVEhY  &F  AMKRICA, 

th«y  ^put  to  fiea  »  number  of  canoes,  and,  under  tbe  4ire£)iiQit 
«f  the  Spaniarcb,  afi^ftied  in  laving  whatever  could  be  got  outr 
of  the  wreek ;  and  by  the  united  labour  of  lo  many  hands, 
^aioft  every  thing  of  value  was  carried  aihore.  As  faft  a«  the 
goods  were  landed,  Guacanahari  in  perlon  took  charge  of  them, 
flfy  hi*  orders  they  were  all  depofited  in  one  place,  and  ^r:  ad 
centinelk  wiere  polled,  who  kept  the  multitude  at  a  diftance,  in 
Order  to  prevent  them  not  only  from  embezzling,  but  from  in>r 
(^«fttng  too  ourioufly  what  belonged  to  their  guefts.  Nex* 
xhorAing  thiS' prince  viftted  Columbus,  who  was  now  on  boar^ 
the  Nigna^  and  endeavoured  to  conlble  him  lor  his  lob,  by 
qifertng^all  that  he  poiOefled  to  repair  it*. 

ThO  condttioa  of  Columbus  was  fuch,  th^t  he  ftoiod  in  nec(i 
«(f  confolafion.  lie  had  hitherto  procured  no  ipt^igence  of 
^  th^  Piota^  and  no  longer  doubted  but  that  his  treacherous  aSocit 
ale  had'  let  Istil  for  Europe,  in  order  to  have  the  merit  of  carrying 
tSn  firft  tiding^,  of  the  extraordinary  dificoveriei  which  had  been 
9^,  and  to  pre-occupy  lb  far  tjie  ear. of  t.b«ir  fovereign,  94 
^  rob  him  ojf  the  gloi>y  and  reward  t»  ¥6hi«h  lit  w^s  juAly  eru 
tilled.  Thecc  roa^ined  but  one  velfel,  «n4  tH^  ^  lxn»l|iei]b  an4 
moft  crazy  of  th^  fquadron,  to  traverie  fu€^  a  va|t  OMSn,  and  carry 
£»  ifiany  men  back  t0  Europe.  £a«l|  >f  (hofe  cificamfUnces 
was  aUit>t|i<ig,  and  filled  the  mind  of  Columbus  with  the  utmoft 
JMittitude*  The  de&re  of  overtaking  Pin^n,  and  of  cflG^cing 
fbe  nn^fivour^blo  impreflions  which  his  miKfreprefcntations  mif^ 

*  TIm  account  which  Coluipbut  gives  of  the  humanity  and  orderly  behaviour- of 
fhe  nativei  on  this  occafion  is  very  ilriking.  **  The  king  (fayt  he,  in  a  letter  t(t 
l^ditaanid  and  IftibeUa)  havin|;  been,  informed  of  our  misfortune,  expreitaid  great 
friKf'foc  out'  lofs,  and  immediately  fent  aboard  all  the  people  in  the  place  in  maajft 
j^rige  c^oes  ;  we  foon  unloaded  the  (hip  of  every  thing  that  was  upon  deck,  as  tiM 
X  king^gave  us  great  afliftance :  he  him/elf,  with  his  brothers  and  relations,  took  all 
^offible  care  that  every  thing  ihoold  be  properly  done  both  aboard  aud  on  fliore, 
^d, ;  from  time  to  tiime,  he  fent  foi^e  of  b"  relations  weeping,  to  b«g  of  me  not 
(o  be  d<4e£bd,  for  he  woi^ldgivc  me  ell  t^at  he  had.  I  can  aifure  your  highnefles. 
that  fo  much  fare  would  not  have  been  taken  in  fecuring  our  ieffeds  in  an)>  part  of 
Spajb,  as  all  our  property  was  put  together  in  one  place  near  his  paiM:e,  until  ths 
bcmfes'  which  he  wanted  to  prepare  for  the  cuftody  of  it,  were  emptied-  He  ink« 
miediately  placjd  a.guard  of  armed  inen,  who  watched  during  the  whole  night, 
and  thofe  on  (hore  lamented  as  if  they  had  been  much  interefied  in  our  lofs.  The 
people  are  fo  affledionate,  fo  tradable,  and  fo  peaceable,  that  I  fwear  to  your 
ilijthneOeft,  that  there  is  not  a  better  race  of  men,  nor  a  better  country  in  the  world, 
Tlieylowe  their  neighbour  a«  themfelves;  theiif  converfftion  is  the  fweeteft  and 
mildeft  in  the  world,  cheerful,  and  always  accompanied  with  a  fmile.  And  aU 
Aiough  it  is  -true  that  they  go  naked,  yet  your  highnelfes  may  be  aflured  that  they 
liave  many  vety  commendaije  cuftoms ;  the  king  is.  fcrved  with  great  ftatc,  and  his. 
^haviour.u  fo  decent,  that  it  ia  plea^t  to  fee  him,  as  it  is  likewife  to  obierve 
the  wonderful  memory  which,  thefe  people  have,  aiid  their  dclire  of  knowing  every 
diing,  which  leads  them  to  inquire  into  its  caufes  and.effe£ls."  Life  of  Columbus, 
e.  3B.  It  is  probabk  that  die  Spabiards  were  indebted  for  this  o<ficio,us  attention, 
lff(iieci|tiiii«n  Which  dw  Indians  entertained  of  tbexn.41 «  fuporior  «de(  of  beiqgm 


btStortAY  OJ  jiM£STCM 


^ 


Ilnake  in  ^in,  made  it  neceflary  to  fotufji  thitlMr  iVdj^HMt^liay. 
jThe  diAcukiy  of  taking  fuch  a  numW  «¥  pOffOQf  ,9b9»rd<4l^ 
Migna,  confirmed  him  in  »n  «pini<m,  which  the  f^Ftilky  of -i^ 
country,  and  the  ^gitelle  temper  of  the  pepple,  had  <di»|idy  in4iM44 
hinfi  to  form.  He  refolved  to  leave  a  part  pf  )^i»  crew  i^  ^ 
ifland,  that,  by  refuUng  iliere,  they  might  learnlhe  Uqgi#Kg«B^ 
the  nativet,  iludy  their  difpoTition,  examinie  ^  nftUice  pf  i(^ 
coumry,  £earch  for  mines,  prepare  for  the  <;o9|ii9qdious ii^lq^i^ent 
«f  ^  C(Hony,  with  wihich  he  pitrpoljcd  to  return,  and  th^a  ;£^<hi9(? 
imd  £u:ilitate  the  acci^uifition  of  thofe  advantages  w^ich  he  ejf:,pe^ 
«d  from  his  difcoveries.  When  he  mentioned  this  ito  h^i  W*^* 
all  approved  of  the  dcAgn ;  and  from  impatience  vnder  Xht^.hr 
tigueof  a  long  Vi3yage,fn>m  the  levity  natural  tb  Sv\9rf,  vr  irm». 
die  hopes  of  unaffing  wealth  in  a  country  which  a^Qrded  fu^ 
promifing  fpecimens  of  its  riches,  many  offered  ;Vol|inUrily  ^o  )b|f 
among  the  number  of  thofe  who  (hould  leem^in* 

Nothing  was  Aow  wanting  towards  tihe  je^mcvtipfi  pf  .*hH 
fche^fie,  butto  obtain  the  confent  of  Guat^aah^ri ;  amd  h^  v^- 
fufpicious  fifhplicity  Toon  prefented  to  the  admiral  a  f^VtO^^I^ 
opportimity  ol  propofing  it.  Columhms  having,  m  the  Jb^ft 
4nanner  he  could,  by  broken  words  and  Ogn«f  ejppreOed  fetme 
Huftofuy  to  know  the  caufe  which  had  moved  tjke  iflanderS'  tO 
Ay  with  fuch  precipitation  upon  the  approach  of  his  Q^ips,  Ahfi 
caziqwi  infbnned  him  that  the  county  was  inyish  ini^ded  hy  the 
incurlions  of  certain  people,  whom,  he  cHled  CarrifkenKKf^  wk» 
inhabited  feveral  iflands  to  the  fouth^eaft.  {Fhefe  ;lie  deff^ibed  as 
a  fierce  and  wat-like  race  of  men,  who  d^ygh^  in:  bloody  afwl 
devoured  t^e  il(fh  of  the  prilbners  who  were  fo  ,uoHappy  as  .t<> 
fall  into  their  hands  ;  and  as  the  Spaniards,  at  their  £rfl  appear* 
ance,  were  fuppoied  to  be  Carribeans,  whetm  the  natives,  how- 
ever  numerous,  durft  not  face  in  battle,  they  ha.d  FQCQurfe  tp 
their  i^fual  method  of  fecuring  their  fafety,  1^  fly<ing  into  the 
I  thickeft  and  mcxft  impenetrable  wood^.  Guacanahari,  whil# 
I  fpeaking  oTthofe  ^reac^ul  invaders,  difcovered  fuch  fymptoms  Qf 
I  terror,  as  well  as  fuch  coafcioufnefs  of  the  inability  of  his  own 
I  people  to  refill  them,  as  led  Columbus  to  conclude  that  he 
would  n«t  he  alarmed  at  the  propofition  of  any  fchdne  whicJ> 
afforded  him  the  profpefl  of  an  additional  fecurity  againft  their 
attacks.  He  inftantly  offered  him  the  afliftance  of  the  Spaniards 
Ito  repel  his  enemies ;  he  engaged  to  take  hum  and  his  petiole 
■under  the  prote£tion  of  the  powerful  monarch  ,wlioim  he  ferve4» 
land  offered  to  leave  in  thc^  ifland  fuch  a  number  of  his  nien  a* 
Ifhould  be  fufficient,  not  only  to  defend  the  inhabitants  from 
■future  incurfions,  but  to  avenge  their  paft  wrongs. 


I> 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


'  Hie  oraduldut  prince  clofed  eagerly  with  the  propo&l,  ttA 
thought  himfelf  already  fafe  under  the  patronage  of  beings  fprung 
from  Heaven*  and  fupe^ior  in  p Wer  to  mortal  man.     The  ground 
was  mariied  out  for  a  fmall  fort,  which  Cdunibus  called  Iktoidad, 
becaufe  he  had  landed  there  on  Chriftmas  day.     A  deep- ditch' 
was  drawn  around  it.     The  ramparts  were  fortified  with  palliiades, 
and  the  great-  guni,  faved  out  of  the  admiral's  ihip,  were  planted 
upon  them.     In  ten  4^s  the  work  was  finifhed ;  that  fimple  race 
of  iqen  bbourinnwll$il^confiderate  afliduity  in  erefting  this  firft 
monument  of  their  own  fervitude.     During  this  time  Columbuav 
by  his  carefle^  and  lib<^rality,  laboured  to  increaie  the  high  opinio'k 
which  thff  nj^ives  entertained  of  the  Spaniards.     But  while  he 
endeavoured't#  .tl^pire  them  with  confidence  in  their  difpo^tion 
to  do  good,  he  wilhed  likewife  to  give  them  fome  ftrikin^  idea*  of 
their  power  to  puniih  and  deftroy  fuch  as  were  the  objefts  of  their 
indignation.'     With  this  view,  in  pirefence  of  a  vaft  affembly,  he« 
drew  up  his  men  in  orcter  of  battle,  and  made  an  bftentatioiis  but 
innocent  <fi(jilay  of  the  (harpnefs  of  the  Spaniih  fwords,  of.  the 
,  force  of  theiir  fpears,  and  the  operation  of  their  crofs>bows.     Thef* 
rude  I>eople,  fthmg^s  to  the  ufe  of-  iron,  aa4  unacquainted  with 
any  hoftUe  weapons^  but  arrows  of  reeds  poiiei^  with  the  bones 
of  fi(hes,  wooden  fwords,  and  javelins  hardened,  in  the  fire,  won- 
dered and  trembled.     Before  this  furprife  or  feax*  had  time  to  abate, 
he  ordered  the  great  guns  to  be  finned.     The  fudcbn  ex^loAon 
ftruck  them  with  fuch^terror^  that tlfef^lelT. flat  to  the  ground,  co- 
vering their  ftces  with  their  hands  >«nd  when  they  beheld  the  af- 
toniflting  efieft  of  the  bullets  among  the  trees,  towardsr  which  the 
cannon  had  oeen  pointed,  they  concluded  that  it  was  impoffible 
to  reftft  men,  who  h«d  the  command  of  fuch  deftru^ve  inftru- 
ments,  and  who  came  armed  with'  thunder  and  lightning  againft 
their  enemie^  ,:^/ 

After  giving  fuch  imprelRons  b^lh  of  the  beneficence  an4pow- 
€t  of  the  Spaniards,  as  might  have  rendered  it  eafy  tojgpreferve  an 
afcendant  over  the  minds  of  the  natives,  Columbus  appointed  thirty- 
eight  of  his  people  to  remain  in  the  ifland.   He  entrufted  the  com- 
mand of  thefeto  Diego  de  Arada,  a  genilcMU^  of  Cordova,  invefting 
him  with  the  fame  powers  which  he  himfelf  had  received  from  Fer- 
dinand and.Iftlbella ;  and  fiirniflied  him  with  every^thing  requifite 
for  the  fubfiftence  or  defence  of  this  infant  colony.     He  ftrifbly 
enjoined  them  to  maintain  concord  among  themielves,  to  yield  an 
unieferved  oll||diehce  to  their  commander,  to  avoid  giving  ofFence 
to  the  natives  by  any  violence  or  exaftion,  to  cultivate  the  friend 
Ihip  of  Guacai^ari,  but  not  to  put  themfelves  in  his  power, 
by  ftrageling  in  finall  parties,  or  marching  too  far  from  the  fort. 
He  promifed  to  revifit  them  foon,  with  iuch  a  reinforcement  of  I 


bUcdi^kiy  dp  AMikiSA. 


m 


length  u  might  enable  them  to  take  full  pofleflton  of  tlie  cosun-* 
try,  and  to  reap  all  the  fruits  of  their  difcoveries^  In  the  mean 
time,  he  engaged  to  mention  their  names  to  thd  King  and  Queen 
and  if  pbte  their  sierit  and  ferviceft  in  the  moft  advantageous 
light.  \        , 

Having  thus  taken  every  pirecaution  for  the  fecurHy  of  thU 
Colony,  he  left  Navidad  on  the  fourth  of  January,  otie  {Hoiirand 
four  hundred  and  ninety-three,  and  fteering  towards  tlkeaftv  dif-> 
tovered,  and  ]|ave  names  to  moft  of  the  JA^^iours  on  the  northern 
toaft  of  the  ifland.  On  the  fixth,  he  ^eflvtad  the  Pinta^  and 
foon  Came  ujp  with  her,  after  a  reparation  of  more  than  dk  weeks* 
Pinson  endeavoured  to  juftify  his  ''ohdu£t,  fay  jpretending  that 
he  had  been  driven  from  his  roiirie  by  ftjxfs  J^  -vtreather^  and 
jl^revented  from  returning  by  contrary  winas; "  The  admiral, 
though' he  ftill  fufpe6:ed  his  perfidious  intentions,  and  knew  well 
what  he  urged  in  his  own  def<'nce  to  be  frivolous  as  well  as  falfe^ 
was  fo  fenlibie  that  it  Was  rot  a  proper  time  for  venturing  upon 
any  high  ftrain  of  authori'.y,  and  felt  fuch  fatisli6tion  in  this 
junftion  with  his  eonibrt,  \^hi6h  delivered  him  from  many  dif- 
quieting  apprehenfions,  that,  lame  as  Pinzon's  apology  was,  he  ad- 
mitted of  it  wKh'out  difficulty,  and  reftofed  him  to  favour* 
During  his  abfence  from  the  admiral,  Pinzon  had  vififed  feveral 
harbours  i^  the  iflandj  and  acquired  fome  gold  by  trafficking 
with  the  natives,  but  had  made  no  dil'coVery  of  any  importance^ 

From  the  condition  Qf#is  fltips,  as  well  as  the  teriiper  of  hitf 
ttlcftj  Columbus  now  foun^.it  necelTary  to  haften  hi»  return  to 
Europe;  The  former,  having  fuifered  miich  during  s  Voyage  of 
fuch  an  Uniriinil  length,  were  extremely  leaky.*  The  latter  ek- 
preifed  the  utmoft  impatience  to  revifit  their  native  ccluntry^ 
from  which  they  had  been'fb  long  abfenf,  and  xHiwre  fhey  had 
things  fo  wonderful  and  un-heard  of  to  relate^^  Accbt^iigty 
on  t|e  fixteenth  of  Januat^j^  he  direaed  his  courfe  towards  the 
tiortli-fci%  and  fdon  loft  fight  of  land,  tie  had  on  board  folne  o^ 
the  natives^  whom  he  had  taken  from  the  different  iflands  which 
Jie  difcovercd;  and  befides  the  gold,  which  was  the  chief  objeft 
of  rcfearCh*  he  had.^  totloi&ed  fpecimens  of  all  the  produdiona 
which  were  likely  to  bectfme  fubjefts  of  commerce  in  the  feve- 
ral countries,  ^1  well  as  many  unknown  birds,  and  other  natural 
turiofities,  which  might  attraa  the  attention  of  tht  learned,  or 
ixcite  the  wonder  of  the  people.  The  Voyage  was  profperou* 
to  the  fourteenth  of  February,  and  he  had  ad|tfnccd  neaf  fiVfe 
hundred  leagues  acrofc  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  when  the  wind  began 
to  rife,  and  Continue  (6  blow  with  increafing  Mrage,  which  termi- 
<»tcd  in  p  furious  hurricane.     Every  expedient  that  the  naval 


M 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA. 


ikill-^nd  experience  of  Coluinbus  could  devife  was  employed,  in 
order  to  fave  the  fhips.      But  it  was  impoflSble  to  withfUnd  the 
•violence  of  the  ftorm,  and.  as  they  were  ftill  far  from  any  land,' 
.deftruflion  lipem^d  inevitable.     The  Tailors  had  recourfe  to  pray- 
ers to  Almighty   God,  to  the  invocation  of  faints,  to  voMfs  aild 
charms,  to  every  ^hing  that  religion  di£lates,  or  fuperftition  fug- 
jgcils,  to  the   affrighted  mind  of  man.     No  profpeft  of  dcliver- 
.ancc  appearing,  they  abandoned  themfelves  to  defpair,  and  ex- 
pe£lbed  every  moment  to  be  fwallowed  up  in  the  waves.     Beiides 
the  pafTions  which  naturally  agitate  and  alarm  the  hunnnfmind  in 
fuch  awful   fituatigjns,  when  certain  death,  in  one.  of  his  moft 
terrible  forms,  is  before  it^  Columbus  had  to  endure  feelings  of 
diftrefs  peculiar  to  himfelf.     He  dreaded  that  all  knowlei^e  of 
the  amazing  difcoveries  which  he  had  made  was  nowtoperifh; 
^mankind  were  to  be  deprived  of  every  benefit  that  might  have 
been  derived  from  the  happy  fuccefs  of  his  fchemes,  and  his 
own  j:iame  would  defcend  to  pofterity  ^aik  that  of  a  vaih  deluded 
i  adventurer,  inileid  of  being  tranfmitted  with  thejionor  due  to 
.  the  author  and  conduflor  of  the  moft  i^eble  enterprife  that  bad 
.ever  been  undertaken.     Thefe   reflexions  extinguifhed  all  ienie 
of  his  own  perfbnal  dagger.     Lefs  afibAed  with  the  l0fs  <of  tife» 
than  folicitous  to  preferve  the  memdry  of  what  he  had'atfempC«d 
and  achieved,  he  retired  to  his  cabin,  and  wrote,'Upon  parchment, 
a  (hort  account  of  the  voyage  which  he  had  made,  of  th6  courfe 
.which  he    had    taken,    of    the    fttuttion    and    riches    of    the 
.  countries  .which  he  had  difcdvered,  and  of  the  colony  that  he  had 
-;  left  there.     Haying  wrapt  up  this  in  an  oiled  cloth,  which  he 
.  inclofed  in  a  cake  of  wax,  be  put  it  into  a  cajk  carefully  (topped 
up,  and  threw   it   into   the   fea,  in  hopes  that  fome   fortunate 
accident  might  preferve  a  depoflt  of  fo  much  importance  to  -the 
world.*  .  .       J  ' 


*  Every  nuMiumeiit  of  fuch  a  tttan  at  Colombua  it  Valuable.    A  IfCter  whkh  lie  I 
ynote  to  Ferdinand  and  Ifabella,  defcribing  what  paffed  on  this  occafion,  exhibits 
a  mod  ftriking  piAure  of  his  intrepidity,  his  humanity,  his  prudence,  his  public 
fpirit,  and  tourtly  addi;efs.     **  I  would  have  been  lefs  concerned  for  this  misfcr> 
tune,  had  I  alone  been  19  danger,  both  becaufe  my  life  is  a  debt  that  I  owe  to  the 
Supreme  Creator,  and  becaufe  I  have  at  other  times  been  expofed  to  the  moft  im- 
minent hazard.    But  what  gave  me  infinite  grief  and  vexation  was,  that  after  it  had 
plcafed  our  Lord  to  give  me  faith  to^  underuke  tjiis  enterprise,  in  which  I  h»d 
now  been  fo  fuccefsful,  that  my  opponents  would  have  been  convinced,  ahd  the 
glory  of  your  highnefles,  and  the  extent  of  your  territory  increafed  by  me ;  it  ihould  I 
pieafe  the  Divine  Majefty  to  ftop  all  by  my  death.     ^11  this  would  have  been  more  I 
tolerable,  had  it  not  been  attended  with  the  lofs  of  thofe  (ben  whom  I  had  carried  | 
with  me,  upon  promife  of  the  greateft  profperity,  whofeeing  themfelves  in  fucbl 
diftrcfs,  curfed  not  only  their  coming  along  with  me,  but  that  fear  and  awe  of  me,\ 
which  prevented  them  from  returning  as  they  had  often  refolved  to  have  done,  f 
Jhit  beAdes  all  thiS}  my  forrow  was  greatly  increafed,  by  recoile^ng  that  I  had! 


iployed,  iu 
thftand  the 
a  any  land,' 
rfc  to  pray- 
>  vovfs  and 
rftition  fug- 
of  dclivcr- 
ir,  and  ex- 
•s.     Befidcs 
cum  'mind  in 
of  his  moft 
:  feelings  of 
nowlet^e  of 
w  to  pcrifli; 
t  might  have 
ne$,  and  hi» 
raih  deluded 
lonor  due  to 
»i!ife  that  had 
[hedall  fenfc 
B  lofs  (of  Ufe, 
[lad  attempted 
Mfi  parchment, 
of  the  courfe 
ches    of    the 
y  that  he  had 
th,  vhich  he 
fully  flopped 
me   fortunite 
tance  to  -ihe 


A  ^tter  which  he 
Mxafion,  exhibits 
dence,  hii  public 
for  this  raisfcp- 
that  I  owe  to  the 
d  to  the  moft  im- ' 
s,  that  after  it  had 
in  which  I  hjd 
nvinced,  ahd  the 
by  me ;  it  (hould 
Ihave  been  more 
lom  I  had  carried 
ihemfelves  in  fucb 
jr  and  aweof  nie»j 
|ed  to  have  done.  I 
hefting  that  I  had 


mSCOVEJ^Y  OF  AMER^ICAt 


95 


At  length  Providence  interpoTed,  to  fave  a  life  referved  for 
other  fervices.  The  wind  abated,  the  fea  became  calm,  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  fifteenth,  Columbus  and  his  companions  difcover- 
cdland;  and  though  uncertain  what  it  was,  they  made  towards 
it.  They  fdon  knew  it  to  be  Si.  Mary,  one  of'  the  Aeorcs  or 
weftem  iftes^  fulgeft  to  the  crown  of  Portugal.  Thd%,  after 
a  violent  conteft  with  the  governor,  in  which  Columbus  dif- 
played  no  lefs  fpirit  than  prudence,  he  obtained  a  fupply  of  fVefh 
provifions,  and  whatever  elfe  he  needed;  One  circumftance, 
however,  greatly  difqjuieted  him.  The  Pinta,  of  which  he  had 
loft  fight  on  the  firft  day  of  the  hurricane,  did  not  appear;  he 
dreaded  for  ibme  time  that  Ihe  had  foundered  at  fea,  and  that  all 
her  crew  had  periftied :  afterwards,  his  former  fafpicions  recur- 
red, and  he  became  apprchenfive  that  Pinzon  bad  borne  away  for 
Spain,  that  he  might  reach  it  before  hiiti,  and,  by  giving  the' 
firft  account  of  his  difcovenes,  might  obtain  fome  (hare  of  hi^ 

fame.  ^ 

In  order  to  prevent  this,,  he  left  the  Azores  on  the  twenty- 

ilburth  of  February,  as  foon  as  the  weather  would  permit.     At 

I  no  great  diftance  firom  the  coaft  of  Spain,  when  near  the  end  of 

his  voyage,  andf  feemingly   beyond   the  reach  of  any   difafter, 

another  ftorm  arofe,  little  inferior  to  the  former  in  violence ; 

and  after  driving  before  it  during  two  days  and  two  nights,  he 

was  forced  to  take  flielter  in  the  river  Tagus.     Upon  application 

i  '       ■  '  ■ 

[left  my.  two  font  at  fthpol  HX  Cordova,  deftltute  of  friends,  in  a  foreign  country, 

I  when  it  could  not  in  all  probability  be  known  that  I  had  done  fuch  fervices  at; 
Ijnight  induce  your  highnefiTes  to  remember  them.  And  though  I  comforted  myfelf 
Iwith  the  fvth  that  ou«  Lord  would  not  permit  that,  which  tended  fu  n\uch  to  the 
|glory  of  hit  church,  aod  which  I  had  brought  about  with  fo  much  trouble,  to 
remain  imperfeA,  yet  I  confidered,  that  on  account  of  my  fins,  it  w^  his  will  to 
ieprive  me  of  that  glory,  which  I  might  have  atuined  in  this  world'.     Whil(^  in^ 
'lis  c<utfufed  ftate,  I  thot^ht  on  the  good  fortune  which  accompanies  your  high*' 
efles,  and  imagined,  that  although  t  (hould  perifli,  and  the  vefllel  be  loft,  it  waa^ 
>i&ble  that  you  might  f<Hnebow  come  to  the  knowledge  of  my  voyage,  'and  th^ 
{fucceb  with  which  it  was  attended.    Ffit  that  reafon  I  wrote  upon  parchment, 
irith  the  brevity  which  the  fitUatien  required,  that.  I  had  difcovered  the  lands 
rhich  1  promi&id,  in  how  many  dayi  I  had  dontf  it,  and  wh^t  courfe  I  had  fol-; 
^owed.    I  mentioned  th«  goodnefs  of  the  country,  the  chara^r  of  the  inhabitants^ 
knd  that  your  highnefles  fubjefts  were  left  in  poi&flion  of  all  that  I  had  difcovered.  ' 
^laving  fealed  this  writing,  I  addreffed  it  to  your  highneflep,  and  promifed  a 
khoufand  ducats  to  any  perfon  who  (hould  deliver  itiiealed,  lb  that  if  any  foreigners 
louad  It,  the  promifed  reward  might  prevail  on  them  not  to  give  the  information^ 
|o  another.    I  then  caufed  a  great  calk  to  be  brought  to  me,  and  wrapping  up  the 
barchment  in  an  oiled  cloth,  and  afterwards  ip  a  cake  of  wax,  I  put  it  into  the 
^alk,  and  having  ftopt  it  well,  1  eaft  it  into  the  lea.    All  the  men  believed  that  it' ' 
VM  fome  aC^  of  devotion.     Imagining  that  this  might  never  chance  to  be  taken  up, 
U  the  (hips  apj^oached  qcarer  to  Spain,  I  made  another  packet  like  the  firft,  and 
Weed  it  at  the  top  of  the  poop,  fo  fhat  if  the  fliip  funk,  die  caOt  remaining  above 
vater  might  be  comqiitted  to  the  guidance  of  Tortuoc.'*- 

E  2 


tp  tht  King  of  Portugal,  on  the  fou^h  of  March,  one  thotiTiind 
four  huncired  and  ninety-three  he  wa^  alloi^ed  to  come  up  to. 
liifbon ;  and,  notwuhftanding  the  epvy  which  it  was  natural 
for  the  Portuguefp  (o  feel,  when  they  beheld  another  nation 
entering  upot}  thaf  province  pf  difcovery  which  they  had  hither- 
to deemed  peculiarly  their  own,  ^nd  in  its  firft  eflfay,  not  only 
rivalling  but  eclipfing  their  fame,  Columbus  was  received  witli 
a^-t^e  mark^  of  dii]bin£lion  due  to  a  man  who  had  performed 
things  fo  extraordinary  and  unexpedxd.  The  King  adxnitted  him 
into  his  jprcfence,  treated  him  with  the  higheft  refpe&,  and  lif- 
tened  to  the  account  which  he  gave  of  His  voyage  with  admira- ' 
tion  u.ingled  with  regret.  While  Columl>us,  on  his  part,  en- 
joyed the  iatisfa^on  of  defcribing  the  in>portance  of  his  difcbve- 
fies,  and  of  bei^yr  aoyf  able  to  prove  the  foUdity  of  his  fchemes 
to  thofe  very  pr^iions,  who  wi(h  an  ignorance  difgraceful  to 
^hemielyes,  and  faya^  to  their  country,  had  (^te)y  rcje^ed  tl^em  as 
^he  projed:s  pf  a  viiionary  or  defignmg  adventurer. 

Colum)3US  was  fo  impatient  to  return  to  Spain,  tha|  he  remained 
pnly  five  days  in  Lilbon.  On  the  fifteenth  of  March  he  arrived 
^n  the  port  of  Palos,  fevcn  months  and  eleyen  deys  front  the  time 
when  hf:  fct  out  thence  upon  his  voyage.  As  foon  a^  his  ihip 
was  difcovered  approaching  tie  port,  all  the  inhabitants  of  Palos 
ran  eagerly  to  the  ihore,  in  order  to  welcome  their  relations  and 
fellow -citizens,  and  to  hear  tidings  of  their  voyage.  When  the 
profperous  ilTue  of  it  was  known,  when  they  beheld  the  ftrang^e 
people,  the  unknown  animals,  and  Angular  produ£lion^  brought 
froq^  the  countries  which  had  been  difcovered,  the  effufion  of 
joy  was  general  and  unbounded.  The  bells  were  rung,  the  can- 
iibn  fired;  C.iluipbus  was  received  at  landing  with  royal  ho- 
nours, and  a|l  the  people,  in  folemn  procefljon,  accompanied  him 
u)d  his  crew  to  the  church,  where  they  returned  thanks  to  Hea- 
Veiii  which  had  fo  wonderfully  conduded  and  crowned  with  fuc- 
cefs,  a  voyage  of  greater  length  and  of  more  importance,  than  had 
been  attempted  in  any  former  age.  Qn  the  evening  of  the  fame 
4ty,  he  had  the  fatiSfa6hon  of  feeing  the  Pinta,  which  the  vio- 
lence of  thfe  tempeft  had  driven  fair  to  the  north,  enter  the 

)urbour, 

The  firft  pare  of  Olumbus  was  to  inform  the  King  and  Queen, 
who  ^^fcrc  then  at  Bircelbna,  of  his  arrival  and  fuccefs.  Ferdi- 
nand arid  Ifabella,  no  left  a(^oni<hed  than  delighted  with  thi^ 
uncjtpeftcd  event,  defired  Columbus,  in  terms  the  moft  refpeftful 
and  Mattering  to  repair  immediately  to  court,  that  from  his  own 
moiith  they  might  receive  a  full  deuil'of  his  extraordinary  fer- 
vices  and  difcoveries.  During  his  journey  to  Barcelona,  thq 
people  crowded  from  the  adjacent  country,  following  him  every 
I    .     ■        ■  •  ••  ..  •        ■•:-'■  ••       •  ""\ 


PISCOVERYOF  AMERICA, 


87 


<v>/hcre  with  admiration  and  appkufe.  His  entrance  into  the  city 
was  conducted,  by  order  of  Ferdinand  and  Ifabdla,  with  pomp 
fuitable  to  the  great  event,  which  added  fuch  difUnguiflied  luftre  "* 
to  their  reign.  The  people  whom  he  brought  along  with  hiifi 
from  the  countries  which  he  had  difcovered,  marched  firft,  an4 
by  their  lingular  complexion,  the  wild  peculiarity  of  their  fea- | 
tures,  and  uncouth  finery,  appeared  like  men  of  another  fpecies*' 
Next  to  them  were  carried  the  ornaments  of  gold,  fafiiioned  by 
the  rude  art  of  the  natives,  the  grains  of  gold  found  in  the 
mountains,  and  dud  of  the  lame  metal  gathered  in  the  rivers. 
After  thefe  appeared  the  various  commodities  of  the  new  lif. 
co\ered  countries,  together  with  their  '  curious  produftions, 
Columbus  himfelf  doled  the  procefllon,  and  attra^d  the  eyes 
•f  all  the  (peftatdrs,  who  gazed  with  admiration  on  the  ertra« 
•rdinary  man,  whofe  fuperior  fagacity  and  fortitude  had  con- 
du£^  their  countrymen,  by  a  route  concealed  from  paft  ages,  to 
the  knowtedge  of  a  new  world.  Ferdinand  and  Ifabella  re> 
ceived  him  clad  in  their  royal  robes,  and  feated  upon  a  throne, 
I  under  a  magnificent  canopy.  When  he  approached  th^  ftood 
{ up,  and  raifing  him  as  he  kneeled  to  kifs  their  hands,  command- 
ed him  to  take  his  feat  upon  a  chair  prepared  for  him,  and  to 
give  a  circumftantial  account  of  his  voyage.  He  delivered  it  with 
[agravityandcompofurenqlefsfui^bletotke  difpofition  of  the  Span- 
i(h  nation,  than  to  the  dignity  of  the  audience  in  wKich  !ke  fpoke,and 
with  that  modefi  fimplicity  which  charafterifes  men  of  fuperior 
minds;  who,  fatisfied  with  having  performed  great  aftions,  ^otirtnot 
vain  applaufe  by  an  oftentatious  difplay  of  thei.  exploits;  When. 
he  had  finiflied  his  narration,  the  King  and  Queen,  kneeling 
[down,  offered  up  folemn  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  the  dif- 
j  covery  of  thofe  new  regions,  from  which  they  expefbed  fo  many 
[advantages  to  flow  in  u^qn  the  kingdoms  fubjeft  to  their  govern- 
[ment.'^  Xvery  mark  of  honour  that  gr?ititude  or  admiration  could 
fugged  was  conferred  upon  Columbus.  Letters  patent  were  if- 
lued,  confirming  to  him  and  to  his  heirs  all  the  privileges  con- 
tained in  the  capitulation  concluded  at  Santa  Fe ;  his  family  was' 
ennobled ;  the  King  and  Queen,  and,  after  their  example,  the 
courtiers,  treated  him,  on  every  occafion,  with  all  the  ceremoni- 
ous rcfpe&  paid  to  perfons  of  the  higheft  rank.     But  what  pleaf-^ 

him  moil,  as  it  gratified  his  a£live  mind,  bent  continually  upon 
great  obje^,  was,  an  order  to  equip,  without  delay,  an  armament 
sf  fuch  force,  as  might  enab|e  him  not  only  to  take  pofieifion  of 
le  countries  which  he  had  already  difcovered,  but  to  go  in  fearch 

thofe  more  opulent  regions,  which  he  ftil)  confidently  expeft- 
bd  to  find. 


i^ 


DISCOVERY  OF  AfitBRICJt 


While  preparations  were  making  for  this  expedition^  the  fame 
of  Columbus's  fuccefsful  voyage  (pread  over  Europe,  and  excited 
gf^Acral  attention.     The  multitude,  ftruck  with  amazement  when 
they  I  beard  that  a  new  world  had  been  found,  could  hairdly  be- 
lieve an  event  fo  mifcb  above  their  conception.     Men>3f  fcience, 
capable  of  comprehending  the  nature,  and  of  difcerning  the  effe&s 
of  thi*  great  dilcovery,  received  the  account  of  it  with  admiration 
andgoy.     They  Ipoke  of  his  voyage  with  rapture,  and  congratu* 
lated  one  another  upon  their  felicity,   in  having  lived  in  the 
period  when,   by  this  extraordinary  event,  the    boundaries  of 
buiQan  Iuiowledg9  were  fo  much  extended,  and  fuch  a  new  Held 
of  inij^iryrand  obfervation  opened,  as  would  lead  mankind,  to  a 
]^feift  a<M|uaintance  with  the  ftrufture  and  produAions  of  the 
habitable  glpbe.     Various  opinions  and  conjeftures  were  formed 
concerning  the  new-found  countries,  and  what  diviiion  of  the 
earth  theyi  bcton^d  to.     Columbus   adhered  tenacioufly  to  his 
original  opinion*  that  they  Ihould  be  reckoned  a  part  of  thofe 
vail  regions  in  Afia,  comprehended  under  the  general  name  of 
India.     This>  fdntiment  was  confirmed  by  the  obiervations  which 
he  made  coqceiining  the  produ£Uons  of  the  countries  he  had 
dtfcovered.     Qold-^  was  known  to  abound  in  India,  and  he  had 
met  with  fuch  promifing,  famples  of  it  in  the  iflands  which  he 
vifited,    as  led  him  to  believe  that  rich  mines  of  it   might  be 
.found.     Cotton,  another  produ£lion  of  the  Eail  Indies,  was  com- 
mon there.     The  pimento  of  the  Iflands  he  imagined  to  be  a 
fpeoi«»  of  the  £aft-India  pepper.     He  miftook  a  root,  fomewhat 
rdSbmbliag  rhubarb,  for  that   valuable  drug»    which  was  then 
fUppofed  to  be  f  plant  peculiar  to  the  £aft-Indies.     The  birds 
brought  home  by  him  were  adorned  with  the  (ame  rich  plumage 
\«hic^  diftinguifhes  tholie   of  India.     The  alligator  of  the  one 
country  appeared  to  be  the  lame  with  the  crocodile  of  the  other. 
After  weighing  all  thefe  circumftances,  not  only  the   Spaniards, 
^ut   the  other  'nations  of   Europe,  feem  to  have   adopted   the 
4^»inic^i,  of  Columbus.     The  countries  which  he  had  difcovered 
were  confidered  as  a  part    of    India.     In  confeqi^ence  of  this 
notion,  the  nanie  of  Indies  is  given  to  them  by  Ferdinand  and 
I&hclla^  in  a  ratification  of  thdr  former  agreement,  which  was 
granted  to  Columbus  upon  his' return,     Even  after   the  error 
which  gave   rjfe  to    this   opinion    was  detefled,  and  the  true 
pofition    of   the   New  World   was   afcertained,    the   name   has 
remained,  and   the   appellation  of  Wejt   Indies  is  given  by  all 
the  people  of  Europe  to  the  country,  and  that  of  ludinns  t» 
its  inhabitants. 


DISCOVEJir  OF  JMSXICA 


^ 


the  fame 
id  excited 
icnt  when 
lardly  be- 
if  fcience, 
the  effcfts 
admiration 
,  congratu- 
'ed  in  the 
mdaries  of 
I  new  field 
nkind  to  a 
ons  of  the 
rere  formed 
ifion  of  the 
oufly  tohi» 
irt  of   thofe 
iral  name  of 
ition$  which 
jries  he  had 
and  he  had 
which  he 
it  might  be 
IS,  was  com- 
[ined  to  be  a 
fomewhat 
was   then 
The  birds 
hch  plumage 
of  the  one 
of  the  other. 
Sjianiards, 
Mopted   the 
Id  difcovered 
«ce  of  this 
srdiiiand  and 
which  was 
r   the  error 
id  the  true 
.name   has 
;iven  by  aU 
Indians  t» 


The  name  by  which   Columbus  diainguiflied  the  cpui^iiit 
-which  he  had  difcovered  was  £d  inviting!  the  fpecimens  of;  thc||r 
riches  and  fertility,  which  he  produced,  were  fo  ^qiifid^nble, 
and  the  reports  of  his  companions,  4elivere4  freciuently  wUk  tha 
exaggeration  natural  to  traveller*      j  favourable^  m  ^o  «xci|e-,e 
wonderful  fpirit  of  enterprlfe  among  the  ^paoiafdU*   s'P^OOjh 
little  accu(|tomed  to   naval  expeditions,  th^yweie  in-patient  Ae> 
let  out  upon  the  voyage.     Volunteers  of  every  nnk  foUciteid 
to  be  employed.      Allured  by    the   invitifkg  pr<^e^   which 
opened  to  their  ambition  and  avarice,  neither  the  lefigth  nor  dan- 
ger of  the  navigation  intimidated  them.     CautiQus  as  Fetdinaivd 
Was,  and  averfe  to  every  thing* new  and.  adve>itur(VU.s,  he  fe^ms  to 
have  catched  the  bme  fpirit  with  his  fubje^s.     IJnder  its  influ- 
ence, preparations  for  a  £econd  expedition  were  carried  ^on  with 
a  rapidity  unufual  in    Spain,   accd   to   ^n  eXjtCQt  that  WQuld  be 
deemed  not  inconiiderable  in  the  prefect  age.   .The  'flciet  coO' 
fiiled  of  feventeen  (hips,  fome  of  which  wjejrt  of^goed  bu|i^don. 
It  had  on  board  fifteen  hundred  perfons, .  smopg  vifhom  .we>6 
many  of  noble    families,  who  had  ferved   in '  honorable  <  ftations. 
The  greater  part  of  thefe  being  deiUned^a  remaiii'in  the  country, 
were  furnifhed  with  every  thing  requifite  for  coi^queft,  «rt  fettle- 
ment,' with  all  kinds  of  European  domeftic  animals,  with  /uch 
feeds  and  plants  as  were  moft  likely  .to  thrive  in  t^e  climate  i>f 
the  Weft  Indies,  with  utenfils  and  inftruments  of  evejry  iort,  and 
wit)i  fuch  artificers  as  might  bemoft  ufeful  ii^an  infant  colqiiy. 

But,  formidable  and  well  provided  as  this  fleet  was,  ^rdjnand 

and  Ifabella  did  not  reft  their  title  to  the  pofTeflion  of  the  newly- 

difcovered  countries  upon  its  operations  ilone.     The>example  of 

the  Portuguefe,  as  well  as  the  fuperflition  dfrthe^ge,  jnade-it^ 

neceffary  to  obtain  from  the  Roman  pontii^  a  g^|int^,of  .thpfc  t«> 

ritories  which  they  wifhed  to  occupy.     The  Pope>  as  thenviair 

and  reprefentatiVe'  of  Jefus  Chrift,  w«s  fupppf«d  tq  hawc  a  q^t 

,  of  dominion  over  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth.    Alpxander  VI. 

I  a  pontiff  infamous  for  every  crime  which  <  difgraces  bttg»antty» 

filled  the  papal  throne  at  that  time,    r  As  he  .was  born  Ferdinand's 

lfubje£l,  and  very  folicitous  to  Secure  the  prote£Uon.of  9p;)ip,.;in 

lorder  to  facilitate  the  execution  of  his  ambitious,  fchcmes/in  favom: 

lof  his  own   family,  he   was   qxtreiKiely  ■  willing  to.,,g/'atify  the 

ISpanifh   monarchs.     -By  an  aft   of  liberality  which,  coft  hi^ 

toothing,  and  that  iprved^to  eftablifh  the  juriftUCHon  andipreten-i 

jfions  of  the  papal  fee,  he  granted  in  full  ];lg^t  to  Ferdanandaad 

jirabella  all  the  countries  inhabited  by  Infidels,  which  they,  had 

lifcovcred,  or  fliould  difcovcr;    and,^- in  vlrttie  of  tllat  .pow<er 

rhich  he  derived  from  Jefus  Chrift,  the  oofiferred  eb  thecrowa 

>f  Caftile  vaft  regions,  to  the  pplTefRon  of  whlch.hei  h«iife}f  vms- 


■46 


hticdrtRY  6/  AuikkA. 


upon  the  Spaniards.     Zeal  for  propagatiaA  the  Cl^rifti 
Ivas  the  conftderation  employed  by  Ferdinana  in  foliciti 


fb  fu*  (rem  having  any  title,  that  he  wat^jBmcquainted  witK  tl 
lituation,  and  ignorant  even  of  their  exifta^ce.  Aa  it  waik, 
heceflary  to  prevent  this  grant  from  interfering  with  that  f6nnet» 
ly  made  to  the  croWn  of  Poi|ugal,  he  appointed  that  a  lin«, 
fuppofed  to  be  drawn  from  pole  to  pole,  a  hundred  leagues  to 
the  w^ftward  of  tht  Azores,  (hduld  ferve  as  the  limit  between 
them ;  and  in  the  plenitude  of  his  power,, beftowed  all  to  the  eaft  of 
this  imaj(inary  line  upon  the  Portuguefe,  alid  ail  t(^  the  weft  of  it 

Itian  faith 
iployed  by  Ferdinana  m  foliciting  thif 
bull,  and  is  mtftitioned  by  Alexander  as  his  chief  motive  for  iiru- 
ing  it.  In  order  to  n;ianifeft  (ome  concern  for  this  laudable  obje^' 
feveral  friars,  under  the  direftion  of  Father  Boyl,  %  Cataloni^ 
monk  «f  great  reputation,  tt  |poftolical  vicar,^  were  appointed  to 
accompany  Columbus,  and  io  llj^ote  themfelves  to  the  inftruC'< 
tion  of  (he  natives.  The 'Indians  Whom  Columbus  had  brought 
alpqg  with  him,  hiving  received  fome  tin£lure  of  Chriftiali  Itnow* 
|cdge,'  were  teiptizcld-  with  mi^qh  foljlhnity,  the  king  himfelf,  the 

'  ]^rince  his  fon,  and  the  chief  perfons  of  his  court,  ftanding  as  their 
godfathers.  Thofe  firft  fruits  of  the  New  World  have  noC 
been  followed  by  fuch  an  incre«fe  as'  pious  men  wiflxed^  and  had 
reafon  to  expeft. 

Ferdinand  and  IfabeUa,  having  thus  acquired  a  title,  wHic^  Watf 
then  deemed  completely  valid,  to  extend  their  dif<;overies,  and 
to  eftabtifli  their  dominion  over  fuch  a  confiderable  portion  of 
the  gfobe,  nothing.  noW  retarded  the  departure  of  the  dieet.- 
Columbus  was  extremefy  impatient  to  revifit  the  Colony  which 
he  had  teft',  and  to  purfue  the  career  of  gfory  upon  which  he 
had  entered.  He  fet  fail'  from  the  b^y  of  Cadiz  on  the  twenty- 
fifth  of  September,  and  touching  again  at  the  ifland  of  Gomera, 
he  fteered  farther  towards  the  fouth  than  in  his  former  voyage. 
By  holding  this  courfe,  he  enjoyed  more  fteadily  the  benefit  of  | 
the  regular  winds,    which  reign  within  the*  tropics,  and  was 

«  carried  towards  a  large  duller  of  iflands,  fituated  confiderably  toj 
the  eaft  of  thofe  which  he  had  already  difcovered;     On  the*  t wen* 
ty-fixth  day,  Nov.  2,  after  his  departure  from  Gomera,  lie  mads 
land.     It  was  one  of  the  Caribbee  or  Leeward  if&nds,  to  which 
he  gave  the  name  of  Defeada,  on  account  of  the  impatience  of  his 
crew  to  difcover  feme  part  of  the  NeW  WOrld.      After  this  he  1 
vifited  fuccefli vely  Dominica,  Marigalkntie,  Antigua,  San  Juan  dc 
Puerto  Rico,  and  feveral' other  iflands,  fcattered  in  his  way  as  he 
advanced  towards  the  north-weft.     All  thefe  he  found  to  be  in* 
habited  by  that  filsrce  r&ce  of  people  whom  Guacanahari  had  pkiii^ 
ed.  in   fuch  frightful  colours'.     His   defcriptionS  appeared   not] 
fo    have  been-  exaggerated.-    The   Spaniards  never    attempte<t| 


it  ytt^^ 

a  lint, 
ague»  to 
between 
le  eali  oi 
reft  of  it 
ian  faith 
:ing  thi< 

for  iffu- 
ile  objeft, 
latalonifUk 
lointed  to 
B  inftruc- 
1  brought 
laHknow- 
mfelf,  the 
ng  as  their 

have  not 
l^and  had 

which  vfa* 

reries,'  andr 

portion  of 

the  dieet. 

»ny  which 

vrhich  he 

le  twcnty- 

[f  Gomera, 

Lp.r  voyage. 

benefit  of 

and  was 

idcrabiy  to 

thetwen- 

i,  he  mad* 

to  which 

fence  of  his 

[ftcr  thishe 

[an  Juan  d« 
way  as  he] 
to  be  in* 
|ihkdpiiii^ 
Ipeared  not  I 

attempte^l 


BlSCOI^SkY  OF  AMMkkJi  il . 

kb  land  ^fithoui.n^tiilg  with  ftich  a  reception,  as  difdovered 
khc  nMrtial  and  4>ciAg  fpirit  of  the  natives ;  and  in  their  habit»* 
lipns  were  found>elics  of  thofe  horrid  feafts  which  they  had 
inade  upon  the  bqdies  of  their  eneqniel  taken  in  ii^an 

,  But  as  Columbus  was  eager  to  know  the  ftate  of  the  colony 
which  he  had  p&nted^   and  to^iupply  it  with  the  neccflaries 
of  which  he  fiip|ibfed  it  to^be  in  want,  he  made  no  ftay  in  any 
of  thofe  iflands,  and  proceeded  dire6tly  to  Hifpaniola.     When 
he  arrived  or  Nav{dad,  the  (lation  in  which  he  had  left  thd 
thirty-eight*men.tlki^  the  command  of  Arada,  he  Was  aftoniflied 
that  none  of  them  appeared,  and  expefted  every  moment  to  fe6 
them  runnilig  with  tranfports  of  joy  to  welcNrnfe  their  country^ 
men»     Full  of  folicitude  about  thehr  fafety^  and  foreboding  in 
his  mind  what  had  befallen  them^  l\e  rowed  inftantly  to  land,^.   All 
the  natives  from  whtom  he  mig^iMVe  received  infbrmatidn  had: 
fled.    But  the  fort  which  he  hM  bUllt  was  entirely  demolffhed;' 
aiid  the  Mattered  garmenrs,  thct  broken  arms  and  utenfils  fotttered 
about  it,  left  no  room  to  ^ubt  conceminl^'the  unhappy*  ftio'* 
of  the  garrifon.      While  tti«  Spaniards  Wcfe    {bedding  teari' 
over  thole  lad  memorials  of  their  fellow-citisens)  a  brother  b^- 
the  caxiifuie  Guacanahari  arrived.     From  him  Columbus  received' 
a  particular  .  dcnil   of  what   had  happened  after  his  departure' 
from  the  ifhnd.     The  familiar  intercourie  of , the  Indian*  With 
the  Spaniards    tended  gradually  to  diminilh  the   fuperftitiout 
veneration  with  which  tlieir  firft  appnarance  had^infpired  that 
Ample  people;     By  their  own  indifcretion  and  ill  conduAs^  the ' 
Spaniards  fpeedily  eifilced  thofe  favourable  imprefllons,  and  foon'^ 
convinced  the  natives,  that  they  had  all  the  wants^  and  weak*^ 
neflcs,  and  patfions  of  mem     As  fc>on  as  the  pewerful  reftraint . 
which  the  prefence  and  authority  of   Coliimbus  impofed  wat  * 
withdrawn j  the  garrifon  threw  off  all  regard  for  th<!  iffficer  whom 
he  had  invefted  With  c<Hnmandi      RegaDdlefs  of  the   prudent 
inftru^ions  which  he  had  given  them;  every  ihan  became '  inde- 
pendent^ and  gratified  his  defircs  without  controul;     The  gold^ 
the  women^  the  prpvifions  of  the  natives,  were  alt  the  prey  of 
thofe  Ijcentious  oppreflbrs.     They  roamed  in  fmall  parties  over 
^  the  ifland,    extending   their   rapacity   and   infolence   to  every 
I  corner  of  it^  jGentle  and  timid  as  the  people  were,  thtife  unpYo> 
voked  injuries  at  length  exhauftcd  their  patience,  and  rpuzed 
their  courage.     The  cazi^ue  of  Cibaoj  whofe  country  the  Spani- 
ards chiefly  infeflxd  on  account  of  the  gold  which  it  contained^ 
jiurpnfed  and  cut  off  feveral  of  them,  while  they  draggled  In  as 
Iperfcft  fecurity  as  if  thieir  conduft  had  been  altogether  inoffenfive. 
|He  then  aflembled  his  fubjefls,  and  furrounded  the  fort^  fet  it  on 

F 


i» 


DISCOVERY  Qf  AMEKtCA 


^re.    Some  of  the  Spaniards  were  killed  in  deliendinf  U,  lAie  fed 
perilhed  in  attempting  to  make  their  efeape  by  eroding,  an  ana  of 

}he  Tea.  Guacanahari,  whom  all  their  exaftion^  ha<i  not  alienated 
rom  the  Spaniards,  took  arms  in  their  behalf,  and,  in^  endeavour-* 
ing  to  proteA  them^  had  received  a  wound,  by  which  he  was  ftill 
conftncdv 

Thouch  thi*-  account  was  fa^  fhmi  removtng^  the  fu^icton» 
which  the  Spaniards  entertained  with  lefpeft  to  the  fidelity  oi 
Quacanaharii  Columbua  perceived  fo  clearly  that  this  was  not » 
proper  junfture  for  inquiring  into  his  conduA  with  fcrupuloua 
accuracy,  that  he  rejeAed  the  advice  of  lieveral  of  hi»  officers,  who 
urged  him  to  iCeise  kbe  pevTon  of  that  prince^  and  to  revenge  the 
death  of  their  cl^untrymen  by  attacking,  his  fuli^eds^  H*  repre- 
Tented  .to  them  the  neceflity  of  feeuring.  the  friendfliip  offome 
potentate  of  the  country,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  fettlement 
which  tliey  intended,  and  the  danger  of  driving  the  natives  to 
iMiitc  in  fome  defperate  attempt  againft  them,  by  Aieh  an  ilU 
timed  and  unavailing  exercife  of  rigour,  kiftead  of  wafting 
his  time  in  punifhing  pail  wrongs,  he  took  precaution  for  pre* 
venting,  any  future  iujury..  With  this  view,  he  nude  choice 
of  a  fituation  mo^  healthy  and  commodious  than  that  of  Nayidad.  . 
He  traced  out  the  plan  of  a  town  in  a  Urge  plain  near  «  ijpaei- 
ous  bay,  and  obliging  every  perfon  to  put  his  hand  to  a  work 
on  which  their  common  fiifety  depended,  the  houfes  and  ramparts 
Vrere  foen  fo  far  advanced>>by  fheif  united  labour,  as  to  afford 
them  ihelter  and  feeurity..  Thie  rWtng  eity,  the  firft  that  the 
£(Uropeans  founded  in  the  New  W6rhl,  he*  named  liabella,  in> 
honour  of  his  patronefs  the  Queen  of  Caftile.^ 

Jn  carrying  on  this  neceilary  work,  Cokimbue  had^  not  only 
€•  fufbtin  all  the  hardfhips,  and  to  encounter  all  the  difficulties, 
to  which  infant  coloniet  are  eicpofed  when  they  fettle  in  an 
imcultivated  country^  but  he  had  to  contend  with  what  was 
mofe  iniupcnsble,-  the  lazinefs^  the  impatience,  apd  mutinous 
difpoiition  of  hiS"  foUowera.  By  the  enervating  influence  of  a  hot 
climate,  the  natural  ina6Uvity  of  the  Spaniards  feemed  toincrcafe. 
Many  of  them  were  gentlemen,.  unaccu(Vbmed  to  the  fatigue  of 
bodily  labour,  and  all  had  engaged  in  the  enterprife  with  the 
fanguine  hopes  excited  by  the  fplendid  and  exaggerated  deficrip- 
tions  of  their  countrymen  who  return'.rd  from  the  firft  voyage, 
ov  by  the  miftaken  opinion  of  Columbus,  that  the  country  which 
he  had  diieovery  was  either  the  Cipango  of  Marco  Polo,  or  the 
Ophif,  from  which  Solomon  imported  thofe  precious  commoditie)- 
whieh 'fuddenly  diffufed  fuch  extraordinaiy  riches  through  his 
Kingdom.  But  when,  inftead-  of  that  golden  harveft  which 
^ey  hadexpeAed'  to  reap  without  toil  or  pains,  the  Spaniards 


9JSC0VERY  &FAME11ICA»  4I 

liw  their  profpcA  of  wealth  was  remote  at  well  at  uncertain, 
«nd  that  it  could  not  be  attained  but  by  the  flow  and  perfrvering 
efforts  of  tnduftry,  the  difappointment  of  thofe  chimerical  hopes 
«ccafioned  fuch  dcjeAton  of  mind  as  bordered  on  defpair,  and 
led  to  general  difcohtent.  In  vain  did  Columbua  endeavour  ^ 
revive  their  fpirits  by  pointing  out  the  fertility  of  the  foil,  and 
Exhibiting  the  fpecimens  q(  gold  daily  brought  in  from  different 
parts  of  the  ifland.  They  had  not  patience  to  wait  for  th6 
gradual  returns  which  the  former  might  yield,  and  the  latter 
they  dcfpifed  as  fcanty  and  inponfiderable.  The  fpijit  of  difafiec- 
tion  fpread,  and  a  confpiracy  was  formed,  which  might  havp 
been  fatal  to  Columbus  and  the  colony.  Happily  he  difcovered 
it,  and  feizing  the  ring-leaders,  puniflied  fome  of  them,  iient 
others  prifoners  into  Spain  whither  he  difpatched  twelve  of  the 
Qiips  which  had  ferverl  as  tranfports,  with  an  ^me<l  requeft  for 
a  reinforcement  of  men  and  a  }ai[ge  fupply  of  provifions. 

Meanwhile,  in  order  to  banilh  thajt  idlenefs  whijch,  fay  aiUow- 
Mig  hi«  people  leifure  to  brpod  oyer  their  di&ppointnent,  nou,# 
ri(hed  the  fpirit  of  difcontent,  Columbus  planned  feveral  expe^ 
ditions  into  the  interior  part  of  the  country.  He  fent  a  de- 
tachment, under  the  command  of  Alonfo  de  Oieda,  a  vigilant 
and  entei^rifing  officer,  to  vifit  the  diftri^  of  Cibao,  which  Wat 
(aid  to  yield  thts  greateft  quantity  of  gold,  and  fo^owed  him  in 
perfon  with  the  main  body  of  his  troops.  In  ^his  expedition^ 
March  la,  1494,  he  difplayed  all  the  pomp  of  military  magnifi- 
cence that  he  could  exhibit,  in  order  to  ftrike  the  imaginatioi^ 
of  the  natives.  He  marched  with  colours  flying,  with  martial 
mufic,  an^  A^ith  a  fmall  body  of  cavalry  that  paraded  fometimes 
in  the  fron^  and  fometimes  in  the  rear.  As  thofe  were  the  fir  ft 
horfes  which  appeared  in  the  New  World,  they  were  objecls 
of  terror  no  |eis  than  of  admiration  to  the  Indians,  who  hav- 
ing no  tame  animals  themfeives,  were  unacqiiainted  with  that 
vail  acceflion  of  power,  which  man  hath  acquired  by  fubjefting 
them  to  his  dominion.  They  fuppofed  them  to  be  rational 
creatures.  They  imagined  that  the  horfe  and  rider  formed  one 
animal,  with  whofe  fpeed  they  were  ai^niihed^  and  wholie  im- 
pctuofity  and  ftrength  they  confidcred  aa  irrefillible.  But 
while  Columbus  endeavoured  to  infpire  the  natiyes  with  a 
dread  of  his  power,  he  did  not  neglrfi  the  artt  of  gaining  their' 
love  and  confidence.  He  adhered  fcrupuloufly  to  the  princi- 
ples of  integrity  and  juftice  in  all  his  trania^ions  with  them, 
and  treated  them,  on  every  occafion,  not  only  with  humanity, 
but  with  indulgence.  The  diftri£l  of  Cibao  anfwercd  the  del- 
piption  given  of  it  by  the  natives.     It  was  mountainous  and 

'    ■     ■  f% ^    ■;■•• 


n 


IklSCaVM^Y  OiF  AMEJftfCA, 


V- 


*'V' 


tihcuU^ateflf  J^ut  m  every  river,  an4  b;roo|c^  gal4  wa»  g«(here4 
fither  in  iluft  or  ingrains,  fome  of  which  were  of  CQn&4era^e 
j^e.  T,h|6  Indians  had  never  opened  any  mines  in  ft^arch  of 
gold,  "tp  penetnite  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  to  re^ne  thf 
j^ii4e  ore^  Wjer^  operatioiiJiA  tc^  coixiplicated  a<id  la|;>ortous  ia^ 
iheir  talenlLs  ancl  induilry,  and  they  had  np  fuph  high  value  (ov 
gpld  as  to  put  their  ingenuity  and  invention  upon  the  &retch 
|in  order  tp  obtai^  it.  The  fmall  quantity  of  that  precious 'metal 
fvhich  they  pofleiTed,  >yas  either  picked  up  in  the  beds  of  thtj 
fivers,  or  waflied  ix^^  the  mountain^  by  ^Ue  heavy  rainf  %)aaH 
|aU  within  this  tropics.  But,  f^om  thofe  ind*fations,  thq 
Spaniards  coujd  fio  longer  doubt  that  the  country  conta^ne4 
ri.c^  treafures  in  its  bowels,  of  which  they  hoped  fppn  to  be 
n^tfters,  ^n  pi'der  to  (ecure  (he  cpmniand  of  this  v^lusiblii 
province,  Coluiqb'us  ere^d  a  ImaU  fort,  to  whiph  he  gave  the 
name  of  St.  '{'homas^  by  way  of  ridicule  uppii  fome  of  hi« 
Incredulous  followers,  wtio  would  not  believe  that  the  country 
produced  gold,  untU  they  (aw  it  with  their  own  eyes,  tsv^ 
^uqhed  it  with  l^eir  hands. 

'^The  account^  t^ofe  promifing  appearance!  of  ivealth  ip  thf^ 
pountry  of  Cibao,  ca|:ne  very  feafpnal^iy  to  coinfpr^  the  defpondr 
IngcoUiny,  which  was  jefFefUd  with  dift|re(fes  of  various  ^nds. 
Xhe  ftocJc  of  provifions  which  had  been  brou|>ht  froiq  Europe, 
was  moftly  confumed*,  wHat  remained  ^as  fo  ipuch  corrupted 
yy  the  heat  and  nioiiiure  of  the/  f liaaate,  as  to  be  almof^  unfit  for 
ufe;  the  natiyes  cultivated  To  fmall  a  portii^n  of  gtound,  and. 
with  fp/little  Ikill,  that  it  hardly  yielded  wbsit  was .  fufiicient 
for  thei^  pwnitubfi^en^e :  the  SpamaViis  at  IfabeJUa  had  hijtHertQ 
neither  time  nor  leil'ure  to  clear  the  ibil,  fo  aS  to  reap  any  con- 
iiderable  fruits  of  their  own  .  induftry.  On  all  thefe  accounts, 
they  bsfame  afraid  of  pierifhing  with  hunger,  and  were  reduced 
already  to  a  fpaAty  allowance.*  At  the  0ime  time  the  difeaies 
predominant  in  the  torrid  s;one,  and  which  ragq  chiefly  in  thofe 
uncultivated  4;ountries^  where  the  hand  of  induftry  has  not 
Opened  the  woods,  drained  the  niar(h9S,  and  confined  the  rivers 
within  a  certain  channel,  began  to  fpread  aipong  them.  Alarmed 
al(  the  violence  and  iiniifual  fymptoms  of  thofe  maladies,  they 
exclaimed  again(l~  Columbus  and  his  companions  in  the  formeij' 
voyage,  ytha  by  their  fplendid  but  deceitful  defcriptions  of 
Hifpaniola,  had  allured  them  to  quit  Spain  for  a  barbarous 
i^neultivated  land,  \yhere  they  muft  either  be  cut  off  by  famine, 
or  die  of.  unktiown  d^^empers.  Several  of  the  officers  and 
perfons  of  note,  inflead  of  checking,  joined  in  thofe  feditious 
Complaints.  Faither  Boyl,  the  apoflolical  vicar,  was  one  of  the 
inofl  turbulent  and  outrageous,     It  required  all   the  authority 


•!f: 


fiiSCOVMRY  OF  AMERICA, 


44 


fn4  •#4'^  M  CsA\mhu$  to  r&«eftabli(b  fut^dr^Mwn  flfid 
trsa^uUi^  JQ  the  colony. ,  Threats  an4  promifet  We/e  alter* 
liaitely  employed  for  this  purpoie;  but  nothing  contributed 
niore  to  fiotbthe  the  nnakontents  than  the  profpeft  of  finding,  in 
the  mines  Qf  Citwo,  I'uch  a  rich  flcure  of  treafure  as  would  be 
a  recompence  ior  tjU,  their  iaj^ermg^  and  efRfic^  the  inemory  of 
Ibrmer  difitppoifitOlcnti. 

When,  by  hit  ^wearied  endeavours,  concord  »nd  otder  Wjprft 
fo  far  rcftored,  thai  he  could  venture  to  leave  the  iiland,  Colum- 
Vus  refdiyed  to  p^rfue  his  diiicoveries,  that  he  might  be  able  to 
afcertain  whether  thole  new  countries  wkh  which  he  had  ojjiened' 
a  communication  were  conp,e£bd  with  any  region  of  the  earth> 
already  linown^  or  whefiher  they  were  to  bd  confidered  as  p 
feparate  portion  of  the  globe  hit^^rto  unyidtcd;  He  appointed^ 
il|jis' brother  Don  Diego,  with  the  afliftaxWreolv  a  council  of  officers, 
tp  govern  tha  ifland  in  his  abiisnfe;  and  gave  the  CoRlil^and  of  f 
body  of  fibers  to.  j^on  Pedro: AAargacita,.  with  whicb  he  was  t& 
yiitt  the  difierept  parts  of  the.  iilatul,  and)  endeavour  to  efla^iilk^ 
the  authority  of  the  Spaiuards.  among  the  inhabitants*  Hiving) 
jieftthem  yery  particular'  injiruftions  with  rtipdEt  to  their  con- 
4u^  he  weighed  aniphor  on.  the  twen^y-fburth  of  April,  with^ 
one  ihip  and  two  fmall.bsrhfli  under  his  command^  jBl^hng  tf 
tedious  voyage  of  full  fiy*. months,  hebad  a  trial  of-altnoft  alt^ 
the  numeroiU<s  hardftiips  to  w!hicfaB.|ierfons  of  his  pfofcfllohare: 
expofed,  witl^u^.  n^»IuDg  any  difiiadreify  of  in^portance,  except* 
the  ifland  of  JamaM*  Am.  he  .ratt|^.alon|  the  'fouthe|:ti-  coaft^  of> 
Cuba,  he  was  entangled  in.  a  lah^rin|(k  formed  by  an-incfedibttf' 
number  of  fmaH  iflands,  40v  whic)^.  h&.^ve  the  name  of  th^ 
Queen^s-Garden.  In  this  unknown :  courfe,  apiong;  rppks  and 
fhelves,  he  was  reared  by  contrary  winds,  aifanlted  with  furious' 
l\orms,  and  alarmed:  with  the  terriHethuiider  and- lightning 
which  is  (dian  a|moft  ince^ant  between  the  tropics.  At  length 
his  provifion&  felLihort;  his  crewt  exhaiifted  with  fatigue,  as* 
well  as  hunger^  murmured  and  threatened,  and  were  feady  to 
proceed  to  the  nioit  defperate  extremities  againft  him.  Befet 
with  danger  in  fuch  various  fdrms^  he  Was  obliged  to  keep  con- 
tinual watch,,  to  obierve  every  occurrence  with  his  own  eyes,  to 
ilTuc  every  order,  and  to  fuperintend  the  execution  of  it.  On 
no  occafton,  was  the  extent  of  his  (kill  and  experience  as  a  na- 
vigator fo  mucii  (ried.  To  thefe  the  fquadroipi  owed  its  fafety. 
I  But  this  unremitted  fatigue  of  body,  and  intente  application  o^ 
mind,  overpowering  his  conftitiition,  though  naturally  vigorous 
and  robuft,  brought  .on  a  feirerifb  diforder,  which  terminated  in 
la  lethargy,  that  deprived  him  of  fenfe  and  memory  and  had  almoil  - 
broved  fatal  to  hif  life. 


H  [         PJSCOVEKY  OF  AMtHtrCJ.         v 

*-  ""'■'  1^     "     ■  '  "■.•■,■      .    '"  ■ 

But,  cm  lEuf  return,  Sept.    ayth,  to  Hifpanifljla,  the  ludden 

.emotion  of  J<^  which  he  felt  upon  meciting  with  hit  brother  Bar- 
tholomew at  ifiibdla,  occaflftmed  fuch  a  flow  of  fpirits  a*^  contri- 
buted gready  to  llis  recovery.  It  was  now  thirteen  years  fince 
the  two  b('<*thers,  whom  fimilarity  of  talents  united  in  dofe  friendi- 
fliip,  had  feparated  from  each  other,  and  4unng  Ithat  long  period 
^hcre  had  been  no  intercourfe  betwden  jthete.  Barthojomev^,  after 
^niOfin^  his  negociation  at  the  icovit  of  England,  h4d  fet  out  for 
^pain  by  the  way  of  France.  At  Paris  he  received  an  acccouht 
of  the  extraordinary  dii'coveries  which  his  brotltor  had  made  in 
hif  firft  voyage,  and  that  >he  was  then  preparing  td  embaric  on  a 
lecond  elcpil^dition,.  ..Though  this  naturally  induced  hiin  to  purfue 
his- journey  with  the  utmbft  difpatch,  the  admiral  had  lail^  for 
Hifpaniola  before  h^  reached  Spain.  Ferdinand  and  Ifabelia  rcr 
Ceived  him  With  the  refpeft  due  to  the  neareft  kin&nan  of  a  perfoq 
whoTe  merit  and  Ibnrices  rendered  him  fo  confpicuous ;  and  a^  they 
knew  wrhat  confolation  his  prefence  would  afford  to  his  brother, 
they  perfuaded  hidl  to  take  (he  command  of  three  ihips,  whicli 
l^ey  had  appoixited  to  carry  provifions  to  the  colony  of  Ifabelia. 

He  cotild  notithave  ahrived  at  any  junQ»ire  when  Colutfibuf 
ilood  more  in  need  cf  a  fiiend  capable  of  aififting  him  with'his' 
counfdsii^r  of  dividing  with  him  ^e  cares  and  burden  of  govem- 
i|i£nt.  For  although  the  provifions  now  brought  from  Europe, 
afforded  a'  temporary' relief  tfi  the  Spaniardfii  from  the  calaufkities 
of  famine,  the  fupply  wasiiot  in  fuch  quantity  as  td  fupport 
them  long,  and  the  iiland  did  not  hitherto  yield  what  was  fuffiei- 
ejit  for  l^heir  fuftenance.  They  were  threatened  with  another 
danger,  ftill  more  fori^dable  than  the  return  of  fcarcity,  and 
H'hich  'dema|ided  more  immediate '  attention.  No  fooner  did 
Columbus  leave  the  ifland  on  his  voyage  of  difcovery,  than'  the 
ibldiers  under  Margarita,  as  if  they  had  been  fet  free  from  difci- 
pline  and  fubordination,  Ikorned  all  reftraint.  Inftead  of  cpn- 
fprming  to  the  prudent  infli-uftiods  of  Columbus,  they  difperfed 
in  flr^ggUng  parties  over  the  tCland,  lived  at  difcretion  upon  the 
i^itives,  wafted  their  proviitons,  fei^ed  their  women,  and  treated 
that  inoffcoiiye  race  with  all  the  infolence  of  military  oppreflion. 

A9  long  as  the  Indians  had  any  profpe£l  that  their  fufleririgs 
i^ight  pome  to  a  period  by  the  voluntary  departi^re  of  the  invat 
ders,  they  fubmitted  in  filcnce,  and  diiifembled  theiir  forrow ;  but 
they  now  perceived  that  the  yoke  would  be  as  permanent  as  it 
was  intolerable.  The  Spaniards  had  built  a  town,  and  furround- 
ed  it  with  ramparts.  They  had  creeled  forts  in  different  places. 
Xhey  had'enclofed  and  fown  fevend  fields.  It  was  apparent  that 
they  came  not  to  vifit  the  country  but  ^6  fettle  in  it.  Though  the 
pumber  of  thdfe  Grangers  was  inconftderable,  the  flate  of  cu]itiY;^t 


BJSCarMkY  of  AliMMtCl^, 


^ 


4!dn  UBopt  tl^  nide  people  wai  fo  nttptrfi^ft,  ailit  itt  iiach  exa6^ 
proportion  to  their  own  confumptiod,  tint  it  wlur  With  dilEculty' 
they  could  afFoid  fubfiftence  to  thei(  new  guofU.  Their  own 
modf  df  life  was  fo  indolent  and  ina£tiv^,-  the  vrirmth  of  the  cli- 
mate fo  enervating,-  the  conftifutbn  ^f  their  bodies  naturally  fo 
feeble*  and  fo  unaecuftomed  to  the  laborious  exertibns  of  induftry,' 
that  t$ey  n^ere  ftcisfied  with  a  proportion  of  food  linazingly  fmall. 
A  handful  of  maixe,  or  a  little  of  the  infipid  bread  made  of  a 
caflada-root,  was  fuficient  to  fupport  men,  Whofe  ftrength  and 
fpirits  were  not  cjthaufted  by  any  vigorous  efforts  either  of  body^ 
or  mind.  Tlie  Spaniards,  thou^  tfie  ntoft  abftemious  of  all  the 
European  nations,  appeared  to  them  excei&vely  ^oracioul.  ,One 
Spaniard  confumed  as  much  as  feveral  Indaant,  This  iBeennefs  of 
appetite  fiirprized  them  fo  much,  and  feemed  to  them  to  be  fo  infa- 
tiabkt,  that  they  fuppofed  the  Spaniards  had  left  dieir  own  coiMitryj 
becaiife  it  did  not  produce  as  much  aswas  re^fite  to  gratify  tlleir 
immoderate  deftre  of  foody  and  had  come  Mnong  them  in  ^eA  of 
nouriihment.  Self-prefervation  prompted  them  to  wiih  for  the 
^parture  of  gucfts  who  waAed  fo  faft  their  fleader  ftock-  of  piVv 
vifions.  1  «^  injuries- which  they  fufiered,  added  to  tiieir  impati- 
ence fort  a  v.lit^  They  had  long expeded  that  the  Spaniards 
vroiild  reti.tt  or  their  own  accord*  They  now  perceived  that,  in 
order  to  avert  the  deftru&ion  with  which  they  were  threatened, 
either  by  the  flow  confumption  of  fioiine,  411  by  the  Violence  of 
their  oppreiTors,  it  was  neee'ififfy  to  «ffume''cotirage,  to  attack  thofe 
formidable  invaders  with  united  foit%  and  driVe  lliem  from  the 
fottlements  of  which  they  had  violently  taken  poifeflion.^ 

Such  were  the  fentiments  which  univeifaUy  prevailed  aihdnji 
(ke  Intfons,  v^en  CoKwAus  returned  to  Ifabella.-  In  Aimed  by 
ihe  unprovoked  outrages  of  the  Spaniards-,  with  a  degree  of  rage 
of  which  their  gentle  natures,  formed  to  fuffer  and  fubmk, 
feemed  highly  fufoeptible,  they  Waited  only  for  a  lignal  tewn 
their  leaders  to  fall  upon  the'  cobny.  Some  of  the  caraqlMA 
had  alreacty  furprifed  and  cut  off  feveral'  ftragglers.  The  dread 
of  this  impending,  danger  united  the  Spaniards,  and  re-eftabliihed 
l9ie  authority  of  Colundbus,  as  they  faw  no  profpcA  of  fafety 
I  but  in  committing  themfelves  to  his  prudent  guidance,  it  was 
now  neceffary  to  have  wcourfe  to  atma^  the  employing-  of  which 
l^gainft  the  Indians,  Columbus  had  hitherto  avoided  with  the 
giir^ted  folicitude.  Une^al?  as  the  clbnflift  may  feem,  between 
Irhe  naked  inhabitants  of  the  New  World,'  armed  with  cluba^ 
jfticks  hardened  in  the  fire,  wooden  ^ords,- and  arrows  pointed 
Iwith  bones  or  flints ;  and  troops  accufliomed  to  the  dil'cipline, 
land  provided  with  the  infliruments  df  deftruAion  known  in 
ihe  Eurc^ean  art  of  war,  th^  fituation  of  the  Spaniards  was 


J* 


^ 


Pf^^mM^V  QF  sAh^BkiCA 


~^. 


ft|^  frodi  ^i^g4o;f«»|lpl  IrcKh  4an§Br«  The  vail  lUiyii4orit]r 
the  natives,  ill  miMbor,,  conaf«n(i>leid*  oten 7  defeiUiit  An  h»ndful 
qf  n^en  Mr^  about  to>eafiomiter  a  whokj  nitioiiu  Oike  advede 
eVentj  or  eveii  any-  ad^Nnib  cMajr  in'  lUrternunipg:  the  >fat«> 
of  the  i^ar^  n^gbt  pfove  fatalt  io-  die  Siwniarda^  •  Goiifctoua 
that'  fuocefa  depcpclKi  on  the!  vigour  and  rapicUt^  of  hia  offera* 
tiona,  Colufabusi  iniUntl^  affenriilod'  bia  forcetj  They^  were 
reduced  to  a  very,  fnAU  number.  Diieafea,.  otigendefisd  byfthe 
warmth  and-  humidity  of  the  countty^  or  o^ftoiie^  by  thdir 
own  lic^ntieturne^  had ;  n^  among^them  wi^niMch'.  violence ; 
expierienee,  had  <  not '  yet  taught  thesli  the-  art  etfhidr^  of  curing 
theie,  or  thd  precaution!  re^ifite  for  guarSUng  them?;  two-third* 
of  the  original  adventttfert  we:re>  deadj  and  many  of  thofewho- 
furvivftd  were  iii^pable;  o^  f«rvke<  "the  body  which  Codc<  t!he 
field  tffk  Marchfiati,  1495^  confilted  only  of  two  huncfated  fdot^ 
tWeotyv  hor%  and  twenty  lafgel^dogft!;  and  how  fti^ge  foever 
it  may  feem  to  menti<Na  the  laftras  compofihg<part  olC  a  military 
forcCf  they,  Wmre  ^not<  petbap*  thor  teaft  formidaUe  and-dcftruc- 
tive  ■  of  tbe^  "wholej  wheat  empldyM  againftv  naked  in9^»tiiofd 
Indians*  AU  t|iit<cazi<)«e»  of  ther  iflandf  Guacanahari^xcfpted^ 
who  retained''  a«  inviolable  attathment  to  <  the  Spaninili^  were 
1^  arms  to  oflpofe  Columbus,  witlr  forcer  amoimtit^/if  We  nny • 
believe  the  Spanilhrhift<maasj  to  an  hundred- thoufand  men.  In< 
ftead  of 'attempttng;iadra«iiitiuk  SpaniaedSrinto  thefaimeilesojF  the 
woods  and '  mountains,-  they^  weie- fo  imprudent '.  as^  t6  'take  their 
ftation  in;  Veg»  Re»)j^  thtRmelkiopea.pbitt.ii^  the  coutitry^  Co^ 
lumbus  did  not  -allow  thcniltiaie;  tor  percdve  thdr  errors  or  to^ 
alter  their  pofuiom  He  attacked  them>^durinig':  the  night,  when 
U9di||:i||iMl|^  troops:  are  le^ft  .capable, joladiiiig' with  union  knd 
concfil,  ai^  obtained  an  eafy  and  bk^efsviftoty.'  The- con> 
fternation  with  which  the  Indians  were  filkd  by  the  noife  and 
havoc  made:  by  the  fire<*amiSj  by  the  impetuous  ^force  of  <the  ca-)^ 
valry,  and  the  firfton&t  of  the  dogs,  was  fo  great,  that  they 
threw  down  their  weapons,  and  fled  without  attempting  itrt^nee. 
Many  were  flain  j  more  were  takcn-prifoners,-  and  reduced  Ao  fer- 
vitude;  and  fo  thoroughljf*  were  the  reft  intimidated,^  that  from 
that  moment  they  abandoned  thcai^lvcs  to  defpair,  reltnquiflnng 
all  thoughts  of  Contending  with  taggtsSors  whom  they  deemed 

invincible^  :  _> 

Columbus  employed.  :f<fycrai  taosiths  in  mairching  through  the 
ifland,  and  in  fubje^ing  /it  to  the-  Spanifli  government,  without 
m^seting  with  any  oj^po&tion'*^  He  impofed  a  tribute  upon  all  the 
inhabitants  abovc'the^ge/ioffourtecnii  Each  poffon  who  livrai 
in  thofe  diftri^lwlSre»  gbld.vhislound,  was  obliged  to  pay  quar* 
tcriy  as  iftuch  goldjduft  e».£lkd  a  hawk^s  htell ;  frc»a  thoie  in 


hiicdrERY.  of  amexicX 


i9 


oilier  part,$''of^he  coiintiy,  twenty-live  pouii^^  of  cotton  were  dei 
manded.     This  was  the  firfl:  regular  taxation  of  the  Indians,  and 
I'erved  as  a  precedent  for  exa^ions  fllll  mqfe  ii\tolef sible.     SucH 
an  ithpontioti  waS  extremely  conirary  to  thofe  maximS  wKich  Co* 
Iambus  had'  hitherto  inciikaied  with  refpe£{  to  the  mode  6f  treat* 
i|ig  them,     fiat  intrigues  Were  Carrying  on  in  the  <:durt  bf  Spain 
at.  this  junfture,  in  order  io  undei-mine  his  poWer  arid  difcredit 
ills,  operations,  Which  cbnftrained  him  to  depart  ftom  his  own 
iyftlStoh  of  adminiiiration.     Several  unfavou'fabtc  accounts  of  his 
c;ondii6lj  a^  well  as  of  the  Countries  difcoVered'by  himj  had  been 
tranfnl:t:ed  t^  Spain;   .Margaritta  and  Father  Boyl  wer^  how  at 
court;  and  in  Order  to  jiiflify  theif-  dwn  coticlufil;,  or  to  gratify 
their  refentment^  watthed  with  ihalevolent  aitentiori  for  every 
b|)portunity  of  fpreading  iniinuatioris  to  his  detntii^ntj     Many 
of  the  tbiirtiers)  viewed  his  growing  reputation  and  power  with 
envious  ey^s.     Fbnfeca,  archdeacon  of  Seviltej  who  was  intruded 
with  the  diief  direftion  of  Indian  affairs,  had  Conceived  fiich  an' 
.utifayoi^jn^e  opinion  of  Columbus,  fo^  (brat  reafori  which  the 
cb%tdhpionr^  writers  have  hot  mentibfied,  that  he  liftehed  with 
partiality  j[b  every  inveftive  againfl  hiiti.      It  was'  not  eafy  for  ah 
unfrien^e^ftranger^  unpra£lii'ed  in  courtly  arts,  to  cbuntera£l  the 
machinations  of  fo  mlany  eliemies.     Columbus  faw  that  there  was 
biit  one  method  of  fiippo'rtihg  his  own  credit,  and  oi  filencing 
all  hii  advi^faries.     He  niiift  produ<:e  fiich  a  quantity  of  gold  as 
would  riot  ofiiiy  juftify  Vhat  he  had  reported  with  refpeft  to  th« 
richriefs  of  the'  country,  but  encour^  Ferdinand  and  H'abella  to 
perfeverti  in  profe6Uting  his  plansj     The  neccflity  of  obtaining  it,' 
forced  hitti  hot  only  to  impoTe  this  heavy  tax  upoh  the  Indians, 
but  to'  tkiGi.  payment  of*- it  with   extreme  rigour ;  qtid  may  bo 
pleaded  ih  exciife  for  his  deviating  oh  this  occafioh  frbm  the  mild- 
ncb  and  hufnanity  \^ith'  whiih  he  uniformly  treated  that  unhappy^ 
pfeopici; 

The  labour,'  at'tehtloh,  and  forehght  which  the  Indians  were 
Obliged  to  employ  in  procuring  the  iiibuce  demanded  of  them; 
appeared  the  mod  ihtoterable  of  all  evils,  to  m'eh  accudom^d  to  pafs 
their  days  in  a  cafelefii,  improvident  indolence.     They  were  in- 
capable of  fuch  i  regular  and  perl'evering  exertion  o^  iridudry; 
I  ahd  felt  it   fuCh  a  grievoui  redraint  uj>6n  their  liberty,  (hat  they 
had  reCoUffe  to  an  expedient  for  obtaining  deliverance  from  this? 
I  yoke,  whith  dem6n{£rates  the  excefs  of  theif  impatience  and  def-* 
Ipair,     They  foi^med  a  fCheme  of  ffarving  thoft  bpprcffors  whom 
they  durfi  not  atteihpt  to  expel ;  and  from!  the  opinion  which  they 
lentertained  with  refpeft  to  the  voracious  appetite  of  the  Spani- 
[ards,    they  concluded  the  execution^  of  it  to  be  very  prafticable^ 

G      \ 


hp 


t>jtscar£Rr  ctr  America. 


•?&>> 


Witli  this  view  they  fuipended  all  the  opet-ations  of  agriculture i^ 
they  fowed  no  maiae,  they  pulled  up  the  roots  of  the  manioc  or 
cafTada  which  were  planted^  and  retiring  to  the  mod  inacceffible 
parts  of  the  mountams,<  left  the  uncultivated  plains  to  their  ene- 
mieSr  This  defperate  refolution  produced  in  fome  degree  the  ef- 
fc^  which  they  expefted.  The  Spaniai^ds  Mtere  reduced  to  ex- 
treme  want;  but  they  received  fuch  feiifonabl<e> fupplies  of  profi* 
tiV)ns  {]^am  Eurppe,  and  found  fo  many  refources  in  their  own. 
ingenuity  and  ii^duftry^  that  they  fu'ffiered^  no  great  tofs  of  men.* 
The  wretched  Indians  were  the  viAims  of  theilr  own  iU>concen>< 
ed  policy,.  A  great  multitude  of  people^  ihut  u{»  in  the  moun* 
tainous  part  of  the  country,  without  any'  food  but  the  fpontaneoui> 
produ£lions  of  the  earth,  Toon  felt  the  utmoft  diftlreifes  of  fiunine.' 
This  brought  on  tonta^ous;  difeafes;:  and,  in  the  courfe  of  a  feW 
months,  more  than  a  third*  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  ii^nd  pe- 
rlfhed,  after  e;fcperiencing  mifery  in  all  its  Various  forms*    ' 

But  while  Columbus  was  eftabliihing  the'foundations.  of  the  Spa* 
nilh  grandeur  in  the  New  Worldvhis  enemies  laboured- with  unwea- 
ried afliduity  to  deprive  him  of  the  glony  and  rewards,  which  by  his 
fervices  and  fufferings  he  was  intitled  to  enjpy.>  The  hardflups  una- 
voidable in  a  new  fett]£meBt,the  calamiticsocc^fioned'by  an  unhealthy 
climate,  the  diiailers  attending  a  voyage  m  unknown  feas,-  were  d\h 
reprefent^d'as  the  efFe£b  of  his  veftlefs  and  inconfiderate  ambition* 
His  prudent  attention  to  preferve  difcipline  and  fubordination 
was  denominated  excefa  of  rigour ;  the  punifknients  which  he  in- 
fli£ted  upon  the  mutinous  and  difprderly  were  imputed  to*  cruelty.^ 
Thefe  accufations  gained  fuoh  credit  in  %  jealous  court,  that  a  com- 
niiflioner  was  appointed  tp  repair  to  Hifpaniola,  and  to  infped:  in- 
to the  6ondu£k. of  Columbus.  By  the  recommendation  of  his  ene- 
mies, Aguadd,  a*  groom  of  the  bedrchanl>er,»  was»  the  perfon  tO' 
whom  this,  important  truft'  was.  cionmiitted.)  But  in  thi»  choice' 
they  feemtohave  been  more  inAuenced  by' the  obfequious  attack-' 
mcnbof  the  n^an  to  their  intereft^  than  by  his  capacity^  for  the  (b- 
tion.  FuHjed  up  with. fuch  fudden  elevation,  Aguado-difplayed  in 
the  exercife  q$  this-  office j<  all  Uie  frivolous- felf-importtince,  and 
a^d  with  all  the'difgufting,  infolence,  which  ai«  natural  to  little 
minds,  when  raifed  to  une:£pe£bed  dignity,  or  employed  in  func- 
tions to  which  they  arcnot  e^u^l..  By  liflbning  with  eagprnefs  to 
every  accufation  againfl:  Columbnsj  and  encouraging,  not  only  thC/ 
malcontent  Spaniards,  but  even  tl\e  Indians^  to  produce  their 
grievances,  real  or  imaginary,  he  fomented  the  fpirit  of  diifention 
in  the  ifland,  without  eftablifhing  any  regUlation,of  public  utility,^ 
or  that  tended  to  redrels  the  many  wrongs,  with  the  odium  of 
which  he  wiflied  to  load'  the  admiral's  adminiftration.  As  Colum- 
bus felt  fenfibly  how  humiliating  l^is  fituatioamuftcbe,  if  haihould 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA, 


fi* 


remain  in  that  country  while  fuch  a  partial  infpeftor  dbfervcd  hi« 
motions,  and  controuled  his  jurifdiflion,  he  toc^  the.  refolution  of 
]«tuming  to  Spain,  in  order  to  lay  a  full  account  of  all  hit  tranf- 
aftions,  particularly  with  refp^£l  to  the  points  in  difputc  hetwee^ 
him  and  hi*  adversaries,  before  Ferdinand  and  Kibella,  from  whole 
juilice  afid  difcei^ment  he  rxpefted  an  equal  and  a  favourable  dtf- 
cifton.  He  committed  the.  adminiftration  of  affairs,  during  hit 
abfence,  in  one  thoufand  four  hundred  and  ninety-fix,  to  Don 
Bartholomew  his  bcother,  with  the  title  of  Adelantado,  or  Lieu- 
tenant Govemorl  By  a  choK-  '  '.fs  fortunate,  and  which  proved 
ithe  fource  of  many  calx  les  tu  "  colony,  he  appo.  '^^^  .  Franciis 
Roldan  chief  juftvee,  with  very  extenlive  powers. 

^n  retwaing  to  Europe,  Columbus  held  a  courie  different  from 
that  yrkich  he  had  taken  in  his  former  voyage.     He  lleered  almofi 
due  eaft  fpm  Hifp^miola,  in  the  parallel  of  twenty-two  degrees  of 
latitude;   as  experience  had  not  yet  difcovered  the  more  certain 
and  expeditious  method  of  (Iretching  to  the  northy  in  order  to 
fall  in  virith  the  i'outh-weft  winds.     By  this^  ill-advifed  choice,' 
which,  in  the  infancy  of  navig^ttion  between  the  N«w  -and  the 
Old  Worlds^  fan  hardly  be  imputed  to  the  admiral  as  a  defe^iin 
naval  fkill,  he  was  expofed  to  infinite  fatigue  and  danger,  in  » 
perpetual  druggie  with  the  trade-winds,  which  bk>W,  without  va- 
riation fpm.  the  eaft  between  the  tropic«.     Notwithftanding  the 
almoft  infuper^^e  di0iculties  of  fuch  a  navigation,  hie  perfifted  iit 
his  courie  with  his  .ufu4  patience  and  firmnefs,  but  made  fo  little 
way,  that  he  was  three  months  without  feeing  land.     At  length 
his  provi&ons  began  to  fail,  the  crew  was  reduced  to  the  fcant/ 
I  allowance'  of  fix  ounces  of  bread  a-day  for  each  perfon.     The 
admiral  fared  no  better  than  the  meaneft  failor.     But  even  in  thi^ 
extreme  diftrpfs,  he  retained  the  humanity  which  diftinguiflies  his 
Ichara&er,  and  i^fufed  to  comply  with  the  earneftfolipitations  of 
jhis  crew,  fome  of  whom  propofed  la  feed  Mpon  the  Indian  prifon.' 
jers  whom  they  were  carrying  .over,  and  others  infifted  to  thrpw^ 
Ithem  over-board,  in  order  toleifen  the  (popfumptipn  of  their  fmalU 
lilock.     He  reprefented  that  they  were  hitman  beipgs^  ^educed' 
by  a  common  calamity  to  the  fame,  condition  ^i(h  themie^veS,  and*' 
Entitled  to  (hafe  an  equal  fate*,     His  authority  and  ren^oitft\'anecS'- 
iiflipated  thofe  wild  idea.s  fuggefted  by  defpair.     Nor  ha4  they 
lime  to  recur,  as  they  came  foon  within  itght  of  the  coaft  of  Spain^ 
irhen  all  their  fears  and  fufferings  ended. 

Columbus  appeared  at  court  with  the  modeft  but  determined- 
lonfidcnce  of  a  man  conicious  not  only  of  integrity,  but  of  having 
erformed  great  fervices.     Ferdinand  and   IfabeUa,  aihamed  of 
ictr  own  facility  in  lending  to&  favourable  an  ear  to  frivolous  or 

C    3 


jS^  piSCQVE^Y  QF  AMERICA. 

^U'-founded  accCkfations,  receiye4  hjm  \^}^h  fuch  diftihguiihe^' 
marks  of  refpciEl,  as  covered  his  enemies  with  (hame.  Their  cen- 
sures and  calumnies  were  no  more  heard  of  at  that  junfiure.  Jhp 
gold,  the  pearls,  the  cotton,  and  othe^  (Commodities  of  value  which 
Colii^bus  produced,  feemed  fully  to  refute  what  the  mal-contents 
)iad  p^opogatcd  with  rcfpe^  to  the  poverty  of  the  country.  By 
^educing  the  Indians  to  obedienpe,  and  impofing  a  regular  tax 
upon  thcm^  Yic  had'(ecure4  to  Spain  a  iarge  acceflion  of  new  fub. 
je£):st  and  the  e(labli{hipent  of  a  revenue  that  promifed  to  be  con- 
fiderable.  By  the  mines  which  he  Jiad  found  owt  and  examined, 
a  fource  of  wealth  flill  more  copious  >vas  opened.  Great  and  un- 
expe£i:ed  as  thofe  advantages  were,  Columbus  rcprefented  them 
pnly  as  preludes  to  future  acquifuions,  and  as  (he  earneft  of  more 
jimportant  diipoyeries,  rvhich  he  flill  meditated,  and  to  which  thofe 
|ie  had  a||ready  made  would  conduft  him  with  cafe  and  certainty. 
^hi  aUentiye  irotif^der^tion  of  all  thefe  circumflances  n\ade  fucH 
)ipprefl)on,  not  on|y  u{>on  liiabella,  who  was  flattered  with  the  idea 
of  being  the  patrbn^fs  pf  all  Columbus's  enterprifes,  but  even  upon 
^erdinand,  Vi'h'p  having  originally  exprefTed  his  dil'approbation  of 
his  fchemes,  was  ilill  apt  to  doubt  of  their  fuccefs,  that  they  rc- 
(plved  to  lupply  the  colony  in  Hifpanidla  with  ^very  thing  which 
pould  render  it  a  permanent  eftabUfhment,  aAd  to  furnifh  Colum- 
bus with  fuck  ajleet,  (hat  he  might  proceed  to  fearch  for  thofe 
{lew  countries,  of  whof<:  "eyiftence  he'  feemed  to  be  coiiQdent. 
The:  meafures  ihoft  propej;  for  accompliihing  both  thefe  defigns 
y^ere  concerted  with  Columbu^.  Dilcovery  had  been  the  fole 
obje£^  of  the  (irit  voyage  to  the  New  World ;  attd  though  in  the 
fecond,  (i:^t}emefit  ha^  been  propofed,  the  precautions  taken  for 
j|hat  piii-pQl^  jiad  eithet  been  infufHcient,  or  iiyere  rendered  ineffec- 
tual by  the  i|)6tin0us  fpirit  of  the  Spaniards,  and  the  unforefeen 
calamities  arif^ng  from  various  caufes.  Now  a  plan  was  to  bi: 
formed  of  a  regu^at  colony,  that  might  ferye  as  a  model  to  all  fu- 
ture e^ablifhments,"  Every  particular  was  confider^d'with  atten- 
tion, a^ld  the  whole  atranged  with  a  fcrupulous  accuracy.  The 
precife  (ii^mber  of  adventurers  who  fhouldbci  permitted  to  embark 
was  fixed;  They  were  to  be  of  different  ranks  and  pfo^cf^ons; 
and  the  prqportion  of  eath  was  iftablilhed,  according  to  their  ufc- 
Sfulnefs  and  the  wants  of  the  colony.  "  A  fuitable  number  of  wo- 
jnen  was  to  be  chofen  to  accompany  thefe  new  fettlers.  As  it  was  j 
the  firft  objed  to  railc  proviftons  in  a  country  where  fcarcity  of 
JFood  ha4  been  the  occafion  of  To  much  diftrefs,  a  confiderable  body 
of  hufbipdmen  was  to  be  carried  over.  As  the  Spaniards  had 
then  no  conception  of  derivirtg  any  benefit  from  thofe  produftions 
of  the  New  World  which  have  fince  yielded  fuch  large  returns  of  j 
itrealth  to   Europe,'  but  had  formed  magnificent  ideas,  and  enter' 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMERIC4. 


at 


jtatned  fanguine  hopes  with  refpefl  to  the  rifhes  contaified  in  th« 
mines  yrh^ch  had  been  difcovered,  a  band  of  wprkmen,  (killed  in 
ihe  various  prt^  employed  in  digging  and  refining  the  precioi^ 
metals,  was  prc^vided.  AU  thele  emigrants  were  to  receive  pay 
;>nd  fubftftence  for  fo'fpc  years,  at  the  public  expencc. 

Thus  far  the  regulations  were  prudent,  and  well  adapted  to  th« 
end  in  view.  But  as  it  was  forefeen  that  few  wotdd  engage  vo> 
Juntarily  to  fetj^e  in  a  country,  whole  noxious  climate  had  been 
fatal  to  {q  Tt\va.y  of  their  countrymen,  Columbus  propoied  to  tran^ 
port  to  Hifpaniqla  fuch  maUfa£fcors  as  had  been  convi£led  of  criineS| 
;which,  though  capital,  were  of  a  iels  attrocious  nature ;  and  that 
/or  the  future  a  pertain  proportion  qf  the  o^ende rs  ul'ually  lent  to 
jthe  gallies,  (liould  be  condemned  to  labour  in  the  mines  which 
were  to  be  opened.  This  advice,  given  without  due  refleftion, 
was  as  incon^derately  adopted.  The  prifons  of  Spain,  were 
drianed,  in  order  to  coUe^  members  for  the  intended  colony ;  and 
^he  judges  empowered  to  try  criminal^,  were  in(kru&ed  to  recruit 
it  by  theii-  fujture  ieotenpe^.  It  is  no.t,  however,  with  /ucJbi  ms^terials, 
that  the  foundations  of  a  I'ociety,  deftined  to  be  permanent,  Ihouid 
be  laid.  Ipdullry,  lobriety,  patience,  and  mutual  confidence  are 
indilpenfably  requifite  i^  an  infant  iiettlement,  where  purity  of 
morals  muft  contribute  more  towards  eftajblifhing  order,  than  the 
operation  or  authority  of  laws.  But  when  I'lich  «  mixture  o^ 
what  is  corrupt  is  admitted  into  the  original  conftitution  of  the 
political  body,  the  vices  of  thofe  unfound  and  incurable  memberin 
;>vill  probably  infe£l:  the  whole,  and  muft  certainly  be  produ£tiye 
of  violent  and  unhappy  efFe£b.  This  the  Spa9iards  fatally  expe- 
rienced; and  the  other  £urope^n  nations  having  fucceflively  imi- 
tated the  praj6lice  of  Sp^in*  in  this  particular,  pernicious  cpnfe- 
quence^  have  foU9wed  ^n  thei)r  iiettlement^,  which  can  be  imput- 
ed to  no  other  caufe. 

Thougl^  Columbus  obtained,  with  great  facility  apd  difpatch,  the 
royal  approl^ation  of  every  meali^re  and  regulation  that  he  p^opof- 
cd,  his-  cn4eavours  to  car^y  them  into  c:|fcecution  were  fo  long  re- 
tarded, as  mull  haye  tired  out  the  patience  of  any  man,  }efs  acpuf- 
tomed  to  encounter  and  to  furmount  difliculties.  Thole  delays 
were  occafioijed  part]iy  by  tl^at  tedious  formality  and  fpirit  of  pro-, 
craftination,  with  which  the  Spaniards  conduf):  bufinei's ;  and  part- 
ly by  the  exhaiifted  ftate  of  the  trealury,  which  was  drained  by  the 
expence  of  celebrating  the  marriage  of  Ferdinand  apd  IfabeUa's  on- 
ly fon  with  Margaret  of  ^uflria,  and  that  of  Joanna,  their  fecond 
4aughter,  with  Philip  arbhduke  of  Auftria ;  but  mufl  be  chiciQy 
imputed  to  the  malicious  arts  of  Columbus's  enemies.  Aftoniihied 
at  the  reception  which  he  met  with  upon  his  return,  and  overawed 
^y  his  prefencc,  they  gave  way,  for  fome  time,  to  a  tide  of  favour 


H 


DtSCOVMRY  or  AMMRICjI. 


too  ftrong  for  them  to  oppofe.  Their  enmity,  however,  wai  to* 
inveterate  to  remain  long  inaAive.  They  refumed  their  oppera- 
ttona,  and  by  the  afliilance  of  Fonl'eca,  the  minider  for  Indian  af. 
Aiirs,  who  was  now  promoted  to  the  bifhopric  of  Bajados,  they 
threw  in  fo  many  obilacles  to  protra£l  the  preparations  for  Colum- 
bus's expedition,  that  a  year  elapfed  before  he  could  procure  twq 
(hips  to  carry  over  a  part  of  the  fupplies  deftined  for  the  colony, 
•nd  aUnoil  two  years  were  fpent  before  the  fmall  fquadron  wai| 
equipped  of  which  he  himfelf  was  to  take  the  command. 

This  fquadron  confifted  of  fix  fliips  only,  of  iio  great  burden, 
and  but  indifferently  provided  for  a  long  or  dangerous  navigation. 
This  voyage  which  he  now  meditated  was  in  a  courfe  different, 
from  any  he  had  undertaken.     As  he  was  fully  purfuaded  that  the 
fert^e  regions  of  India  lay  to  the  fouth-wefl  of  thofe  countries 
which  he  had  difcovered,  he  propofed,  as  the  mofi  certain  method 
of  finding  out  thefe,  to  fUnd  dire£lly  fouth  from  the  Canary  or 
Cape   de  Vcrd  iflands,  until  he  came  under  the  equinoftial  line, 
and.  then  to  ftretch  to  the  weft  before  the  favourable  wind  for 
fuch  a  courfe,  which  blows  invariably  between  the  tropics.    With 
this  idea  he  fet  fail,  on  May  the  thirtieth,  one  thoufand  four  hun- 
dred  and  ninety-eight,  and  touched  firft  at  the  Canary,  snd  then 
at  the  Cdpe  de  Verd  iflands,  on  July  the  fourth.     From  the  for- 
mer he  difpatched  three  of  his  (hips  with  a  fupply  of  provifions 
foir  the  colony  in  Hifpaniola :  with  the  other  three,  he  continued 
his  voyage  towards  the  fouth.      No  remarkable  occurrence  hap- 
pened till  July  the  nineteenth,  when  they  arrived  within  five  de-* 
grees  of  the  line.    There  they  were  becslmed,  and  at  the  fame 
time  the  heat  became  fo  exceflive,  that  many  of  theif  wine  (lafks 
burft,  the  liquotin  others  foured,iand  their  provif^Ons  corrupted. 
The  Spaniards,  who  had  never  ventured  fo  far  to  the  fouth,  were 
afraid  that  the  (hips  would  take  Hre,  and  began  to  apprehend  the 
reality  of  what  the  ancients  had  taught  concerninf^  the  <^ftru£^ive 
qualities  of  that  torrid  region  of' the  globe.     They  were  relieyed, 
in  fome  meafure,  from  their  feaxs  by  a  feafonable  fall  o^  rain. 
This,  however,  though  fo  heavy  and  unintermitting  that  the  men 
could  hardly  keep  the  deck,  did  not  greatly  mitig^ate  the  intenfe- 
nefs  of  the  heat.     The  admiral,  vfhp  With  his  ufUal  vigilance  had 
in  perfon  direfted  every  operation,  from  the  t>eginnin^.of  the 
voyage,  was  fo  much  exhaufted  by  fatigue  and  want  of  (leep,  that 
it  brought  on  a  violent  fit, of  the  gout,  accompanied  with  a  fever, 
All  thefc  ^ircumftances  confh^ined  him  to  yidd  to  the  importUi. 
nities  of  his   crew,  and  to  alter  his  courfe  to  the  north-weft,  in 
order  to  reach'  fome  of  the  Carribee  iflands,  where  he  might  refit, 
and  be  fupplied  With  pn«'ifioiis. 


ocean  ma 


'  DlSiiQmfiY  Of  AMBlklCA  O, 

Ofi  the  fir  ft  of  Auguil,  the  man  ftationed  in  the  roun4  top  fur* 
priled  them  with  the  joyful  cry  of  land*     They  ftood  iovizx^  it« 
and  difcovered  a  eonfiderabl^  ifland,  which  the  admin^l  called 
Trinidad,  »  name  it  ftiU  re|ain»<     It  lie*  on  the  Coaft  of  Gu^ana^ 
neartlie  mouth  of  the  Orinoco*     Thif,  though  a  riycr  oi^y.of 
the  third  or  fourth  magnitude  in  the  New  World,  far  furpafles 
aoy  of  the  ftreama  in  our  hemifphere.     It  i'olli  towards  the  ocean 
fuch  a  vaft  body  of  water,  and  rulhea  into  it  with  fuch  impetuous 
force,  that  when  it  meeta  the  tide,  Which  on  that  eoail  rife*  to  an 
uncommon  height,  their  coUifion  occaftona  a  fwcH  and  agijtation 
of  the  wavea  no  Icfa  furpriiing  than  formidable*     In  tl^a  confli^^ 
the  irrefiftible  torrent  of  the  river-fo  far  prevails,  that  it  frcQicns  the 
ocean  many  leagues  with  its  flood*     Columbus,  before  he  could , 
perceive  the  danger,  vra*  entangled  among  thofe  adverfe  current» 
and  tempeftuous  waves,  and  it  was  with  the  utmoft  diijiiCMUy  that 
he  efcaped  through  a  narrow  ftrait,  which  appcaifid  fo  tremci>dous» 
that  he  called  it  La  Boca  del  Drago.     As  foon  as  v^  conftematio» 
which  this  occaftoned,  jiermitted  him  to  refleCl.upon  thfo  nature 
of  ati  appearance  fo  extraordinary,  he  difcemed  i|i»  it  a  fource  of 
comfort  and  hope.     He  jtf  ftly  concluded,  that  fuch  a  raft  body  of 
w;iter  as  this  river  contained,  could  not  be.  fupplied  by  any  ifland^ 
but  muft  flow  through  a  coimtry  of  immenfe  e;|tcnt,  and  of  con- 
fe.quenie  that  he  was  npw  arrived  at  that  ccntinent  which  it  had 
hong  been  the  obje£l:.of  his  wiflDcs  to  difcover.     Full  of  this  idea, . 
Ihe  ftood  to  the  weft  along  th^  eoaft  of  thofe  provinces  which  are 
InQW  known  .by  the  names  of  Paria  and  Cutnana.     He  .landed  in 
IfeVeral  places,  and  had  fome  intercourfe  with  the  people,  who  re> 
|fembled  thofci  of  Hifpaniola  in  their  appearance  and  manner  of 
ife.     They  wore,  at  ornaments,  fmaU  plates* of  gold,  and  pCarlft 
of  confiderable  valtie,  which  they  willingly  exchanged  for<iii^u*> 
ropean  toys.     They  feemed  to  poffefs  a  better  underftanding,  and 
greater  courage,  than  the  inhabitants  of  the  iflands.     The  country 
»oduced  four-footed  animals  of  feveral  kinds,  as  well  as  a  great 
variety  of  fowls  and  fruits.     The  admiral  was  fo  much  delighted 
/ith  its  beauty  and  fertility,  that  witli  the  warm  enthuftafm  of  a 
ifcoverer,  he  imagined  it  to  be  the  paradife  dercribed  in  Scrip-' 
ire,  which  the  Almighty  shofe  for  the  reftdencc  of  man,  while 
le  retained  innocence  that  rendered  him  worthy  of  fuch  a  habita- 
ion.    Thus  Columbus  had  the  glory  not  only  of  difeovering  to 
inkind  the  exifl«nce  of  a  New  Worldy  but  made  conftdcrable 
^rogrefs  towards  a  perfe6fc  knowledge  of  it ;  and  was  the  firft  man 
'ho  conduced  the  Spaniards  to  that  vaifc  continent  which  has 
en  the  chief  feat  of  their  empire,  and  the  (burce  of  their  trea- 
»re$  in  this  quarter  of  the  globe.     The  Jhattered  con<Ution  of  his 
*PS|  fcarcity  o£  provifionsj  his  own  infirmities^,  together  with 


a€  DlSCdVERf  bF  AMERICA, 

th«  impatiencf  of  his  crew,  prevented  him  from  purfuing  Iiif 
difcoveries  any  farther,  and  made  it  neceifary  to  bear  away  for 
Hifpanioia.  In  his  way  thither  he  difcovered  the  iflands  of  Cu- 
btgua  and  Margaritai,  which  afterwards  became  remarkable  for 
their  plearUfifhery.  When  he  arrived  at  Hifp'anibla,  on  the  thir- 
iieth  of  Auguft,  he  Was  vlafted  to  an  extreme  degree  wifh  fatigue 
ahd  fickne^s ;  but  found  the  affairs  of  the  colony  in  fuih  a  fituation* 
as  afforded  him  no  p^oi'pcft  of  eijjoying  that  j-epofe  of  whicli  he 
ftood  fo  much  in  need.  | 

Many  revolutions  had  happened  in  that  country  during  his  ab- 
fence.  His  brother  the  adelantado,  ih  confequence  of  the  advice 
which  the  admiral  gave  befdtc  his  departure,'  had  removed  the 
tolony  from  IfabcUa  to  z  more  commodious  Aation,  on  the  oppo- 
Ate  fide  of  i\it  iihivd,  and  laid  the  foihidarion  of  St.'  Domingo, 
which  was  Fong  the  mofl:  tonfiderable  European  toWn  in  the  New 
World,'  and  the  feat  of  the  fupreme  courts  in  the  Spanish  domi- 
Mi6ns  there.  As  foon  as  the  Spaniards  were  eftabliflied  in  this 
tew  fettlement,  thto  adelantado,  that  they  might  neither  languifli' 
ih  ina£livity,  nor  have  Icifure  to  form  new  cabals,  marched  into 
thofc  parts  of  the  ifland  which  his  brother  had  not  yet  vifited  or 
reduced  to  obedience.  As,  the  people  were  unabk  to  t'efift,  they 
fubmitted  every  where  to^the  tribute  which  he  iit^pofed.  But 
they  foon  found  the  burdi^  to  be  fo  intolerable,  that,  o  Vera  wed 
as  they  were  by  the  fuperfior  power  of  their  opprelTors,  they  took 
arms  againfll  them^  Thof^  infurreflioAs,  however,  were  not 
formidable.  A  conflifl  with  timid  and  ilakled  Indians  was  neither 
dangetous  nor  of  doubtful  iflue. 

But  while  the  adelantado  Was  employed  ag;ain(l'them'rh  the  field, 
a  mutiny,  of  an  afpefl  far  more  alarming,  broke  out  ilmohg  the 
Srpp«lards.  The  ringleader  of  it  was  Francis  Roldan,  whom  Co- 
lumbus had  placed  in  a  ftatioh  which  required  him  to  be  the 
guardian  of  order  and  tranqniility  in  the  Colony.  A  turbulent  and 
inconfiderate  ambition  precipitated  him  into  this  defperate  mea- 
fure,  fo  unbecoming  his  rank.  Theargumaits\^hich  he  employed  to 
feduce  his  countrymen  were  frivolous  and  ill-founded.  He  accu- 
fed  Columbus  and  his  two  brothers  of  arrogance  and  fcverity  ^ 
he  pretended  that  they  aimed  at  eftabliftiing  an  ind(ipcndent  do- 
minion in  the  country ;  he  taxed  them  with  an  intention  of  cutting 
off  part  of  the  Spaniards  by  hunger  and  fatigue,  that  they  might 
more  eafily  reduce  the  remainder  to  fubjeftion  ;  he  reprfilented  it 
as  unworthy  of  Caflilians,  to  remain  the  tame  and  piiflive  flaves,  of 
three  -Geonefe  adventurers;  As  men  have  always  a  propenfity  to 
impute  the  hardfhips  of  which  they  feel  the  preffure,  to  the  mif- 
condud:  of  their  rulers ;  as  every  nation  views  with  a  jealous  eye 
the  power  and  exaltation  of  foreigners,  Roldan's  infinuations  made 


6Hcv\rMkTt  6r  AukkkJL 


If 


il  deep  inipreflion  on  his  countfy^n:  Hit  tKiriAer  anj  rtnk  M^ 
«d  weight  to  them.  A  cofi1t4enbie  number  of  the  Spaniardt 
made  choice  of  him  aa  their  leader;  and  taking  aimi  againft  the  ade- 
lantadoand  hia  brother,  feited  thft  ^ing'l  magatine  of  ptdViitona^ 
and  endcavoUretl  to  furprife  the  fort  at  St.  Dooiingo;  This  wat 
preferved  by  the.  vigilance  and  fcoutvge  of  Don  Die|o  Coltmibut* 
The  niutineera  were  obliged  id  retire  to  the  province  of  Xaragua^ 
where  they  continned  not  only  4o  difdaim  the  adelantado'i  authcM 
Hty  themfclvea^  but  excited  the  Indians  to  thH>w  off  the  yoke: 

Such  wu  thd  diAtafted  ftate  of  the  colony  when  Columbui 
landed  at  St.  DomingOi  He  waa'  aIloni(hed  to  find  thbt  the  thrto 
fliipa  which  he  had  dirpatChed  from  the  Canariea  were  not  yet  ar« 
rived.  By  the  unikilfulnefs  of  the  pilots,  and  the  violence  of  cut- 
rents;  they  had  been  carried  a  hundred  and  Itxty  n^a  iv.  the  weft 
of  St.  Domingo,  and  forced  to  take  Ihelter  in  a  harboui;^  the  pro* 
vince  of  Xaragua,  where  Roldan  and  hil  feditiotttfollowera  were 
cantoned. .  Roldnn  carefully  concealed  from  the  Commanders  of  the 
Ihips  his  infurreftioh  againft  the  adelantadd,  fiid  eniploying  his  ut- 
ihoft  addr^ik  to  gain  their  Confidence,  perfuaded  them  to  fet  on 
ihore  a  confiderable  part  of  the  new  fettiers  Whom  they  brough' 
over,  that  they  might  proceed  by  land  tip  St;  Domingo;  It  re4uii  .^ 
cd  but  few  argumenta  to  pi'evail  ^ith  thbf^  men  to  efpoufe  his 
caufe.  They  were  the  tefufe  of  the  jals  bf  Spain^  to  whbm  idle- 
nefs,  licentibufnefa,  and  deeds  of  violen|be  Were  familiar;  and  they 
returned  eagerly  to  a  eourfe  of  life  nearly  refembling  that  to  Which 
they  had  been  accuftoiiled.  The  commanders  of  the  (hips  per- 
ceiving, wheii  it  Was  tdo  late,  their  imprudence  in  difembarking 
fo  many  of  their  mehj  ftood  away  for  St.  Domingo,  and  gbt  (afd 
ihto  the  port  a  feW  daya  after  the  admiral ;  but  thdir  ftoCk  of  p<'o« 
vifions  wa|  fo  Wafted  during  a  Voyage  bf  fucH  lung  continU&iicC| 
that  they  brought  little  relief  to  the  colony; 

By  this^ittiki^ion  with  a  band  of  fuch  bold  ahij  dcfpcrate  i^otA^ 
ates,  Roldan  became  extremely  formidable,  and  ho  lefs  extraVagiiil 
in  his  demands.  Columbus;  though  filled  With  riifcntiiieht  at  hlS 
ingtititude;  and  highly  exal'perated  by  tlr?  'ni;>lenCe  of  hiJt  fol- 
lowers, made  no  hafte  to  take  the  field.  He  trembled  at  the 
thoughts  of  kindling  the  flames  of  i  civil  war.  In  Which,  whatever 
party  prevailed;  the  power  and  ftrength  df  both  niuft  be  fo  much 
wafted;  as  might  encourage  the  common  bni^my  to  unite  and  com-> 
plete  their  deftru^ion;  At  the  fame  time,  he  obl'crved,  that ^he 
prejudices  and  pafllons  Which  incited  the  rebels  to  take  arma,  had 
fo  far  infefted  t'hofe  Who  ftill  adhc)-ed  to  him,  that  many  of  th'etu 
were  adverfe;  and  all  cold  to  the  fervice.  From  fuch  fentinients 
with,  refpeft  to  the  public  intereil,  as  well  as  ffotn  this  view  of  his 

H 


^ 


.^ISCp^JEA^  aJ?  ^MSfilCA, 


qfnx  i^tuatton,  h«  chofc  to  n^gociate  ratjh^r  tbiin  to  fight.  By  t|  . 
SpSioTuhle  proclanpation,  offering  free  pardon  to  fuch  as  diould  me-* 
latsit  by  returhing  to  their  duty,  he'mtadc;  impreflion  upon  fome. 
of  t]^p  malcontents.  3y  engaging  to  grant  fuch  as  Chould  d|efire  it 
t|ie  lijberty  of  returning  to  Spain^  he  allured  aU  thofc  unfortunate 
adventurers,  who,  fiom  ftcknefs  and  difappointmentf  were  difguftedi 
with  the  countiy.  By  promifing  to  re-eftabU(h  Roidan  in  his  for<' 
i^icr  o^ccj  he  Xpqthed  hyis  pride ;  and  by  complying  with  moft  of 
his  demands 'in  behalf  of  his  followers,  he  fatisfied  their  avarice, 
i^hus,  gradually  and  without  bloodshed,  but  after  many  tedipusne" 
gpciations,  he  dii|ip|lved  thi^  dangerous  condiinatipn  which  threat*' 
^hed  the  colony  with  ruiu ;  and  rei^red  the  appearance  of  order^ 
regular  govjcmment,  and  tranquillity.  '      ^ 

.  In  tonf<qquefico  of  this  agreement  With  the  mutineers^  h^4f 
li^ere  alloted  tljHem  in  different  parts  of  the  ifland,  and  the  Indiansi 
fettl<^d  in  each  diQjrid.  were  appointed  to  cultivate  a  certain  portion 
of  ground  for  the  ufe  of  th(^  new  mafters*.  TY^e  perfprmance 
of  this  work  was  fu^ftituted  In  place  of  the  tribute  formerly  impo- 
fed;  and  how  neceflary  foever  fuch  a  regulation  migh^  he  in  a  fick- 
ly  and  feeble  colony  I'^t  introduced  among  the  Spaniards  the  Rcpar* 
timentoSf  or  diftributions  of  Indians  efi^bliij^ed  by  them  in  all  their 
fettlements,  which  brought  numberlefs  calaniities  upon  that  unhap- 
py people,  and  fubjeiEled  them  to  the  moft.  grieVous  oppreifipn* 
Xhis  was  not  the  only  bad  e£^e£t  of  the  infurre£lipn  in  HMpaniolii ; 
it  prevented  Columbus  from  profecuting  his  difcoveri^s  on  the  con^ 
tinent,  as  felf-prefervation  obliged  him  to  keep  near  hi^  P^rfon 
his  brother  the  adelant^do,  and  the  failors  whom  he  intendoi  to 
have  empioyed  in  that  fervice.  As  foon  as  his  affairs  would  per-^ 
tnitf  he  fent  fome  of  his  (hips  to  Spain  with  a  journal  of  the  voy- 
age which  he  had  made,  a  defcription  of  the  new  countries  which 
he  had  difcoVered,  a  chart  of  the  coail  along  Which  h<e  had  failedy 
and  fpeciraens  of  the  gold,  the  pearls,  and  other  cuiiou*  or  Valuable 
produftions  which  he  had  acquired  by  trafl^cking  with  the  natives* 
At  the  fame  time  he  tranfmitted  an  account  of  the  infurre£lion  in 
Hifpaniola ;  Ke  accufed  the  mutineers  not  only  of  having  thrown 
the  colony  into  fuch  violent  convullions  as  threatened  its  diifplu^ 
tion^  but  of  having  pbftru£lcd  every  attempt  towards  difcoveryand 
improvement,  by  t;heir  unprovoked  rebellion  againft  their  iuperi- 
ors,  and  propofed  feveral  regulations  for  the  better  government  o^ 
the  ifland,  as  well  as  the  extin£Uon  of  that  mutinous  fpirit,  which, 
though  fuppreRed  at  prefent,  might  foon  burft  out  with  addition^ 
rage.  Roidan, and  his  aiTociatcs  did  not  negle£it  to  convey  to  Spain^ 
by  the  fame  {hips,  an  apology  for  their  own  condu£l,  together  wii^h 
their  recriminations  uppn  the  admiral  and  bis  brothers,     Unfortu- 


»499- 


Dtscovk'RY  OF  America. 


^9 


'nately  £e»r  the  honour  of  Spain,  and  the  hajpipinefs  of  Columbus,  ^I^e 
latter. vg^itied  moft  credit  in  the  court  of  Ferdinand  and  Ifabella, 
and  pikxluced  uMiekpefled  effe^ls. 

But^  previous  to  the  relating  of  thefe,  it  is  proper  to  take  k  vi<sw' 
of  foihe  Events,  which  tnerit  attention,  both  oh  account  of  thehr  oWn 
importanc<!;  and  their  connexion  with   the  hiftory  of  the  NeW' 
World.     White  Columbus  was  engaged  in  his  fucceffive  voyages 
to  the  weit,  the  fpirit  of  diCcovery  did  not  languifti  in  Portugal,  the 
kingdom  where  ifr  firid  ap^uired  vigour,  and  becamie  enterprifihg,  * 
^elf-cowiemtiation  and  regret  were  not  thcohly^fentimcnts  to  whith. 
the  fuccefs  of  Columbus,  a:nd  rcfle£tion  upon  their  ownimpruaei^ce' 
in  rejeftiiig  his  propofals,  j^sve^  ril'ef  among  the  Portugyefe,    They 
excited  a  general  emulation  to  furpafs  his  performances,  flid  a<^  Ar- 
dent defire  to  make  fome  reparation  to  their  country  for  their  own ' 
error.     With  this  view,   Emmanuel,  who  inherited  the  enterpti-  ' 
fing  genius  of  his  predeceffors,  perfided  in  their  grand  fchenici  of 
opening  a  paflage  to  the  Eaft  Indies  by  th«  pape  of  Good  Hope}' 
and  foon  after  his  acceflion  to  the  throne,  equipped  a  Iquadroh  ' 
for  that  important  voyage,     He  gav«  the  command  of  it  td  Vafco 
de  Gama,  a  man  of  noble  birth,  polTeiTed  of  virtue,  prudence  atid 
coiirage,  equal  (o  the  ftation,     The  fquadron,  like  all  thofe  fifitied' 
out  for4ifcoY?*y  »n  the  infancy  of  navigation,  was  extremely  fee^' 
ble,  cofiA^ing  only  of  three  veffels,  of/  neither  burden  nor  force 
adequate  to  (hie  fenirice.     As  the  Euro|}eans  were  at  that  tim<e  little  ^ 
acquainted  Yrith  the  courfe  of  the  trade  winds  and  periodical  mon- 
fOonft  which  gender  navigation  in  the  Atlantic  o^ean,  as  Well  as  in 
the  lea  that  f^ipacates  Africa  from  India,  at  fome  feafons  eafy,  ahd 
at  others  not  only  dangerous^  but  almoft  impradicable,  the  time 
chofen  for  Gama's  departure  was  the  mofl  improper  during  the 
whole  year.     He  fet  fail  from  Liihon  on  the  ninth  of  July,  1 49'?, 
and  ftanding  towards  the  fouth,  had  to  ftruggle  for  fouf  months 
with  contiN^ir  winds,  before  he  could  reach  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hppe.     On  November  26,  tlWir  violence  began  to  abate;  and  du- 
ring an  interval  of  calm  weather,  Gama  doubled  that  formid«ible 
pr(»nontory,  which  had  fo  long  been  the  boundary  of  navigation, 
and  dire^d  his  cou^'fe  towards  the  north-^eafl,  along  the  African" 
coaft.     He  touched  at  fevcral  port^ ;  and  after  various  adventures, 
which  the  Portuguefe  hiftorians  relate  with  high  but  juft  <;n^pm.i-- 
yms  upon  his  condufl  and  intrepidity,   he  came  to  anchor  before 
the  city  of  Melinda.     Throughout  all  the  vaft  countries  which 
extend  along  the  coaft  of  Africa,  from  the  river  Senegal  to  the 
confihes  of  Zanguebar,  the  Portuguefe  had  found  a  race  of  men 
rude  and  uncultivated,  flrangers  to  letters,  to  arts  and  commerce, 
a;id  differing  from  the  inhabitants  of  Europe  no  Icfs  in  their  fea* 


fjr 


XfiSCOVERY  QF  AM^^^€4. 


||il«s  and  complexioii|  thu^  in  (ihelf  nmi^nerf  ^nd  tnftitutioiiii,  A4 
(hty  advanced  from  this,  they  obferved,  to  their  ineitpreflibie  joy, 
that  the  human  form  gradually  altered  and  improved,  the  Afiatic 
ff^ture^  began  to  predominate,  marks  of  civilization  appeared»}i;tters 
yere  known,  the  Mahonoetan  religion  was  eftabliihed,  and  %*  com- 
n^^ree,  fa^  f^om  being-inconfiderable,  was  carried  on.  At  tha^  tin^e 
feveral  veffels  from  India  were  in  the  port  of  Mejinda.  pai^a  now 
purfued  hif  voyage  with  almoft  abfolute  certaint^coiF.fuccer^^  and| 
unde^  (.he  condu£i  of  a  Nfahometan  pilot,  arrived  at  Calecut,  upoii 
the  coaft  of  Malabar,  on  the,  twenty-fepond  of  May,  one  thoufand 
fpur  hundred  and  ninety-eighf.  Whathe  beheld  of  the  wealth, 
ib'z  populoufnefs,  ^he  cul|iya(ion,  the  induftry  and  arts  of  thi%  high- 
ly .civilized  country,  far  furpaflfed  any  idea  that  he  had  formed,  from 
tike  iinperfe^  af  Cpi)nt$  which  the  Europeans  had  hitherto  receive4 
of  it.  But  ai  he  poflefled  neither  fufficient  fof ce  (p  attempt  a  fet- 
tlementi  nor  proper  commodities  with  whiiph  ho  could  carry  oi^ 
f  pipa^rjce  of  any  (ponfequence,  he  haftened  Wk  to  Pprtugal,  with 
an  account  of  his  fuccefs  in  performing  a  voyage  the  longeli,  as( 
l^ell  as  xnoft  difficult,  that  had  ever  beei^  made  f^nce  (he  ^rft  in- 
ventipja  of  navigatioi«.  He  landed  at  Lifbpn  Pn  the  fourteenth  oC 
{S»eptember|  ofie  fhqufand  fou|:  ht^^dred  and  ninety  nine,  two  years 
pwoi  n^pnths  ai^d  five  da)rf|  frbnri  the  time  he  left  that  port. 

"[Irhus,  4^!'''!^^  ^^^  courfe  of  (lie  fifteenth  century,  mankind  made 
greater  progrcll  in  exploring  the  il;ate  of  the  habitable  globe,  than 
m  all  the  ages  which  had  clapfed  previous  to,  that  period.  The 
fpirit  of  difcovery,  feebly  at  iirfl  and  cau^iouf ,  moved  within  a  very 
narrow  fphere,  and  made  its  efforts  with  hefitatipn  and  timidity, 
Encoup^ed  by  fuccefs,  it  became  adventurous,  and  boldly  extend- 
ed its  pperation^^  ^n  the  courfe  of  its  prPgreflion,  it  f  ontinued  to 
acqi^uire  vigour,  iknd  advanced  at  length  with  a  rapidity  and  force 
,  Which  burft  through  all  the  limits  within  which  ignopnce  and 
lear  l»d  hitherto  circumfcribed  the  aftivity  of  the  h^ian  race. 
Almoft  fifty  years  were  employed  by  the  Portuguefe  in  creeping 
^lon^the  coaft  cf  Africa  frpm  Cape  Non  to  Cape  de  Verd,  the 
latter  of  ^hich  lie|;  only  twelve  degrees  to  the  fputh  of  the  former, 
in  lefs  tha|i  thirty  yearly  they  veiiturei  beyond  the  equino£lial  line: 
into,  anothef  liemiifphere,  and  pehetrated  to  the  fouthern  extremity 
of  Africa,  at  the  difbnce  of  forty-nine  degrees  from  Cape  de  VerdJ 
!puting  the  laf^  feven  years  of  the  century,  a  New  \|l^orld  was  dif<: 
f  overe|^  in  the  weft,  not  inferior  in  extent  to  all  the  pafts  of  th0 
earth  Y'ith  which  mankind  were  at  that  time  acquainted.  In  thci 
eaft,un|cn6wn  feas  and  countries  were  found  out,  and  a  commanit 
potion,  long  defired,  but  hitherto  concealed,  was  opened  between 
Europe  and  the  opulent  regions  of  India.  In  comparifon  with 
events  fo  wonderful  and  unexpe£led,  all  that  had  hitherto  beea 


DlSCOKjtftY  OF  AMERICA, 


«»■ 


fleemed  freat  or  fjplf Adid,  lided  away  and  difappeared.  Vaft  ob- 
jc,^s  no^vVprefented  themfelvea^  The  human  mind,  roufcd  and 
intereiUd  ib|r  the  profpPi^^,  en^f  ed  with  ardour  in  purfuit  of  thcm^ 
and  extttled  its  aOiive  powers  in  a  new  direction.  *  '^^  '' 

Thu  jpiFtt  of  entcrprife,  though  but  newly  awakened  in  Spain^ 
began  fQoti  ip  pperate  extenfively.     A^l  the  attempts  towards  dif- 
covery  inade  in  that  kingdom,  ha,d  hitherto  been  carried  on  by 
Columbus  alone,  and  at  the  expence  of  the  fovereign.     But  now 
private  advibnturecs,  allured  by  the  magnificent  defcriptions  he 
^avc  of  tlpt  region*  which  he  had  vifued,  as  well  as  by  the  fpcci- 
mens  of  their  wealth  which  he  produced,  offered  to  fit  out  fqua^- 
,dron8  at  their  own  riik,  and  to  go  in  qucft  of  new  countries. — 
The  Spanifh  court,  whofe  fcanty  revenues,  were  exhauiled  by  the' 
charge  of  its  expeditions  to  the  New  World,  which,  though  they 
opened  alluring  proi'pe£ls  of  future  benefit,  yielded  a  very  Iparing 
returii  pf  prelient  profit,  Was  extremely  willing  to  devolve  the 
burden  of  difpovery  upon  its  fubjei^.     It  feized  with  joy  an  op- 
portunity of  rendering  the  avarice,  the  ingenuity,  and  ifeiforts  of 
prejefiors,  inftrumental  in  prompting  defigiis  of  certain  advantage 
to  the  public,  though  of  doubtful  fuccc;fs  with  refpeift  to  themfelves. 
One  of  the  fir  ft  proppfitions  pf  this  kind  was  made  by  Alppi'u  d« 
Pjeda,  a  gallant  and  a£live  pfficer,  who  had  accompanied  Columr 
bus  in  his  fecond  voyage^     His  rank  and  charafiier  procured  hini 
fuch  credit  with  the  merchants  of  Seville,  that  they  undertook  to 
equip  four  Qiips,  provi4ed  he  could  obtain  the  royal  licence,  aur 
tl^rilipg  the  voyage;     The  powerful  patrdnage  of  the  bifliop  of 
l^adajos  eafily  fecured  fuccefs  in  a  fuit  fo  agreeable  to  the  court. 
Without  confulting  Columbus,  or  regarding  the  rights  and  jurif- 
<iiftion  which  he  had  acquired  by  the  capitulation  in  one  thoufand 
four  hundred  >n(^  ninety-two,  Ojeda  was  permitted  to  fet  out  for 
fhe  New  World,     {n  order  to  direft  his  courfe,  the  biihop  com- 
municated t«  If im  fkie  admiral's  journal  of  his  laft  voyage,  and  his 
pharts  of  ||h)  f  o^ntrie8  which  he  had  difcovered.     Ojeda  ilruck 
put  jpfp  HP  t\pw  ps^th  of  navigation,  but  adhering  fervilely  to  the 
rcAite  yhiph  Columbus  hrd  taken,  arrived  on  the  coaft  of  Paria. 
|le  traded  with  the  natives,  and  ftanding  to  the  weft,  proceeded 
as  far  as  Cape  de  Vela,  and  ranged  along  a  conliderable  extent  of 
coaft  beyond  that  pn  which   Columbus  had  touphed.     Having 
^hus  afcertained  the  opinion  of  Columbus,  that  this  country  was 
a  part  of  the  continent,  Ojeda  returned  in  Oftober,  by  way  of 
liifpaniola  to  Spain,  with  fome  reputation  as  a  difcoverer,  but 
with  little  benefit  to  thofc  who  had  raifed  the  funds  for  the 
ipxpedition. 

Amerigo  Vcfpucci,  a  Florentine  gentleman,  accompanied  Ojeda 
P  this  voyage.     In  what  ftatioh  he  ferved,  is  uncertain ;  but  as 


u 


^^istt^mRYot  AmBim:A, 


he  v^s  an  ixpencncield  Cnlor,  and  <binmbHtly  «^kUli$ift.^||  all  the 
khonbti  fub(«frvient  tQ  nivt^iilion)  hfc  muft  Uav«  i«:i|tilW  foihe  ^ 
attthdrUy  limiong  his  compaikioas^  that  they  willingly  nfoiiiired  him 
to  have  a  chief  ft\are  ih  idirifting (their  operatibn*  dtlring  the  voyag'', 
Soon  afteir.hb  x^turrii  hb  tranftnitted  an  account  of  hit  adE^(^tures 
ahd  difcoveries  to  one  of  his  countiymen;  and  labdurin^  with 
th4  vanity  of  a  traveller  to  magnify  his  owh  exploits,  he  had  th* 
addrefs  iknd  confidence  to  frame  hi$  narrative,  fo  as  to  n^ke  it. 
ap{>eor  thai'hte  had  the  glory  of  having  firft  diJicovercd  th«5  ctottti-. 
nent  in  the  New  World.  Amerigd's  account  was  drawn  tip  iiidt 
only  with  art,  but  with  fomc  el^ance.  It  contained  an  amufing^ 
hiftory  of  his  voya^,  4nd  judicious  obfervations  upon  the  Hatur  * 
prodn£):!o]i^  the  inhabitants,  and  the  cuftoms  of  the  cduritH^I  ^ 
which  ho  had  vifited.  As  it  was  the  firft  defcription  of  any  pairt  * 
of  the  New  World  that  v^as  publilheid,  a  j^rformance  fo  well  cal- 
culated to  gratify  the  palHon  of  mankind  for  what  is  hew  and 
marvellous,  circulated  ripidiy^  and  was  read  .with  admiratidh. 
The  coanityj  of  which  AhxefigQ  was  fuppofed  to  be  the  difcoverer, 
«ame  gradually  to  bfe  called  by  his  name.  The  capricid  of  maMkihd, 
pfteil  as  uiiaecoiint^le  as  uhjuft,  has  {lerjietuated  this  error,  By 
the  umvetfal  cohfent  of  hatidns,  AMEiiicA  is  the  n&me  bfeftoxitred 
on  thi$  new  quarter  of  the  ^obe.  The  bold  pretenfions  6f  a  for- 
tunate impoftor  hSve  robbed  the  dilcoVercr  of  the  NeW^  World  qf 
a  diftin£lidn  which  belopg^d  td  him.  The  name  of  Amerigo,  hfes  ' 
fupplanted  that  of  Columbus  ;  and  miahkind  may  regret  an  a£lt  of 
injuftite,  which,  hayingreCeived  the  fat^ioii  of  time,  it  is  now 
too  late  t<>redr<?fe, 

Purii(tg  the  fame  year,  arrother  voyag;e  ot  difcbVery  Mftzi  under^ 
taken^  Columbu?  not  oiily  hntrodiiced  the  fpirit  of  naval  enter- 
prffe  into  Spain,  but  all'tlw  firft  adventurers  v^o  diftinguilhei 
thcmfelvef  ih  ^his  new  <:areer,  were  fopncd  by  bii  lhftrudib>¥^, 
and  accpired  in  hi!»  vd^pi%  the  (kill  ahd  inform^iort'li^^h  cjuali- 
fied  them  to  imitate  his  ej^ample.  Alonzo  Nigno,  whd  had  ferved 
under  the  admiral  in  his  lafl:  expedition,  fitted  out  a  fin'gle  ihtp, 
in  conjunftion  with  Chriftopher  Guerra,  a  merchaht  of  SeVflte, 
and  failed  to  the  coa<ft:  of  Piaria.  This  voyage  feems  to  have  bei^n 
condufted  with  greatei- attention  to  private  emolument,  than  to 
any  geiieral  or  national  objefl.  Nignp  and  Guerra  made  no  dif-< 
coveries  of  any  importance ;  but  they  brought  home  fuch  a  return 
df  gold'  and  pearls,  as  inflamed  their  ^ountrymein  With  the  dStfi^rtf 
of  engaging' in  fimilar  adventures. 

Soon  after,  Vincent  Yanez  Pinzon,  one  of  the  admiral**  cOth:- 

panlons  in  his  firft  voyage,  failed  from  Pales  with  four  fhips.    He 

*  ftood  boldly  towards  the  fouth,  and  was  the  firft  Spaniard  who 

ycnturcd  to  crofs  the  equinoflial  line  ;  but  he  fecms  to  hayc'laAd," 


J^l^0(!^J^£$iX  Oi  AUMAICA, 


M 


i'  • 

(pdi  on  9P  p^  9f  the  cq^lt  Ineyoi^d  tHcf  mouth  of  the  M^ngoon,  or 
^  kiyer  oii^  Anatox^     All  thcftf  iMvigitors  adoptcclthe  erroMe- 
ouf  theoi^y  4)f  (^^pIuiQhus,  and  believed  that  the  oountrica  wl^icll 
^ey  hajd  4Mftp^.ei:c.d'w^re  pairtofi  the  vaft  contuu^nt  o|  India. 

During,  tl|p»ft .yeak-  oC  the  fifteenth  century,  that  &i«ile  ^ftri A 
(»f  .^pu^icaj  on^th(^eonfineftoC>  which  Pinon  had  ftopt  Ihort,  wa» 
more  fiuliy  d^ftoyered*-^  "the  fu^cefafuL  voyage  o£Gama  to  the  ^ajft 
In^jiet  hayii^iS  eneo^i;*^d  the  King  of  ForiMgal  toEt  out  a  fleet  fo 
powerful^  as  not  only  to  cariy  on  trade,  but  to,  attempt  conqueil,.  he 
gavethe.co^nmad  of  it  to  P^dr^t  Alv^ez  Cabrah     In  order  to  avoid 
t^e  coaft  of  Africa,  vrhete  he. was  certain  o£  meeting  w;ith  va|-iable 
bf<;e7es,  or  frequent  calmSj  which  miglit  retard  his  vpyage^  Gabral 
flood  out  tp  fea,  and/Iiept  fo  far  to  the  weft*  that,  to  hia  furprife) 
^  he  found  hi|i^felf  uppq.  the  flipre  of  lan  unknown  t^puntry,  in  the 
t.enth  d^gf-ee  heypndthe  line*     He.  imagined,, at  firil^  that  <it  was 
fpme  ifl^d  in  the. Atlantic  Ocean  hitherto  imobiiBrved ;  but,  pro^' 
ceeding  along  its  cpaft  fpr  feveial  daya^  he.  was  led  gradually  to 
believe^  thf t  a  cquntjy  fp  extenfive  formed,  a  part-  ofi  fome  great 
contifieQt*     Xhis  latter  opinion  was  well-founded*     The  country 
itrith)  wrliifch  he.f<dl  in  belongs. to  that  province  in  South  America^ 
ifpw  k)iM>^n  by  thename  ofBrafil*     Heiandedt  and  haVing^form-k 
eA  a  Very, high  idea  of  the.  fertility  ofaheifoil^andagreeablenersuf 
the  cliiiiale,  he^took  poflelfionof  it  for  the  crown  of  Portugal,  and' 
^Cpatched  a.  Ihip^to  Liibon  with  an.  account  of  this  event,  which 
appeared  to  be  no  left  important  than  it  was,  une]cpe£led«      Co- 
lumbus's difcovery  of  the  New  World  wa&  the  effort  of  an  a£^ive 
gf^i^^s^  enlightened  ^r  fcience,  guided  by  e^perie(ic<i)  and  a£lifig 
upon  a  regular  plan*  executed  with  no  lefs  courage  than  perfever- 
an.ce.     But  ftom  this  adventure  of  the  Portuguefe,  it  appears  that 
chiPPe  might  have  accomplilhed  that  great  deiign  v  hich  it  is  now 
t^e  pride,  of  human  reafon  to  have  formed  and  perfe£ied.     If  the 
fagacity  of  ,^lumbus  had  not  condu^d  mankind  to  America,  Ca- 
bral,  by  a  fortunate  accident,  might  have  led  them?  a  few  years 
liiterv  to  the  knowledge  of  that  extenfive  continent. 

While  the  Spaniards  and  Portuguefe,  by  thofc  fucceflive  voyages, 
We|re  daily,  acquiring  more  enlarged  ideaa  of  the  extent  and  opu- 
lence of  that  quarter  of  the  globe  which  Columbus  had  made  known 
to  them,  he  himfelf^  far  froip  enjoying  the  tranquillity  and  honours 
with  which  his  ferviccs  Hiould  have  been  recompcnfed,  was  ftinig- 
gling  with  every^diftreCs  in  which  the  enVy  and  malevolence  of  the 
people  under  his  command,  or  the  ingratitude  of  the  court  which 
he  ferved,  could  involve  him.  Though  the  pacification  with  Roldan 
broke  the  union  and  weakened  the  force  of  the  mutineers,  it  did  not 
extirpate  the  feeds  ofd^fcord, out  of  the  i (land.  Several  of  the 
malcontents  continued  in  arms^  rcfufing  to  fubmit  to  the  admirtil. 


i 


pisca^^R?  Of  AMEkicA: 


He  atid  his  brottilert  iJiref^  obliged  td  take  the  field  iliernately,  i^ 
order  to  check  their  incurfiont,  or  to  punifli  their  crimes.  The 
p«rpctiizl  occupation  and^  dif<|uict  which  this  Created^  prevented 
him  from  giving  due  attention  to  the  dangerous  ilM|i£(}iinations  of 
his  tnemiqi  in  the  court  of  Spain.  A  good  numl^r  df  fuch  as 
Sntte,  moft  diffatisfied  with  his  adminiftrL^ion,  had  embraced  thd 
opiior^unity  of  returning  to  Europe  with  the  fliips  which  he  cfif- 
patched  from  St.  Domingo.  The  |inaldifappo^itment  of  all  their 
hopc|r  inflamed  the  rage  of  thefe  unfoittinate  adventurers  againft 
Columbus  to  the  utihod  pitch;  Theif  poVertjr  and  diilrefs,  by  eX' 
citing  tompaflion^  rendcfed  their  actufationS  trediblcj  and  their 
tomplaints  intereflting.  They  tciazed  Ferdinand  and  Ifabelia  in- 
ceflantly  with  memoriaU^  confainingthe  detail  of  their  owngriev. 
ances,  and  the  articles  of  their  charge  againft  Columbus.  When- 
ever either  the  King  or  Queen  appeared  in  public,  they  furround- 
cd  them  in  a  tumultuary  manner^  infi ftin^  with  importunate  cla- 
mouri  for  payment  of  the  arrears  dl|  to  ihdn,'-sMid  demanding 
vengeance  upon  the*  aiMhor  of  their  fu^ings.  THeiff  infulted  the 
admiral's  fonS  whcJrever  they  met  them,  reproaching  them  al  the 
offspring  of  the  proje^r,  whofe  fatal  curioftty  bad  difdovered- 
thofe  pernicious  regions  which  drained  Spain  of  its  wealth,  and 
would  prove  the  grave  of  its  people;  Thefe  avowed  endeavours 
of  the  malcontents  from  America,  to  ruin  Columbus,  were  fecohd-' 
ed  by  the  fecret,  but  more  dangerous  infinuations  of  that  part^ 
among  the  eourtiersi*  which  had  always  thwarted  his'  fcheme»,'.and 
envied  his  fuccefs  and  credits  \ 

Ferdinand  wai  difpofed  to  lifie'n,  not  Only  with  I  Wilfingif  but 
with  a  partial  ear,  to  thefe  accu&tions.  Notwithftanding  the  fiat- 
tering  accounts  which  Columbus  had  givtn  of  the  riches  of  Ame- 
rica, the  remittances  from  it  had  hitherto  been  fo  fcahty,  that  they' 
fell  far  ihort  of  the  expence  of  thie  armaments  fitted  out.  The 
glory  of  ithe  difcovery,  tq|pether  with  the  profpeft  of  ikthbit  com- 
mercial advantages  j  wajs  alH  that  Spain  "had  yet  received  in  return 
for  the  efforts  which  fixe  had  made.  \.  But  time  had  already  dimi- 
niJEhed  the  firft  fenfations  of  joy  whichilhe  difcovery  of  a  New  World 
occaitonedj  and  fam(f  alone  was  not  an  obje£t  to  fatisfy  the  cold  inter- 
efted  mind  of  Ferdinand.  The  na^ure^of  commerce  was  then  fo  lit- 
tle underftood,  that,  where  immediate  gain  was  not  acquired,  the 
hope  of  diilant  benefit,  or  of  flow  and  moderate  returns,  was  totally 
difregarded.  Ferdinand  conftdered  S|>ain,  on  this  account^  .as 
having  loll  by  the  enterprife  of  Coluinbb^,  and  imputed  it  to  hisr 
mifconduft  and  incapacity  for  government  j  that  a  country  abound- 
ing in  gold  had  yielded  nothing  of  valUe  to  its  conquerors^  Eveft 
Ifabella,  who  from  the  favourable  opinion  which  fike  entertilined 
•f  Columbus,  had  uniformly  prote6led  him,  was  ftiaked  at  length 


SihaPkkYliiJfMkkicA: 


ii 


in- 


but 


vy  Itie  ^titt^r  md  boldhefft  o^  his  jictufers,  and  begaA  M  ftifpel^ 
ihat  a  difaffe£tion  io  goneral  muft  Have  been  occafioned  by  re^l 
IrieVantei;  whidh  called  iok  redfe^a.  The  Bifhop  oF  fiajadaii| 
itfith  hift  iifuai  iniriiiofity  againft  Columbus,  encouraged  thefe  fut 
l^itiohs,  a<id  confirmed  them* 

As  foori  as  the  <|ueen  began  to  ^ive  way  to  the  torrent  of  caluiRN 
^,  a  r^ifolutioh  fltaljo  Columbus  was  taken.  Francis  de  Bova- 
ttkla,  a  knighf  of  Calattava,  was  appointed  to  repair  to  Hifpanioli^'. 
"With  full-  powers  i6  en<iuire  in^o  the  conduct  of  Columbiisj  and,  if 
hefhould  find  (he  charge  of  mal-adminiftration  provedj  to  fuperfede 
liim  and  affiime  the  goverment  of  the  i(land:  It  was  impoflible  to 
<!fca^e  £ondemriaition,  when  thijf  prepoftet'^us  conimiflion  tnade  k 
^e  int^reft  of  the  judge  to  pronounie  the  peffonj  whom  hfc  wais; 
fent  to  try,  guiltyi  Though  Cblumbui  had  noW  isompofed  all  the 
dtflentiontf  in  th^  iitand;  though  he  had  brought  both  Spaniards' 
ikid  Indians  (o  fubmit  peaiaably  to  his  govcrnmcmt ;  though  he  had 
^ftadc  fueh  eiPefibual  provi^ti  fof-  working  the  miiiheS)  and  cultiva- 
ting the  Coi^ry,  as  would  have  fecured  a  6onfidttfible  reY^^^^^  ^^ 
(he  king,  as  well  ais  large  profi^ts  to  ihdivtduali,  BbVadilla,  without 
deigning  to  attend  to  th^  nature  or  merit  of  thofe  fenrices,  difcovevtd 
frbiA  the  momeni  that  he  landed  in  Hifpaniola;  a  determined  puir- 
^fe  of  trotting  hinj  zi  a  ctiminal.*  He  took  po^eftdii  of  the  ad^ 
ihiral'S  houfe  in  St;  DotfJiAgo,'  from  whiih  its  miiftet  happened  at 
ihM  tim^  to  be  abfeM,  and  ieized  h\i  c^feSLs;  ai  ii^  his  guill  had  bttjii 
already  fully  proHred;  he  rendered  hiitRfelf  mafter  <tf  the  fort  atid 
o^tlie  liing*i,ffoteai  by  violence ;  he  te^tfed  alt  i^tfdiii  to  acknow- 
ledge hiin  ai  fupreMe  goverhor ;  he  ^t  at  liberty  the  pViforiets  co«f- 
fined  by  the  a^if al,'  and  fumntoned  him  to  appear  ibefore  his  %n- 
fKinal,  ihdifderto  atifw6r  for  his  conduct ;  traAfmittin^  to  him,' 
Ipgether  with  the  fuihTnons,  a  copy  of  the  r6yal  Mandate,  by 'Which! 
CoIumbuiT  Wat  enjoined  to  yield  implicit  elifediehte  to  hii  comi- 

iaands:  .  ..     ,.    V  J  ■■','  ■.    -  .•    ••      .   ■     • 

Colidttbui,  thbu^  deeply  -  aflfeSted  wit^  the  ingirati^ude  and 

ihjuftiie  of  Ferdinand  and  li^bella,  did  not  helitate  a  moment  about 
^is  own  Condu^:  He  fuSmfited  to  the  will  of  his  foverdigtts  with 
ai  refpeftfiil  filenee,  and  repaired  dire^y  to  the  tovri  of  that  vio- 
ient  and  partial  judge  \^hom'they  had  auihorifed  to  t^  him.'  Bo^ 
vadilla,  without  admittii^  him  into  hii  prefenbe,  ordered  him  in- 
ftantly  to  be  arretted,  to  be  loaded  with  chains,  and  hunried  on 
board  a  {hip.  EVen  und^  thii  humiliating  reverfe  of  fortune,  the 
firmhefs  of  mind  which  <i^ingui{h'es  the  charal^r  of  CoIumbwS, 
did  hot  forfakehim.  Cotifeiousofhisown  integrity,  and  folacing^ 
h*infelf  with  refle£iiing^  upon  the  great  things  which  he  had  achiev- 
ed,* he  en'dui^ed  this'  infult  offered  tQ  his  chara£ler,  not  only  with 


' 


«i$ 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA, 


comprofure,  but  with  dignity.     Nor  had  he  the   confolation  of 
fympatby  to  mitigate  his  fufferings.     Bovaditla  had  already  ren- 
.dered  himfelf  fo  extremely  popular,  by  granting  various  immuni- 
.ties  to  the  colony,  by  liberal  donations  of  Indians  to  all  who  ap- 
plied for  them,  and  by  relaxing  the  reins  of  difcipline  and  govenv- 
.n^ent,  that  the   Spaniards,-  who  were  moftly  adventurers,  whom 
.'their  indigence  or  crimes  had   impelled  to  abandon  their  native 
country,  expreffed  the  mofl;  indecent  fatisfaflion  with  the  diigrace 
and  imprifonment  of  Columbus.     They  flattered  themfelves,  that 
now  they  fliould  enjoy  an  uncontrouled  liberty,  more  fuitabie  *.o 
, their    difpofition  and   former    habits  of   life.     Among   perlons 
thus  prepared  to  cenfure  the  proceedings,   and  to  t^oerfe  the 
chara£ler  of  Columbus,  Bovadilla  colle£led  materials    jt  a  charge 
figainft  him»     All  accufations,  the  mofl  improbable^  as  well  as  in- 
confident,  were  received.     No  informer,  however  infamous,  was 
.reje£led»     The  refult  of  this  inqued,  no  lefs  indecent  than  partial, 
.he  tranlmitted  to  Spain.-    At  the  lame  time,  he  ordered  Colum- 
bus^ with  his  two'brothers,  to  be  carried  thither  in  fetters ;  and^ 
adding  cruelty  to  infult,  he  confined  them  in  different  fhips,  and 
excluded  theni  from   the  comfort  of  that  friendly  intercourfe 
which  might  have  foothed  their  common  diftrefs.     But  while  the 
Spaniards  in  Hifpaniola  viewed  the  arbitrary  and  infolent  pro- 
.ceedings  of  Bovadilla  with  a  general  approbation.  Which  refle£ls 
diihdnour  upon  their  name  and  country,  one  man  dill  retained  a 
jproper  fenfe  of  the  great  a£lions  which  Columbus  had  performed, 
and  was  touched  with  the  fentiments  of  veneration  and  pity  due 
t;o   his   rank,'  his  age,  and  his  merit.     Alonfo  de  Vallejo,  the 
.captain  of  the  veflfel  on  board  which  the  admiral  was  confined,  as 
foon  as  he  was  clear  of  the  ifland,'  approached  the  prifoner  with 
.^reat  refpe£l)  and  offered  to  releafe  him  from  the  fetter^   with 
.which  he  was  unjudly  loaded.     "  No  replied  Columbus,  witK  a 
generous  indignation,  '*  I  wear  thefe  irons  in  confequence  of  an 
^ordcr  from  my  fovereigns.     They  fhall  find  me  as  obedient  to  this 
as  to   their  other  inju'n£iions.     By  their  command   I  have  been 
confined,  and  their  command  alone  fhall  fet  me  at  liberty «" 

Fortunately,  the  voyage  to  Spain  was  extremely  fhortir  As 
foon  as  Ferdinand  and  Ifabella  were  informed  that  Columbus  was 
.brought  home  a  prifoner,  and  in  chains,  they  perceived  at  once 
what  univerfal  adonifhmcnt  this  event  mud  occafion,  and  what  an 
•impredion  to  their  diladvantage  it  mud  make.  All  Europe,  they 
forefaw,  would  be  filled  with  indignation  at  this  ungenerous  re- 
quital of  a  man  who  had  performed  a£lions  worthy  of  the  highed 
recompence,  and  would  exclaim  againd  the  injudice  of  the  nati.*, 
on,  to  which  he  had  beet)  iuch  an  eminent  benefa^or,  as  well  as 
againd  the  ingratitude  of  the  princes  whofe  reign  he  had  rendered 


DISCOVERY  i)B  AMERICA: 


Sllullrious.     Afhamed  of  their  own  conduft,  and  enger  hot  only, 
^o  make  fome  reparation  for  thii  injury,  but  to  efface  the  , (lain 
which  it  might  fix  upon  their  charafter,  they  inilantly  iflued  or- 
ders to  fct  Columbua  at  liberty,  on  December  the  feventeenth, 
invited   him  to  court,    and  remitted  money   to  enable  him  to 
appear  th«r<t  in  a  manner  fuitable  to  his  rank.     When  he  enters 
ed  the  royal  prelence,  Columbus  threw  hinifelf  at  the  feet  of  hil^; 
fovereigns.     He  remained  for  fome  time  filent ;  the  various  paifiv 
•ns  which  agitated  his  mind  fupprefling  his  power  of  utterance*' 
At  length  he  recovered  himfelf,  and  vindicated  his  condu£i  in  a 
long  dilcourfe,   producing  the  mod  fatisfying  proofs  of  his  own 
integrity  as  well  as  good  intention,  and  evidence,  no  lefs  clear,  of 
the  malevolence  of  his  enemies,  who,  not  fatisfied  with  having 
ruined  his  fortune,  laboured  to  deprive  him  of  what  alone  was 
now   left,  his  honour,   and  his  fame.     Ferdinand   received  him 
with  decent  civility,  and   Ifabella  with  tendernefs  and  refpeft^ 
They  both   exprefled  their  forrow  for  what  had  happened,  difa^ 
vowed  their  knowledge  of  it,  and  joined  in  promifing  him  pro* 
te£lion  and  future   favour.     But  though  they  inftahtly  degraded 
Bovadilla,  in  order  to  remove  from  theml'elves  ^ny  fufpicionof 
having  authorifed  his  violent  proceedings,  they  did  not  reftore  to 
Columbus  his  jurifdiiElion    and   privileges  as  viceroy  of  thofe 
countries  which  he  had  difcov^red.     Though  willing  to  appear 
the  avengers  of  Columbus's  wrongs,  that  illiberal  jealouly  which 
prompted  them  to  inveil  Bovadilla  with  fuch  authority  as  put  it 
in   his  power  to  treat  the  admiral  with  indignity  ftill  fubfiftedT 
They  were  afraid  to  truft  a  man  to  whom  they  had  been  fo  highly' 
indebted,  and  retaining  him  at  court  under  various  pretexts,  they 
appointed  Nicholas  de  Ovando,  a  knight  of  t^  military  order  of 
Alcantara,  governor  of  Hifpaniola.    '  Ip 

Columbus  was  deeply  afFe£ied  with  this  new  injury,  which 
came  from  hands  that  feemed  to  be  employed  in  making  reparation 
for  his  paft  fuflFerings.  The  fenfibility  with  which  great  minds 
feel  every  thing  that  implies  any  fufpicipn  of  their  integrity,  or  that 
wears  the  afpef):  of  an  affront,  is  exquifite.  Columbus  had  expe- 
rienced both  from  the  Spaniards ;  and  their  ungenerous  conduft 
exafperated  him  to  fuch  a  degree,  that  he  could  no  longer  conceal 
the  fentiments  which  it  excited.  Wherever  he  went,  he  carried 
about  with  him,  a^  a  memorial  qf  th«l:  ingratitude,  thofe  fetters 
with  which  he  had  been  loaded..  They  were  conftantly  hung 
up  in  his  chamber,  and  he  gave  orders  that  when  he  died  they 
ihould  be  buried  in  his  grave. 


Meanwhile,  in  the  year  oiw..  tji! 


the  fpirit  of  difcoyery,  notwithftang| 


five  hwadred  and  one 
theck  whic))^ 


fit  V  niscovMur  of  4Mmbic4, 

it  ttneivtdr  \kY  the  ungenerous  treatment  of  the  imn,  ngkb  MH  ■ 
jUKtted  it  tn  Spain,  eoiitmued  a&iye  and  vigoroui.  Roderigo  d^ 
pallidas,  a  ptrfon  of  di(lin<^ion,  fitted  out  two  (hips,  in  janiMry, 
iiD-Copartnery  with  John  de  la  Cpfa,  who  having  iarved  undfic 
|the  admiral  in  two  of  his  voyages,  was  dccimed  the  mod  (^ilful 
pilot  in  Spain.  They  Peered  direAly  tpwards  the  continent^ 
krrive^  on  the  coald  of  Piria,  and  proceeding  to  the  wefl,  dil'coA 
^▼ercd  aU  the  coa(]t  of  the  province  now  krtewn  hy  the  name  of 
Tierra  Firni^,  from  Cape  de  Vela  to  ^he  gulf  of  Darien.  Not 
^ng  af^r  C^cda,  with  his  former  aflbciate 'Amerigo  Vepucci,  fe^ 
put  upon  aiecond  yoyage,  and  being  ttnac(^UBtnted  with  the  dcftinar* 
lion  of  Baf^idaa,  held  the  fame  cdurfe,  ahd  touched  at  the  famq 
nlacea.  The  voyage  of  pallidas  was  proiperous  and  lucrative, 
that  of  Qjeda  unfortunate*  But  both  tended  to  ihpreafe  th^ 
ardour  of  dikof^  nt\  for  in  proportion  as  the  Spaniards  acquired 
a  more  cxtenflve  knowledge  of  the  American  continent,;  thc^ir 
^ka  of  its  opulence  and  fertility  increafed. 

Before  thefe  adventurers  returned   Irom  their  yoyagee,  a  flett 
^as  equipped  at  the  public  cxpencc,  for  carrying  over  iDvahdo, 
he  new  governor  to  Mifpaniola.     His  prei'ence  there  was  ektremei 

requifitc,  in  order  to  flop  the  inconliderate  career  of  Bovadilla* 
yrhofe  'mprudent  adminilr  tioa  threatened  the  fettlement  with 
|-uin.  Cdnfcious  of  the  violciice  and  iniquity  of  his  proceedings 
^gainft  Columbus,  he  continued  to  make  it  his  Ible  objcft  to  gaiii 
khb  i^vour  and  fupport  of  his  countrymen,  by  accommodating 
lUinlelf  to  their  pafi^ohs  and  prejudices.  With  this  view,  hi 
fsflablifhed  regulations,  in  every  point  the  reverfe  of  thofe  which 
Columbus  deemed  effential  to  the  profperity  of  the  colony.  Inftead 
of  the  ieyere  difcfipline,  necefTary  in  order  to  habituate  the  diffolute 
jand  Corrupted  meqpers  of  which  the  focicty  was  compoled  to  the 
I'oftraints  of  law  and  fubbrdination,  he  I'ufiered  them  to  enjoy 
Inch  uncontrou|ed  licence,  as  encouraged  the  wildefl.  exceifes. 
Inftead  of  prote^itt^  the  Indians,  he  gave  a  legal  fanftion  to  the 
apprelTton  of  that  uiihappy  people.  He  took  the  ex^A  number 
•f  fuch  as  furviyed  their  pdll  calamities,'  divided  them  into  diilin£^ 
elaiTea,  diiirihuted,  them  in  property  among  his  adherents^  and 
reduced  all  the  peetple  of  the  ifland  to  a  ftate  of  cdmplete  fervir 
iude.  As  the  aVarlf:e  of  the  Spaniards  was  too  rapacious  and  im* 
patient  to  try  imy  method  of  acquiring  wealth  but  that  of  fenrch^ 
ing  for  gold,  this  ftfervitude  became  as  grievous  as  it  was  unjuft. 
iThe  Indians  were  driven  in  crowds  to  the  mountains,  atid  comi' 
pelled  to  work  in  the  mines,  by  mafters,  who  impofed  their  Ufkf 
Without  mercy  or  difcretion.  ~  Labour,  fo  difproportioned  to  theif 
^^ngth  aiid  forB»«r  h4bit»  pf  life,  W4ft«4  that  feeble  race  of  meH 


e 


idilli  fuch  r»pid  confumption,  m  muft  htv«  foon  ttnnii^cd  in  Htm 
jkiitv  extinftion  of  ^the  an^icnf  ^ihabitantl  of  the  country, 

Th«  neccflity  of  applying  9  fpcQciy  remedy  to  ihofe  diforders 
haftened  Ovandy't  departure.  He  had  the  pominan4  of  the  moft 
refpc^ble  armament  hitherto  fitted  out  Ifor  the  New  Wcqrid.  If 
confifted  of  thirty-two  fliipa,  on  boerdof  which  twp  thouiand  fivt  ' 
hundred  perl<»is  embarked,  wifh  tf)  intettfion  of  fettling  in  th# 
country.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  new  goyempr  with  thi»  powor* 
fill  reinforcement  to  the  Colony,  in  the  year  one  th^uUnd  fiv« 
hundred  and  two,  BovadiUa  refigned  hit  charge,  and  i^a«  com- 
manded to  return  k^ilantiy  to  Spain,  in  erdef  b  anfwe^  for  hif 
conduft.  RjOidan,  and  the  cdhcr  ringleaders  of  tbe  mutinee ri,  yt)u^ 
had  been  mol^«|9^ve  in  eppofing  Columbuftt  were  required  to  leav« 
the  ifland  at  the  lame  time.  A  proclamation  wy  ifiued,  declarin|^ 
the  natives  to  be  free  fubje^  ol  ^pain,  of  whom  no  fervice  was 
to  be  e;ia£led  contrary  ^o  their  own  incltnatiopl,,  and  Without  pay- 
ing them  an  adequate  price  fof  their  labour.  With  refped  to  th«  ' 
'Spaniards  tkettiielves,  vajrious  regulations  were  made,  tending  to 
tupprefs  the  licentious  fpirit  ivhich  had  been  fo  fatal  to  the  colony^ 
'  s^nd  to  eftabliih  that  reverence  for  law  and  order  on  which  Ibciety 
is  founded,  and  to  which  it  u  indd)ied  for  its  increafe  and  ftability. 
)n  order  to  limit  the  exhorbit^ant  gain  whieh  l^riyate  perfons  wer«i 
iuppofisd  to  make  by  working  the  mines,  an  ordinance  was  pub- 
U&ed,  direSingall  the  gold  to  be  brougt  to  a  pubHe  fmelting-houfe^ 
a  i  declaring  one  half  of  it  to' be  the  property  of.  the  eroMm. 

While  thdCe  fteps  were  taking  for  fccuring  the  tranquiUtty  an4 
welfare  of  tl^  polony  which  Columbus  lubd  pUnted,.  he  himfelf 
V^s  engaged  in  the  unp}ea(aot  eipployment  of  foliciting  the  favour 
df  an  ungrateful  court,  and,  i^otwithftanding  all  hts  raierits  and) 
litrvicct,  he  folioited  in  yain.  He  demanded^  in  terms  of  the  ori- 
ginal capitulatido  in  one  thoufand  four  hundred  and  ninety<two, 
\o  be  lidiiiftited  in  his  ofitce  of  viceroy  over  the  countries  which 
he  had  diffsovered.  By  i  fbrange  Utility,  the  circumftancc  wluch; 
he  urged  in  iupport  of  his  claim,  determined  a  jealous  monarch 
to  rc^oft  it.  The  greatnofs  of  his  discoveries,  and  the  profpeft  of 
their>  increafing  valUe,  made  Ferdinand  confidcr  the  conceflions  in 
the  capitulation  as  extravagant  and  impolitic.  He  was  afraid  of 
jesntrufting  a  fubjeft  with  the  exercife  of  a  jurifdi£Hon  that  now 
appeared  to  be  i'o  truly  extenfive,  and  might  grow  ilo  lefs  formi- 
dable. He  ihipired  Ifabella  with  the  fame  fuipicions ;  and  under 
Various  pretexts,  equally  frivolous  2nd  unjuft,  they  eluded  all  Co- 
|i)mbus's  requifitions  to  perform  that  whith  a  folemn  compa£l 
bound  them  to  accomplifh.  After  attending  the  court  of  Spain 
|br  nearly  two  years,  as  an  humble  fuitor,  he  found  it  impoiEble  to  ' 
remove  Ferdinand's  prejudices  and  apprehenfiom ;  and  perceived^ 


^  DtSCOlTEKYOF  AMERICA, 

•t  liengtli,  th«r  he'  laboured  in  vtin,  when  he  urged  ■  t  »r '    of  ju^ 
tice  or  merit  to  an  interefted  and  unfeeling  prince.. 

Eiut  even  this  uhgenecous  return  did  not  difcourage  liim  from 
purlViing  the  great  objeft  which  firll  called  forth  hia  inventite  ge- 
nius, and  ejccitcd  him  to  attempt  diticovery.  To  6pen  a  new  paf- 
Ikge  to  the  £a{l  Indies  was  his  original  and  favourite  fchemc. 
This  dill  engroflfed  his  thoughts ;  and  either  from  his  own  obler- 
vations  in  his  voyage  to  Paria,  or  from  fome  obi'cure  hint  of  the 
natives,  or  from  the  accounts  given  by  Baftidas  and  de  la  Cofa,  of 
their  expedition,  he  conceived  an  opinion  that,  beyond  the  conti- 
nent  of  America,  there  was  a  fea  which  extented  to  the  Eaft  In- 
dies, abd  hoped  to  find  fome  narrow  (Irait  or  narrow  neck  of  land' 
by  wl»h  a  CQinmunication  might  be  opened  with  it  and  the  part 
of  the  itcean  already  known.  By  a  very  fortunate  conje£iure,  he 
fuppofed  this  (Irait  or  ifthmus  to  be  fituated  near  the  gulph  of 
Daricn.  Full  pf  this  idea,  though  he  wal  now  of  an  advanced  age, 
worn  out  with  fatigue,  and  broken  with  infirmities,  he  offered, 
with  the  alacrity  of  a  youthful  adventurer,  to  undertake  a  voyage 
which  would  afcertain  this  important  point,  and  perfeft  the  grand 
fcheme  which  from  the  beginning  he  propoled  to'accompliih. 
Several  circumilances  concurred  in  difpofing  Ferdinand  and  Ifa- 
bella  to  lend  a  favourable  ear  to  this  propolal,  They  were  glad 
to  have  the  pretext  of  an  honourable  employment  for  removing, 
f^om  court  a  man  with  wHofe  demands  they  deemed  it  impolitic  to 
comply,  and  whofe  fervices  it  was  Indecent  to  negle£l.  Though 
unwillingto^rcward  Columbus,  they  were  not  infenfible  of  his  merit, 
and  from  their  experie  nee  of  his  (kill  and  condu£l,'  had  reafon  to 
give  credit  to  his  conjeflures,  and  to  confide  in  his  fuccefs.  To 
thefe  coniidentions,  a  third  ipufl:  be  added  of  ftill  more  powerful 
influence*  About  this  time  the  Portugucfc  fleet,  under  Cabral, 
arrived  from  the  Indies;  and,  by  the  richnefs  of  its  cargo,  gave 
the  people  of  Europe  a  more  perfe£l  idea,  than  they  had  hitherto 
betn  able  to  form,  of  the  ppulience  and  fertility  of  the  Eafl.  The 
Portuguei'e  had  been  more  fortunate  in  their  difcoveries  than  the 
Spaniards.  They  had  opened  a  communication  with  countries 
where  induflry,  arts,  and  elegance  flourifhed;  and  where  com- 
merce had  been  longer  eflabliihed,  and  carried  to  greater  extent, 
than  in  any  region  of  the  earth.  Their  firft  voyages  thither 
yiielded  immediate,  as  well  as  vafl  returns  of  profit,  in  commodi- 
ties extremely  precious  and  in  great  requefl.  Lifbon  became  im- 
mediately-the  feat  of  commerce*  and  of  wealth ;  while  Spain  had  on- 
ly the  expediation  6f  remote  benefit,  and  of  future  gain^  from  the 
wefljern  world.  •  Nothing,  then,  could  be  more  acceptable  to  the 
Spaniards  than  Columbus's  offer  to  condufl  them  to  the  eafl,  by 
f^  route  which  he  expefted  to  be  fhorter,  as  well  as  Lefs  dangerous. 

-         .  ■  '    ■  %  ■'S 


"» 

^avc 

;rto 

rhc 

I  the 

tries 


im- 

lon- 

the 

I  the 

lUS. 


DISCOVERY  OF  AME^ICAi  94 

than  that  which  the'Portuguefe  had  takqn.  Even  Ferdinand  was 
routed  by,  fuch  a  profpeft,  and  warmly  approved  of  th^  under- 
taking. '   ' 

But,  interefting  as  the  objeft  of  hia  voyage  was  to  the  t>ation, 
Columbus  could  prAcureonly  four  fmall  barks,  the  Urged  of  which 
did  not  (btcced  feveiity  tons  in  burden,  for  performing  it.  Ac- 
cu domed  to  braVt  danger,  aixl  to  engage  in  arduous,  undertakings 
with  inadequate  force,  he  did  not  hefitate  to  accept  the,  command 
o^f  this  pitiful  fquadron^  His  brother  Bartholomew,  and  his  fe- 
cond  fon  Ferdinand,  the  hidorian  of  his  a£lions,  accompanied  him. 
He  failed  from  Cadiz  on  the  ninth  of  May,  and  touched,  as 
ufual,  at  the  Canary  iflands  *,  from  thence  he  purpofed  tQ  have 
dood  direAly  for  the  continent  ■,  but  his  largcd  vciTel  was  fo  clum- 
fy  and  unfit  for  fervice^  as  condrained  him  to  bear  away  for  Hifpa^ 
niola,  in  hopes  of  exchanging  her  for  fome  Hiip  of  the  fleet  that 
had  carried  out  Ovando.  When  he  arrived  off  Sti  Domingo,  on 
June  the  twenty-ninth,  he  found  eighteen  of  thefe  diips  ready 
loaded,  and  on  the  point  of  departing  for  Spain.  Columbus  im^ 
mediately  acquainted  the  governor  with  the  dedination  of  his 
voyage,  and  the  accident  which  had  obliged  him  to  alter  his  route. 
He  requeded  permiflion  to  enter  the  harbour,  not  only  that  he 
might  negociate  the  exchange  of  his'fliip,  but  th^t  he  might  ^ake 
(helter  during  a  violent  hurricane,  of  which  he  difccrned  the  ap; 
proachfrom  various  prognodics,  which  his  experience  and  iagacity 
had  taught  him  to  obfervc ;  on  that  account,  he  advifcd  him  like- 
wife  to  put  off  for  fome  days  the  departure  of  the  fleet  bound  tp 
Spain.  But  Ovando  refufed  his  requed,  and  defpifed  his  coun- 
fel.  Under  circumdances  in  which  humanity  would  have  afforded 
refuge  to  a  dranger,  Columbus  was  denied  admittance  into  a  ceun^ 
try  of  which  he  had  difcovered  the  exidence  and  acquired  the 
poffcilion.  His  falutary  warning,  which  merited  the  greated  at- 
tention, was  regarded  as  the  dream  of  a  viflonary  prophet,  who  ar- 
rogantly pretetided  to  predifi:  an  event  beyond  the  reach  of  human 
fore-(ight.  The  fleet  fet  fail  for  Spain.  Next  night  the  hurri- 
cane came  on  with  dreadful  impetuofity.  Columbus  aware  of  the 
danger,  took ,  precautions  againd  it,  and  faved  his  little  fquadron. 
The  fleet  dedined  for  Spain  met  with  the  fate  which  th<i  rafhnefs 
find  obdinacy  of  its  commanders  deferved.  Of  eighteen  fh^ps  two 
or  three  only  efcaped.  In  this  general  wreck  peridied  Bovadilla; 
Roldan,  and  the  greater  part  of  thofe  who  had  been  the  mod  a^ivc 
in  perlecuting  Columbus,  and  opprefltng  the  Indians.  Together 
with  themfelves,  all  the  wealth  which  they  had  acquired  by  their 
injudice  and  cruelty  was  fwallowed  up.  It  exceeded  in  valu^ 
two  hundred  thoufand  pefosj  an  immenfe  fum  at  that  period,  apud 
i'ufltcient  not  only  to  have  fcreened  them  iFrom  any  I'evere  fcrutiary 


? 


into  tfitir  ConduA,  but  to  have  fipcure^  thtm,  a  gracious  ran^ 
tkm  «t  Chtf  Spniilh  court.  Among  tht  Oripithat  cfcaped,  one  had 
on  board  all  the  cfFefis  of  Columbus  which  had  been  recovered 
from  the  ruins  of  hit  fortune;  '  Hillorians,  ftrucR  with  the  exa£l 
dt<erintinatioh  of  cfatr^fters,  as  vvelt  as  the  julhdrflbribution  of  re- 
wards and  puniflinients,  confpicuouift  in  dioie*^^ vents,  univerfally 
attribute  them  to  an  iiAmediatd  interpofiiltlott  of  miine  Providence; 
in  order  to  avenge  the  wrongs  of>  an  injured  man,-  and  to  punifh' 
the  oppreObiv  of  an  thnocetit  people.  Upon  thelgnorant  and  fu- 
perftitious  race  of  men,  who  were  witner(tti<|f  t]jfis  occurrence,  it 
made  a  difFeicift  inrpreffion.  tr^Ba  an  opinion,^which  vulgar  ad- 
miration is  apt  to  entertain  With  iQefpeJlE  ^  perforin  who  have  dif* 
tinguiihed^theniielves  by  their  fagacity  and  inventions,  they  betiev- 
ed  Columbus  to  be  poffeffed  of  fupeillXt||raI  powers,  and  imagined 
that  he  had  conjured  up  this  dreadful  ttorir  by  nOigical  art,  and 
incantations^  in  order  to  be  avenged  of  Hijii  enemies; 

Colunibu^  foon  left  Hifpanioh,'  July  1^4,  wh<^  he  met  with 
fueh  an  inhofpitalj^e  recejrtion,  ai^d  ftood  towai^^^Ul^he  Continent.' 
After  a  tedious  and  dangerous  vofiige,  he  difcovliied  Guknaia,  an' 
lAihd  not  far  diftant  £k>m  the  coaflk  of  Honduras;  Thefe  he  had 
an  interview  with  fomie  inhabita^f  of  the  Continent,  who  arri- 
ved in  a  large  Canoe.'  They  ap^ared  to  be  a,  people  more  «ivi. 
lized^  and  who  had  made  greater  pirogrefs  in  the  knowledge  of  ufe-' 
ful  arts,  than  any  whom  he  had  hitherto  difCovered.  In  return  to' 
the  inquiries  which-  the  .yfMiniards^mad<B^'  with  their  ufual  cagiernefs' 
concerning  the  place»  where  the  Ind^ians  got  the  goM  which  they 
Wore  by  way  of  ovn'ament,'  they  ifKreAed  them  to  6ounttiesTttUated 
to  the  weft,  in  which  gold  was^fou>iMi  <n  ft«bh  pi'ofalion,'that  it  waV 
applied  to  the  mo^  eomni»?n  ufes.'  Inftead  of  fteeriug*  in  queft  of 
a  country  fo  inviting,  which  woi^have  c6nd!ll£(ed  him'  a;lohg  the 
coal^  of  Yucatan  to  the  ri^  empire  of  Mexico,  Columbuls  was  fo' 
bent  upoflf  his'  fevourite  fi^teme  6f  finding  out  the  ftVait  which  he' 
fUppofed  to  eonununicate  with  the  Indian  oCean,'  thtlf  he  bore 
tfway  to  the  eaft  towards  the  gulf  of  Darien;  In  thii^ navigation' 
he  difcovered  all  file  coait  of  the  Continent,  frcp  Cape  Gracias  a 
Dios,  to  a  harbour,  which,  on  account  of  its  beauty  and'  fecurity/ 
he  called  Porto  Bello;  He  fearched,  in  vain,  for  the  imaginary 
ftrait,  thi^ough  which  h»  expend  to  make  his  Way  into  an  un- 
known iea ;  and  though  he  went  on  (bore  fevera)f  times,  and  ad-' 
vanced  into  the  country,  he  did  not  penetrate  fa  far  as  to  crofs' 
the  narrow  ifthmus  Which  fcparates  tbe  gulf  of  Mexico  from 
the  great  fouthcm  oclcan;  <,  He  was  fo  much  delighted,  however, 
with  the  fertility  of  the  country^  and  conceived  fuch  an  idea  of  its 
wealth,  from  the  fpecimens  <$f 'foM  produced  by  the  natives,  that 
ibtfvfiihredto hcare  i  fm#^olbny  upon  the  river fieltm,  in  the 


the 


DISC^£AY  OF  AMERICA,  73 

|»«t>vince  of  Vcragua,  under  the  command  of  his  brpther,  and 
to  return  himfelf  W*Spain,  in  order  to  procure  what  vas  rcquifite 
for  rendering  the  <^abU(hment  permanent.  But  the  ungovcrn- 
atle  fpirit  of  the  people  under  h|«  command,  deprived  Columbus 
of  the  glory  of  planting  the  firft  colony  on  the  continent  of 
America.  Their  ^niblence  and  rapacipufncfs  provoked,  the  natives 
to  take.arms,  and  as  thffi^  >«e're  a  jliore  hardy  and  warlike  face  of 
men  than  the  iiihnbiUnts  of  the  i4ands,  they  cut  off  pai;!  of  the 
Spaniards,.  ahtjUobligedithe  reft  to  abandqf^  9,  Action  which  was. 
found  to  be  untena^e..-'  r        . 

This  repulfe,^  th^  S^rft  that^he  Spaniards  met  with  from  any 
of  the  AiT>erican  natiqps,  was  not  the  only  micfortune  that  befel 
Columbuis';  it  was  followed  b^  a  fucceflion  of  all  the  dilafters  to 
which  navigation  is  expp|j^,  ^  Furious  hurricanes,  with  violent 
florms  of  thunder  tj^d  l|^htnihg,  threatened  his  leaky  vcffels  with 
dcftruftion  ;  whi|e  ijits  d||'contentcd  crew,  exhaufted  with  fatigue, 
and  deilitute  of  proyi^^Nn^,  was  unwilling  or  unable  ^o  executf^ 
his  commandib.  Qne  of  his  fliips  perifhed ;  he  was  obliged  to 
abandon  apotflR^,  as  unfit  fotj  fervice  ;  and  with  the  two  which 
remained,  he  fitted  that  paruof  the  contipept  which  in  hi^JtHj 
guifti  he  named  the  Coaft  of  Vcxatiorl;,  and  bore  away  fdr  Hifpa> 
niola.  New  diftreiTes  awaited  iim  in  t|iis  voy^e.  He  was  driven 
back  by.  a  violent  fcmpeft  froin  the  cpaft  of  .Cuba,  his  fljips  fejl 
foul  of  one  another,  and  wert  fo  muf  h  {battered  by  the  ihock, 
t|iat  with  the  utmoft  difficulty  they  reached  Jamaica,  on  June  24, 
where  he  was  obliged  ^o  run  them  aground,  to  prevent  them  from 
(inking.  The  meafure  of  his  calamities  fcemed  pow  to  be  full, 
He  was  caft  a{hore  upon  an  iQand  at  a  confiderable  diftance  fron^ 
the  only  fettlement  of  the  Spaniards  in  America.  His  Ihips  were 
ruined  beyond  the  poflibility  of  being  repaired.  To  convey  an 
apcount  of  his  fituation  to  HifpanioU,  appeared  impra£licable ; 
and  without  this  it  was  vain  to  expeCl  relief.  His  genius,  fertile 
in  refources,  and  mod  vigorous  in  thofe  perilous  extremities  when 
feeble  minds  abandon  themfelves  to  defpair,  difcovered  tl^e  only 
expedient  which  affoidcd  any  profpe£t  of  deliverance.  He  had 
recourfe  to'the  hofpitable  kindnef^  of  the  native%  who  confidcred 
the  Spaniards  as  beings  of  a  fuperior  nature,  were  eager,  on  every 
occafton,  to  n\4nifler  to  their  wants.  From  them  he  obtained  two 
of  their  canoell,  caih  formed  out  of  the  trunk  of  a  fingle  tree  hol- 
lowc*".  \yith  fire,  and  (o  mif-ftiapen  and  aukward  as  hardly  to  merit 
the  hajne  of  Boats.  In  thefe,  which  were  fit  only  for  creeping 
slong  the  coaft,  or  c  ofling  from  on«^;  fide  of  a  bay  to  another, 
Mendez,  a  Spaniard,  and  Fiefchi,  a  G«n<|ere,  two  gentlemen  parti^vj 
mlarly  attached  to  Columbus,  gallantljfc«|fere4  to  fct  out  f^ 


»«| 


'    ' 


III 
^11 


li! 


ii 


i:is 


^4  fJtnCOVEkt  OF  AMEk^CA. 

I'pmioh,  u)[>6n  a  voyage  of  above  thirty  leagues.  This  they  acco 
pUfliedin  ten  days,  after  furmountin^  incredible  dangers,  and  en-  '. 
jdnring  fuch  fatigu?,  that  fe^veral  of  the  Indians  who  accompanied 
f  hem  fuqk  under  it,  and  died,  llie  attentiqn  paid  to  them  by  the 
goverpor  of  Hifpaniola  was  neither  fuch  as  their  courage  merited, 
nor  the  d|{^rcfs  of  the  perfons  from  whom  they  came  required* 
Pyando,  frbn^a  mean  jealoufy  qf  Coiumbu$  was  afraid  of  allowing 
him  to  fet  foot'in  tKe  ii^and  under  his  government.  This  ungene- 
rous paHion  hardened  ftis  heart  againft  every  tender  fentiment, 
which  rt^fle^ion  upon  the  iervices  and  misfortunes  of  that  great 
man,  or  pompa^pti  lor  his  own  {^Uovlr-citizens  '  involved  in  the 
(iune  calamities,  mud  have  excited.  Mehdez  and  Fiefchi  fpent 
(Bight  months  in  foliciting  relief  for  'their  comiftahder  and  afTociatcs, 
without  any  profpc£fc  of  obtaining  it. 

During  this  pciripd,  various  pafSons  agi^te(|tl]^e  niind  of  Colum- 
|>us,  and  his  companions  iii  adyerlity.  At  firft  the  eicpeftation  oi 
fpeedy  deliverance,  from  the  fuccefs  of  Mehdez  and  Fiefchi 's 
yoyagCj  cheered  the  fpirits  pf  the  inoTl  defpdnding.  After  fome 
time  ihc  more  timorous  began  to  fufpe^  that  they  %ad  mifcvrpcd 
in  their  darin^  attempt.  At  length,'  eyen  the  moft  failiguine  con- 
cluded that  they  had  perilhed.  The  ray  pf  hope  which  had  broke; 
in  upon  them,  made  their  condition  appear  !now  more  difmal. 
Defpairj  Heightened  by  difappointment,  lettled  in  every  bieafl. 
Their  htft  refburce  had  faijed,  and  nothing  remained  biit  the  prof- 
•peft  of  ending  tllcir  mlfcrabls  days)  among  naked  favages^  far  from 
their  couiitry'and  their  friends.  The  leamen  in  a  tranfport  o^ 
ragCj  rofc  in  open  mutiny, threatened  thclife  of  Columbus,  whom 
they  reproached  as  the  author  bf  all  their  calamities,  feized  t'eii 
canoes,  which  he  had  purchafcd  from  the  Indians,  and  deipiftng 
iiis  retnonftranccs  and  entreaties,  m^de  off  with  them  to  a  diflanC 
part  of  the  illand.  At  the  famq'  time  the  natives  murmured  at 
the  long' refidcnce  of  the  S](>aniards  in  their  country.  As  their^ 
induftry'  was  not  greater  thah  that  of  their  neighbours  in  Ilifpa- 
nipla,  like  them  they  found  the  burden  of  fupporting  fo  many 
ftraneers  tp  be  altogetlicr  intolerable.  They*  began  to  bring  ih 
provifions  vl'ith  reluftance,  they  furnifhed  them  With  ia  fparing 
hand,  and  threateried  to  withdraw  thofc  fupplics  altogether. 
Such  a  refolution  muft  have  been  quickly  fatal  to  the  Spaniards. 
Their  fafety  depended  upon  the  good-wiU  pf  the  Indians ;  and 
unlefi  they  could  revive  the  admiration  and  reverence  with  which 
that  finiple  people  had  at  firft  belield  therri,  deftruftion  Was  una- 
voidable. Though  the  licentious  proceedings  of  the  mutineers 
had,' in  a  great  meafurc  effaced  thofe  impreflions  which  had  been 
To  favourite  tP  the^papiards,  the  ingenuity  df  Columbu^  Cugi* 
^cAcd  a  hapjpy  artiHcc,  that  not  only  reftorcd  but  heightened  th^ 


k 


DliCOV£RY  0F  AMERICA. 


-15 


Ijigh  opinion  which  the  Indians,  had  originally  Chtertairfcd  o( 
them.  By  his  (kill  in  aftronomy  he  knew  that  thpre  was  ihortly 
to  be  a  total  eclipfe  of  the  moon.  He  aflembled  all  the  principal 
perfons  of  th?  diftrift  around  him  oh  the  day  befote  it  happened^ 
and,  after  reproaching,  them  for  their  flcklenefs  in  withdrawing 
their  afFeftion  arid  ifliftatice  fi-om  thei^  whdiri  they  had  lately  re*, 
vcred,  he  told  them,  that  {hp  Spaniards  wet-c  lervants  of  the 
Great  Spirit  who  dwells  in  heaven,  w|io  rtiade  and  goveiiis  the 
world ;  that  he,  offended  at  their  refufnig  to  fupport  men  wlib 
were  the  ohje£ls  of  his  peculiai^  faVouf,  waS  preparing  to  punifli 
this  crime  with  exemplary  fpverityj  and  that  very  night  the  mooh 
(hould  withhold  :Jher  lijjsht^  and  appear  of  a  bloody  hue^  zi  a  iign 
iaf  the  diyifie'^rath^  and  an  emblem  of  the  vengeance  feady  to  fall 
upoi;i  them.  To  this  maitvellous  predidUon  lome  of  them  lidened 
with  ^the  carelcfs  indifference  peculiar  to  the  people  of  America  < 
jpfthers,  if/iih  the  credulous  aftonilhment  natural  tp  barbarians. 
But  when  the^oon  began  gradually  to  be  (darkened,  and  at  length 
ttippeared  of  a  red  colour^  all  were  ftruck  with  terrof.  They  :  .m 
with  conftematioii  to  their .  houfes,  and  returning  inffantly  to 
(Columbus  loaded  with  provifions,  threV:  them  at  his  feet,  con- 
juring him  to  intertede  with  the  Great  Spirit  to  avert  the  def- 
tru£lion  with  which  they  were  threatened.  Columbus,  feeming 
to  be  moyed  by  their  entreajkies,  promifed  to  comply  with  their 
dic^fire.  The  ^clipfie  went  off,  the  mOon  recovered  her  fpkudouf) 
&nd  from  that  Jay  the  Spaniards  wete  not  otily  fiimifhed  profufe-' 
ly  with  provifioQS^  but  the  natives,  with  fupetllitious attention, 
ivoided  every  thing  that  t6uld  give  them  offen-v. 

During  thofe  traniaftions,  the  muti>:.*^er6  hu  madr  repeated 
littempts  to  pafs  over  to  Hifpaniola  in  the  6r.r>'-io3  which  they  had 
feized..  But,  froni  their  oWn  mifconduflj  or  Lae  violcnte  of  the 
winds  and  currents,  their  efforts  "Vvere  al!  MOaccefsful.  Enraged 
^t  this  dif^ppointment,  they  ndirched  towards  tiiat  part  of  the 
iiland  where  Colunlbus  remained,  threat^ing  him  with  nfcw  infults 
and  danger.  While  they  were  advancing^  an  ^cnt,  happened, 
more  cil-tiel  and  afflifi^ing  thain  any  Calamity  which  he  dreaded 
from  them.  The  governor  of  Hifpaniola,  whofe  mind  was  ftill 
filled  with  fome  dark  fufpitions  of  Columbus,  fent  a  fmall  bark  td 
Jamaica,  not  to  deliver  his  diflrcffed  countrymen,  but  to  (py  out 
their  condition.  Left  the  fympathy  of  thofe  whom  he  ctrp'roycd 
fltould  afford  them  relief,  contrai-y  to  his  intention,  he  gave  the 
oJmmand  of  this  veffel  to  Efcobar,  an  inveterate  enemy  of  Colum- 
bus, who  adhering  to  his  inftru£tions  with  maligant  accuracy  caft 
Anchor  at  fome  diftance  from  the  ifland,  approached  the  fhore  in  a 
fmatllsoat,  obferved  the  wrstehed  plight  af  the  Spani^rrds,  deliver- 

K  a 


iiiSCOVERY  Of  AM£R$CA, 

ed  a  letter  of  empty  compliments  to' the  admiral,  received  his  aii- 
fwer  and  departeds  When  the  Spaniards  firft  dcfcried  the  veffel 
!ftahdin{r  towards  the  ifland,  every  heart  exulted,  as  if  the  long  ex- 
peAed  hour  of  their  deliverance  had  at  length  arrived ;  but  when 
it  difappfar<id  fo  fuddenly,  they  funk  into  the  deepefl:  dejeftion, 
and  all  their  hopes  died  away.  Columbus  alone,  though  he  felt 
mort  fenfibly  this  wantcm  infult  which  Ovando  -added  to  his  paft 
neglefl,  retained  fuch  compofure  of  mind,  as  to  be  able  to  cheer 
his  followers.  .  He  aflured,  them,  that  Mendez  and  Piefchi  had 
reached  Hifpaniola  ii»  fafcty ;  that  thty  would  fpecdily  procure 
fliips  to  carry  them  off;  but  as  Efcobar's  veflel  could  not  take 
them  all  on  board,  he  had  refufed  to  go  with  her,  becaufe  he  wa» 
determined  never  -to  abandon  the  fiithful  companions  of  his  dif^ 
trefs^  Soothed  with  the  expe£Ution  of  fpeedy  deliverance,  vbA 
delighted  S<f'\th  his  apparent  generofity  in  attending  more  td  their, 
prelervation  than  to  his  own  fefcty,  their  (pirits  revived,  and  h« 
regained  their  confidence. 

Without  this  confidence,  he  could  not  have  reftfted  the  muti- 
neers, who  were  now  at  }iand.  All  his  endeavours  to  reelaim 
thofe  defperate  men  had  no  effeft  but  to  rncreafe  their  frenzy. 
Their  demands  became  every  day  more  extravagant,  and  their  in- 
tentions more  violent  and  bloody.  The  common  iafety  rendered 
it  neceffary  to  oppofe  them  with  open  force.  Columbus  whc  had 
been  long  affli£led  with  the  gout,  could  not.take  the  held.  On  the 
twentieth  of  May  his  brother,  the  Adblantado,  marched  again>ft 
them.  They  <Ju4ckly  met.  The  mutineers  rejefted  with  fcorn 
tei'ms  of  accommodation.  Which  were  once'  more  offered  them,  and 
rufhed  on  boldly  to  the  attack.-  They  fdl  not  upon  an  enemy  un- 
prepared to  receive  them.  In  the  firft  Ihock,  feveTal  of  their 
moft  daring  leaders  were  ftain.  The  Adclantado,  whofe  ftrength 
Was  equal  to  his  courage,  clofed  with  their  captain,  wounded,  dif- 
armed,  and  took  him  prifoner.  At  fight  of  this,  the  reft  fled  with 
a  daftardly  fear,  fuitabte  to  their  former  irtfolence.  Soon  after, 
they  I'ubmitted  in  a  body  to  Columbus,  and  bound  themfelves  by 
the  moft  folemn  oaths  to  obey  all  his  commands.  Hardly  was 
tranquility  re-eftablilhed,  when  the  Ihips  appeared,  whofe  arrival 
Columbus  had  protnifed  with  great  addrels,  though  lie  could  fore- 
fee  it  with  little  certainty.  With  tranfports  of  joy,  the  Spaniards 
quitted  an  illand  in  which  the  unfeeling  jcaloufy  of  Ovando  had 
lufTered  them  to  languifh  above  a  year,  cxpoled  to  mifery  in  all 
its  various  forms. 

When  they  arrived  at  St.  Domingo,  on  the  thirteenth  of  Au- 
guft;  the  gc/emor,  with  the  mean  artifice  of  a  vulgar  mind,  that 
labours  to  alone  for  infolence  by  fcrvility,  fawned  on  the  m«o 


whom 

lumbuft 

houfe, 

amidft 

conceal 

liberty 

Over  in 

had  adh 

into  the 

could  n 

a  (;ount 

treated 

His  pre 

with  tw 

lar  to  th 

to  purfu 

difabled, 

tered  by 

mafts,  an 

month  o 

There 

could  ha 

This  was 

troneis  Q 

confided 

wrongs,  { 

dinand,  \ 

folicit  a  I 

lefs   irkf< 

doomed  X 

Was  in  foi 

he  was  re 

dinand  w 

his  oppre 

•  upon  hin; 

ninety-t\fv 

ing  promi 

dients  in 

apparent  i 

ver  be  tei 

Ferdinanc 

tunate   fu 

plan.     N( 

the  ingrat 


IiJSC{^VERY  OJ  AMSRiCA, 


rj 


'wbom  he  envied, '  and  had  attempted  to  ruin.  He  rtteeived  Cok 
lumbuft  with  the  moft  ftudkd  refpeft,  lodged  him  in  M«  owii 
houfe,  and  <liftingui(hed  him  with  eV«ry  inark  «JF  honoTi  Biait 
amidft  thefe  o^eraAed  demonftrationft  of  regard^  he  coUtd  neit 
conceal  the  hatred  and  pnalignity  latent  in  bis  he»rt.  H<  fM  at 
liberty  the  captain  of  the  niutineer$|  whom  Cohimbus  had>/rbt<^ 
Over  in  chains,  U>  be  tried  for  his  crlmek,  and  thi<ea(tened  fuch  afe 
had  adhered  to  the  admiral  with  j^roeeeding  to  a  judicial  €n<|uiry 
into  their  condu£l.  Columbus  fubmitted  in  (llence  to  \vhat  he 
could  not  redrefs ;  but  difcovered  an  extreme  impatience  to  quic 
a  (;ountry  which  was  under  the  jurllHiiftlon  of  a  man  who  had 
treated  him,  on  every  occafion,  with  inhumanity  and  injuftlce. 
His  preparations  were  foon  fioifhedt  and  he  fet  )fail  for  Spain 
with  two  fliFps,  on  September  the  twelfth  1504.  Dilafters  fimi- 
lar  to  thoie  which  had  accompanied  him.  through  life  continued 
to  purfue  him  to  the  end  of  his  career*  One  .of  his  VAfleU.Wing 
dilabled,  was  foon  forced  back  to  St.  Domingo;  the  other,  fhat- 
tercd  by  violent  ftorms,  failed  leven  hundred  leagues  with  jury 
mads,  and  reached  with  diihculty  the  port  of  St.  Lucar  in  the 
month  of  December. 

There  he  received  the  account  of  an  event  the  moft  fatal  that 
could  have  befallen  him,  and  which  completed  his  misfortunes. 
This  was  the  death,  on  the  ninth  of  November,  1504,  of  his  pa- 
troneiis  Queen  Ifabelia,  in  whofe  juftice,  humanity,  and  favour,  he 
confided  as  his  lafl  refource.  None  now  remained  to  redrefs  his 
wrongs,  or  to  reward  him  for  his  fervices  and  fufferings,  but  Fer- 
dinand, who  had  fo  long  oppofed  and  fo  often  injured  him.  To 
folicit  a  prirce  thus  prejudiced  againft  him,  was  an  occupation  no 
lefs  irkfornc  than  hopelefs.  In  this,  however,  was  Columbus 
doomed  to  employ  the  cloi'e  of  his  days.  As  foon  as  his  health 
was  in  fome  degree  re-e.llablifhed,  he  repaired  to  court ;  and  though 
he  was  received  there  with  civility  barely  decent,  he  plied  P'er- 
dinand  with  petition  after  petition,  demanding  the  puniihment  of 
his  oppreflbrs,  and  the  reftitution  of  all  the  privileges  beftowed 
-  upon  him  by  the  capitulation  of  one  thoufand  four  hundred  and 
ninety-two.  Ferdinand  amufed  him  with  fair  words  and  unme?n- 
ing  promifes.  Inllead  of  granting  his  claims,  he  propoled  espe- 
dients  in  order  to  elude  them,  and  fpun  out  the  affair  with  fuch 
apparent  art,  as  plainly  difcovered  his  intention  that  it  fhould  ne- 
ver be  terminated.  The  declining  health  of  Columbus  flattered 
Ferdinand  with  the  hopes  of  being  foon  delivered  from  au  impor- 
tunate fuitor,.  and  encouraged  him  to  perfevere  in  this  illiberal 
plan.  Nor  was  he  deceived  in  his  expeftations.  Difguftcd  with 
the  ingratitude  of  a  monarch  whom  he  had  ferved  with  fuch  fidelity 


^. 


•j»    yi  J^lSCOrSRYOf  AMERICA.     .^^ 

Jlil4  fuctdb,  ejthauiWd  with  the  fttigues  and  hardfliip^  Which  he 
hid  endured,  and  brok^  with  the  infinnities  which  thdie  bra(k*|ht 
t^n  lum,  Gc^umbua  ended  hi*  life  at  V«Uadolidon  the  twentieth 
of  hUyi  onff  th^tlftnd  five  hundred  and  fix,  in  the  fifty-ninth 
year  of  litt  age.  He  died  with  a  compefiire  of  mind  fuitable  to 
the  magftanimity  which  diftinguiihed  his  charafter,  and  with  fen- 
timents  of  piety  becoming  that  fttpreme  refpeft  for  religion* 
which  he  manifefted  in  ereiy  occurrence  of  his  life^ 


/►-. 


-Midta 


Having  ihui  given  an  Account  of  the  firft  Difcovery  of  Ame- 
rica,  we  (hall  now  proceed  to  lay  before  the  Reader,  a  Gsnckal 
Description  of  that  Country,  its  SoUf  dmatCf  Pindu&uynfi 
Ofigiftd  IithoHtakti^  9c.  &c. 


GENERAL 


DES 


~  «i         rl 


HI$ 

thc'56thd 
from  the  ; 
ilretching 
gieatel^  b 
mers  and  : 
which  the 
To  the  eai 
and  Africi 
wrhich^  it  i 
carry  oji  a 
world. 

Nq|}Th 
bieadth  tl: 
grsat  conti 
i  500  miicj 
60  miles  01 
crn  contin 
ifland$,  p?.}! 
parts  oif  A 

ClL^AT 

feveral  ver 
general  pre 
A*  \erica. 
precife  dcg: 
caufe  the  el 
the  climate 
in  proporti 
America,  j 
that  which 


if,  ,s«t. 


DESCRIPTIpN  OF  /AMERICA. 


'    ' '  *  f 


BOUNDARIES  AND  EXTENT. 


T, 


HI$  vaft  coupfty  extends  fron^  the  ftqth  d^iree  of  norfb,  t<» 
the  561^1  degree  of  fouth  latitude ;  and,  where  itf  |>rcadt)i isltii9«r|i^ 
from  the  35th  to  the  136th  degree  weft  longitude  frpm  London^ 
ilretching  between  8090  and  9000  nyles  in  lengthy  an4  ih  its 
greateft  breadth  3699.  It  fees  both  hemifphires,  has  two  fum- 
mers  and  a  double  winter,  and  enjoys  all  the  variety  of  c|iinatef 
which  the  earth  affords.  |t  is  waihed  by  th^  two  great  oceans. 
To  the  eaftward  it  has  the  Atlantic,  which  diviiie^  it  from  Europe 
and  Africa ;  to  the  weft  it  hat  the  Pacific  or  Gci^t  $outh  $ea,  by 
which  it  is  feparajted  from  Afu.  By  thefe  feas  it  may,  and  does^ 
carry  op.  a  dircBi  jpommerpe  with  the^  other  three  parts  of  the 
world.  ^ 

No^TH  ^Vis  South  Contikskt.  America  is  not  of  equal 
breadth  throughout  its  Whole  extent ;  but  is  divided  into  two 
grsat  continents,  called  North  and  South  America,  by  an  ifthmu^ 
1 50Q  miles  long^  and  which  at  Darien,  about  Lat.  9*  N.  is  pnly 
6©  miles  oyer.  This  ifthmus  form$,  with  the  northern  and  fouth- 
crn  continents,  a  vaft  gulph,  in  which  lie  a  great  number  6i 
iflands,  palled  iht  Weji  Indies,  in  contradiftin£lipn  to  the  eaftem 
parts  of  Alia  which  are  called  the  £ajt  Indies. 

CiLrfATE.  Between  the  New  World  and  the  Old,  the^b  ^re 
feveral  very  ftriking  differences ;  but  the  n^oft  remarkable  is  the 
general  predominance  of  cold  throughout  the  whole  extent  of 
A*  .erica.  Though  we  cannot,  in  ai^y  country,  determine  tke 
precife  degree  of  heat  merely  by  the  diftance  ol  the  equator,  be- 
caufe  the  elevation  above  the  fea,  the  nature  of  the  foil,  Ac.  affe^ 
the  climate  ;  yet,  in  the  ancient  continent,  the  he^  is  much  more 
in  proportion  to, the  vicinity  to  the  equator  than  in  any  pan  of 
America.  Here  the  rigour  of  the  frigid  zone  extends  o»«r  kalf 
that  which  fhould  be  temperate  by  its  pofiticn.     Eim  in  tko£l 


8o 


GENER4I,   PESCRIPTION. 


latitudes  where  the  winter  is  fcarcely  felt  on  the  Old  continent^ 
it  reigns  with  great  fevcrity  in  America,  though  during  a  fhort 
period.  Nor  does  this  odd,  prevalent  in  the  New  World,  con- 
fine itfelf  to  the  temperate  zones ;  but  extends  its  influence  to 
the  torrid  zpi^e,  alfo,  confiderably  mitigating  the  excefs  of  itt^ 
hcati  Abug  t)io  cf  ftcrn  poaft|  the  climate,  though  more  fipiiUr 
to  that  of  the  torrid  zone  in  other  parts  of  the  earth,  is 
neverthelefs  confiderably  milder  than  in  thofe  countries  of  Ada 
and  Africa  which  lie  in  the  fame  latitude.  From  the  fouthern 
tropic  to  the  extremity  of  the  Americans  continent,  the  cold  is 
faid  to  be  much  greater  th^n  in  parallel  northern  latitudes  even  of 
America  it(elf. 

For  this  fo  remarkable  difference  between  the  climate  of  the 
New  continent  and  the  Old,  various  caufes  have  been  afligned  by 
different  authors.  The  following  is  the  opinion  of  the  learned 
Br.  Robertson  on  this  fubjc£l:»  <^  Though  the  utinoil  extent  of 
Amcfie*  tpwayds  the  north  be  not  yet  dilcovered,  we  know  that 
it  advances  nearer  to  the  pole  than  either  Europe  pr  Afia.  The 
latter  ha^e  large  feas  to  the  north,  which  are  open  during  part  of 
the  year;  and,  even,  when  covered  with  ice,  the  wind  that  blows 
over  them  is  lets  intenfely  cold  than  that  which  b^ows  over  land 
in  the  fame  latitude*.  But,  in  America,  the  land  ftretfhes  from 
the  river  St.  Laurence  towards  the  pole,  and  fpreads  out  immen(e- 
ly  to  the  weft.  A  chain  of  enormous  mountains,  covered  with 
fnow  and  ice,  runs  through  all  this  dreary  region.  I'hc  wind 
p^i&ng  over  fuch  an  extent  of  high  and  frozen  land,  bccgmes  fo 
impregnated  with  cold,  that  it  acquires  a  piercing  k^nnefs,  which 
it  regains  in  its  progrefs  through  warmer  climates;  and  is  not 
entirely  mitigated  until  it  reaches  the  gulph  of  Mexico,  Over  all 
(Jte  continent  of  North  America,  a  north* we (lerly  wind  and  ex- 
eefiive  cold  are  fynonymous  terms.  Even  in  the  moft  fultry 
weather,  the  momt  nt  that  the  wind  veers  to  that  quarter,  its  pene^ 
trating  influence  is  felt  in  a  ^ranfition  from  heat  to  cpld  jpio  lef^ 
violent  than  fudden.  To  this  powerful  caufe  we  may  afcribe  the 
extraordinary  dominion  of  cold,  and  its  violent  ifi-roads  into  the 
iputhern  provinces  in  that  part  of  the  globe. 

*^  Other  cauies,  no  leis  remarkable,  diminifh  the  a£live  powet* 
of  heat  in  thofe  parts  of  the  American  continent  which  lie  be- 
tween the  tropics.  Jn  all  that  portion  of  the  globe,  the  wind 
blows  in  an  invariable  diredbion  from  eaft  to  weft.  As  this  wind 
holds  itu.courfe  acrofs  the  ancient  continent,  it  arrives  at  the 
eountries  which  ftretch  along  the  weftcrn  flio^re  of  Africa,  in- 
flamed with  all  the  fiery  particles  which  it  hath  collefted  from 
the  fultry  plains  of  Afia,  and  the  burning  fands  in  the  African 
^farts.     The  coaft  of  Africa  is  accordingly  the  region  of  the 


OF  AMERICA. 


%t 


inoft  fervent  hear,  and  it  expofed  to  the  unmitigated  ardour  of  the 
torrid  zone.     But  this  fame  wind,  which  brings  fuch  an  accef- 
(ion  of  warmth  to  the  countries  lying  between  the  river  of  Sene* 
gal  and  Cafraria,   traverfes  the  Atlantic   ocean  before   it    reachea 
the  American  fliore.     It  is  cooled  in  its  paif>«ge  oVtr  this  Vaft  bo- 
dy of  water ;  and  is  felt  as  a  refrefhing  gale  along  the  coafts  of 
Brafil  and  Guiana,  rendering  thofe  countries,  though  amongd  the 
warmed  in  America,  temperate,  when  compared  with  thofe  which 
lie  oppofite  to  them  in  Africa.     As  t^is  wind  advances  in  its 
courfe  acrofs  America,  it  meets  with  im^nenfc  plaint  covered  with 
impenetrable  forefls ;  or  occupied  by  large  riven,  marfhes,  and. 
flagnating  waters,  where  it  can  recover  no  conftderablf^  degree  ojfir 
heat.     At  length  it  arrives  at  the  Andes,  which  ru  i  from  north 
to  fouth  through  the  whole  continent.     la  paffing  <.>  ec  their  ele- 
vated and  frozen  fummits,  it  it>  fo  thotMudiiy  cofik^  thft  the 
greater  part  of  the  countries  beyond  then^^jMly /e<^  thmivdoor 
to  which  they  feem  expofed  by  their  fituatidn,    in-tlie  otn|#'i>ro- 
vinccs  of  America,  from  Terra  Firma  weftwardto  the  Mexican 
empire,  the  heat   of  the  climate  is  tempered,  in  fomlSi^placety  by 
the  elevation  of  the  land  above  the  fea  ;  in  others,  by  |hcir  ex- 
traordinary humidity ;  and  in  all,  by  the  enormous  mountains 
fcattered  over  this  tra£b.    -  The*  iilands  of  America  in  the  torrid 
zone  are  either  fmall  or  mountainous,  and  are  fanned  alternately 
by  refrefhing  fea  and  land  breezes. 

"  The  caufet  of  the  extraordinary  cold  towards  the  fouthern  ii* 
mits  of  America,  and  in  the  feas  beyond  it,  cannot  be  afcertained 
in  a  manner  equally  fatisfying.  It  was  long  fuppofied,  that  a  yaft 
continent,  diftinguifhed  by  the  name  of  Terra  Aufttalis  Incognita^ 
lay  between  the  fouthern  extremity  of  America  and  the  antarctic 
pole.  The  fame  principles  which  account  for  the  extraordinary 
degree  of  cold  in  the  northern  regions  of  America,  were  employ- 
ed in  order  to  explain  that  which  is  felt  at  Cape  Horn  and  the 
adjacent  countries.  The  immenfe  extent  of  the  fouthern  conti- 
nent, and  the  rivers  which  it  poured  into  the  ocean,  were  men- 
tioned and  admitted  by  philofophers  as  caufes  fufficient  to  occa- 
fion  the  unufual  ien(ation  of  cold,  and  the  Hill  more  uncommon 
appearances  of  frozen  feas  in  that  region  of  the  globe.  But  the 
imaginary  continent  to  which  fuch  influence  was  afcribed  having 
been  fearched  for  in  vain,  and  the  fpace  which  it  was  fupppi^ 
to  occupy  having  been  found  to  be  an  open  fea,  new  conje^rei 
mud  be  formed  with  rsfpe£l  to  the  caufes  of  a  temperature  ..of  cli- 
mate, fo  extremely  different  from  that  which  we  experience  in 
countries  removed  at  the  fame  diflance  from  the  t^poftte  pole* 


Mi 


QENEkAL   DESCRIPTION 


"  The  moil  obvious  and  probable  caufe  of  this  fuperior  degref' 
of  cold  towards  the  fouthern  extremity  of  America,  feetns  to  bcs 
the  form  of  the  continent  there.  Its  breadth  gradually  decreaCes 
as  it  n  retches  from  Sti  Antonio  fouthwslrds^  and  from  the  bay  of 
St.  Julian  to  the  flraits  of  Magellan  its  dimenftons  are  tdiicU  con- 
tmft;:d.  On  the  call  and  weft  fides,  it  is  waihed  by  thf  iilantic 
and  Pacific  oceans.  From  its  fouthern  pointy  it  is  probable  that 
an  open  fca  ilretches  to  the  8ntar£iic  pole.  In  whicht  vcr  of 
thefe  dire£lions  the  wind  blows,  it  is  cooled  before  it  approaches 
the  MiiFcUanic  regions,  bv  pafTing  over  a  vaft  bod^  of  water; 
nor  is  the  land  there,  of  fucK  extent,  that  it  can  recover  any  con- 

';fiderable  degree  of  heat  in  ifs  progrel's  over  it«  Thefe  circum- 
ftanccs  concur  in  rendering  the  temperature  of  the  air  in  this  dif- 
■txi&.  of  America  mure  ftmilar  to  that  of  an  infular,  than  to  that  of 
a  continental  climate  }'knd  hinder  it  from  acquiring  the  fame  de-^ 
^ee  ofjumhie?  -heat  with  places  in  £urope  and  Afw,  in  a  corref- 
pondti^^  northern  latitude.  The  north  wind  is  the  only  one  that 
reaches  this  part  of  America,  after  blowing  over  a  great  continent. 
But,  froift  an  attentive  furvey  of  its  pofxtion,  this  will  be  found 
to  havd  a  tendency  rather  to  diminifli  thah  augment  the  degree  of 
heat.  The  fouthern  fvfremity  of  America  is  proplerly  the  ter- 
mination of  the  immt-  '  -c  of  the  Andes,  which  ftretches  near- 
ly in  a  direlil  Hn-  from  nyrth  to  fouth^  through  the  whole  ex- 
tent of  the  cantiaent.  The  inofl:  fultry  regions  in  South  Ameri- 
^ifca,  GuJunaf   luiafil,  Pa^aguayj  and  Tucuman^  lie  many  degrees  to 

'  the  ?!alt  of  the  Magellanic  re«»ions.  The  level  country  of  Peru, 
Which  enjoys  the  tropical  heats,  is  fituated  confiderably  to  the 
w6ftofthem*  The  north  wind,  then^  though  it  blows  over  land^ 
d^es  not  bring  to  the  fouthern  extremity  of  America  an  increafe 
of  heat  coUefted  in  its  palTage  over  torrid  regions ;  but,  before  it 
arrives  there,  it  muft  have  fwept  along  the  lummit  of  the  Andes, 
and  come  impregnated  with  the  cold  of  that -frozen  region." 

Another  particularity  ii^  the  climate  of  America^  is  its  excefliVe 
moiilure  in  general.  In  fomis  places^  indeed,  on  the  weftern 
coaft,  rain  is  not  known  ;  but^  in  all  other  parts,  the  moiftnefs  of 
the  climate  is  as  remarkable  as  the  cold.-— The  forefts  wherewith 
it  is  every  where  covered^  no  i^Dubti  partly  occafion  the  moifture 
of  its  climate ;  but  the  moft  prevalent  caule  is  the  vaft  quantity 
of  waWr  in  the  Atlantic  an4  Pacific  oceans,  with'  whitk  America 
is  environed  on  all  fides*  Hence  thofe  places  where  the  conti- 
nent is  narroweft  are  deluged  with  almoft  perpetual  rains,  accom- 
panied with  violent  thunder  and  lightning,  by  which  fome  of 
them,  particulai'ly  Porto  Bello,  are  rendered  in  a  manner  unin- 
habitable. 


erior  clegrcf! 
fenns  to  be 
lly  decreafics 
n  the  bay  of 
'.  THuch  cun- 
thf     vtlantic 
»robable  that 
hich<  ver  of 
I  approaches 
V  of  water  j 
;rcr  any  con- 
hefe  ciicum- 
r  in  this  dil- 
an  to  that  of 
the  fame  de* 
,  in  a  corref- 
3nly  one  that 
at  continent. 
viU  be  found 
the  decree  of 
pierly  the  tcr-' 
tretches  near- 
tie  whole  ex- 
iouth  Amcri- 
ny  degrees  to 
ntry  of  Peru, 
erably  to  the 
Mrs  over  land^ 
a  an  increafe 
but,  before  it 
if  the  Andes, 
region." 
i  its  exceflive 
the  weftern 
:  moiilnei's  of 
s  wherewith 
the  moiilure 
vafl  quantity 
hibk  America 
:re  the  conti- 
rains,  accom- 
rhich  fome  of 
nanner  unin> 


OF  AMERICA, 


M 


This  extreme  motfture  of  the  American  climate  is  produAivc 
of  much  larger  rivers  there  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  world. 
The  Danube,  the  Nile,  the  Indus,  or  the  Ganges,  arc  not  com- 
parable to  the  Minillippi,  the  river  St.  Laurence,  or  that  of  the 
Atn.izons;  nor  iirc  luch  large  lakes  to  be  found  any  where  as 
thole  whirh  North  America  ailords.  To  the  fame  caufe  we  arc 
iiHo  partly  to  aicrihc  the  exccfltve  luxuriance  of  all  kinds  of  ve- 
getables in  almod  all  parts  of  this  country.  In  the  fouthern 
provinces,  where  the  moifture  of  the  climate  is  aided  by  the 
warmth  of  the  (un,  the  wood»  are  almod  impervious,  and  the 
furface  of  the  gruftnd  is  hid  from  the  eye,  under  t  thick  covers 
ing  of  (hrubs,  herbs,  and  weeds. — In  tV  '>rthem  prqivinccs,  the 
furcds  are  not  encumbered  with  the  :uriance  of   vegeta- 

tion ;  ncverthelct's,  they  afford  trees  mij  get  of  thclr^kind 

than  what  are  to  be  found  any  where  elic.  iJHHikHK 

From  the  coldnefs  and  (he  moiilure  of  Amet^l^njI^Bu  malig- 
nity of  climate  has  been  inferred,  and  aiTerted  by^ IW.  dte^  PlM|f|  in 
his  liecherches  Philofophiquei,     Hence,  according  to  his  hypotncfis, 
the  fmallnefs  and  irregularity  of  the  nobler  animals,  arid   the  fizc 
and  enormous  multiplication  of  reptiles  and  inlefls. 
,  But  the  fuppofed  imallnefs  and  Icfs  ferocity  of  the  American 
animals,  the  Abb^  Clavigcro  obferves,  inflead  of  the  malignity,  de- 
monflrates  the  mildnefs  and  bounty  of  the  clime, ;  f  we  give  credit 
to  Buffon,  at.  whofc  fountain  M.  dc  Paw  has  drank,  and  of  -^hofe 
teflimony  he'  has  availed  himfelf  againft  Don  Pernetty.     BufFoni^ 
who  in  many  places  of  his  Natural  Hiflory  produces  the  fmallnefs 
of  the  American  animals  as  a  certain  argument  of  the   malignity 
of  the  climate  of   America,  in  treating  afterwards  of  favage  ani-r 
mals,  in  Tom.  II.  fpeaks  thus:    *f  As  all  things,  even  the  mod 
h^Q  creatures,  are  fubje£^  to  natural  laws,  and  aniinals  as  well  as 
men  dire   fubjeiEled  to   the  influence  of  climate  and  foil,  it  appears 
that  the  fame  caules  which  have  civilized  and  poliflied  the  human 
fpecies  in  our  climates,  may  have  likewiie  produced  fimilar  t^ffeQs 
upon  other   fpecies.     The  wolf,  which  is  perhaps  the  fierceft  of 
all  the  quadrupeds  of  the  temperate  zone,  is  however  incompa- 
rably lefs  terrible  than  the  tyger,  the  lion,  and  the  panther,  of  the 
torrid  zone ;  and  the  white  bear  and  hyeha  of  the  frigid  zone.     In 
America,  where  the  air  and  the  earth  sre  more  mild  than  thofe  of 
Africa,  the  tyger,  the  lion,  and  the  panther,  are  not  terrible  but  in 
the  name.     They  have  degenerated,  if  fiercenefs,  joined  to  cruelty, 
made  their  nature ;  or,  to  fpcak  more  properly,  they  havfe  only 
fuftcred  the  influence  of  the  climate:    under  a  milder  (ky,   their 
nature  alfo  has  become  more  mild.     From  climes  which  are  immo. 
derate  in  their  temperature,  are  obtained  drugs,  perfumes,  poifons, 

La 


W". 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


■tt  liii   12.2 

IB      -.n       1112.0 


■  4.0 


|25|U 

IJ4 

^ 

6"     - 

► 

Fhotographic 

Sciences 

Corporalion 


23  WBT  MAIN  STRUT 

WIUTII(,N.Y.  MSm 

(716)S72-4S03 


.^ 


0^' 


G<I^NERAL  DESCRIPTION 


ind  dUl  tli^fe  plants  whofe  qualities  are  (Irong.     The   temperate 
earth,  on  ^c,  contrary,  produces  only  things  Which  arc  temperate  ( 
the  mildeft  herbs,  the  mod  wholetbme  pulfe,  the  fwecteft  fruitSj 
the  moft  quiet  antmalsj  and  the  mod  humane  men,  are  the  natives 
of  this  h»ppy   dime.     As  the  ea^rth  makes  the  plants,  the   enrth 
and  plants  make  animals ;  the  earth,,  the  plants,  and  the  animals, 
make  man.     'ihc  phyftcal  qualities  of  man,  w.id  the  animals  which 
feed  on  other  animals,  depend,  though  more  remotely,  on  the  f^me 
caufes  which  influence  their  dt^pofitions  and* cuQioms.     This  is 
the  greateft  ||iOo£  and  demonftration,  that    in  temperate   climes 
every  thingdbbiXMne&  temperate,  and  tliat  in  intemperate   climes 
every  thingsitr'ieKccffive;    and  that  fize  and  form,   which   appear 
fixed  and  det«Mninate  qualities,  depend,  notwithdanding,  like  thvs 
rebtiire^^|||ities,^^^«^|faeip!fittenceT>f  climate.     The  fize  of  our 
qttldmj|M||abiyw^       compared  with  that  of  an    elephant,   the 
,llunooJi«Pp^iiaii^e.     Tiie  larged  of  our  birds  are  but  fmall, 
if  CilMllffiell  jlltirthe  oflrich^  the  condore,  and  ca/dar«."     So  far 
whole  text  we  have  copied,  becaule  it  i»  contrary  to 
Ifaw  writes  t^ainfl:  the  climate  of  America,  and  to 
leif  in  many  bther  places, 
'lf.tM  large  and  fierce  animals  are  natives  of  intbmperate  climes^'. 
and(iauiU  and  trant^il  animals  of  temperate  climes,  as  M,  Buffon 
lia^  here  e^blifhed  ;  if  mildnefs  of  climate  influences  the  difpo-^ 
fition  and  cuftoms  of  animals,  M.  dc  Paw  does  not  well  dcdtice 
l^e  malignity  <rf  the  climate  of  America  from  the  iimller  fize  and 
ll^|Nfi4^cenefs  of  its  animals  ;  he  ought  rather  to  have  deduced  the 
gS|it|eneIa  and  Iweetnefs  oi"  its  climate  from  this  antecedent,     If, 
<M^the  contraxy,  the  imaller  fizeand  lefs  fiercenefs  of  tl^c  American 
animals,  with  retpeft  to  thofe  of  the  old  continent,  arc  a  proof  of 
their  degeneracy,  arifing.from  the  malignity  of  the  clime,  as  M; 
de  Paw  would  have  it,  we  ought  in  like  manner  to  argue  the  ma- 
lignity of  the  I  climate  of 'Europe  from  the  fmaller  fize  and  Icfs 
fiercenefs  of  itis  animals,  compared  yrith  thofe  of   Africa.     If  a 
philofopher  of  the  country  of  Guinea  ihould  undertake  a  work  ia 
imitation  of  M.  de  Paw,  with  this  title,  Recherches   Pkito/opkiques 
/titles  ^itroj^enj,  he  might  avail  himfelf  of  the  fame   argument 
wliich  M.  de  Paw  ufes,  to  demonifiri^e  the^iafalignity  of  the  climate 
of  Europe,  and  the  advantages  of  that  of  Africa.     The  climate  of 
Europe,  he  would  fay,  is  very  unfavorable  to  the  produ^ion  of 
quadrupeds,   which  are   found  incomparably   fmaller,  and  more 
cowardly  than  ours.     What  are  the  hurfe  and  the  ox,  the  larged 
of  its  animals,  compared  with  our  elephants,  our  rhinoceroies,  our 
fea-horfes,  and  our  camels?    What  are  its  lizards,  either  in  fize  or 
intrepidity,  compared  with  our  crocodiles?  Its  wolves,  its  bears, 
the  moft  dreadful  of  its  wild  beads,  when  befide  bur  lions  or 


or 
rs, 

or 


4XF  AMERICA,  t^ 

flygcrs?  Its  eagle,  its  vultures,  and  cranes,  if  compared  with  our 
oftriches,  appear  only  like  hens. 

As  to  the  enormous  tize  and  prodigious  multiplication  of  the 
inlc6ls  and  other  littie  noxious  animals,  **  The  furface  of  the  earth 
(lays  M.  de  Paw,  infefled  by  putrefi^ion,  was  over-run  with  liz« 
ards,  I'erpents,  reptiles,  and  inl'e£U  monftrous  lor  fise,  j^ad  the 
adivity  of  their  poifon,  which  they  drew  from  the  copi(Bi|lls.juices 
of  this  uncultivated  foil,  that  was  corrupted  and  dbaii|piiM|  to  it- 
self, where  the  nutritive  juice  became  £barp,  Uke  theinlj|^in>the 
bread  of  animals  which  do^ot  exercife  the  virtue  of.|>gopaMiricn. 
.Caierpillars,  ci:abs,  butterilies,  beetles,  Ipiders^frogB,  MMTpoads,. 
were  for  the  moH  part  of  an  enormous  cocpulsnee  in  their  j||ccieii, 
and  .multiplied  beyond  what  can  be  Imagined,     Panama;  isiiinfeft- 
ed  with  ierpents,  Carthagena  with  clouds  of  enonQious^t%.Por- 
tobello  with  toads,  SurinsuB  with  kakerlaeas^  or  eucarach^^  Gu».d. 
aloupe,  and  the  other  colonies  of  the  iflands,  wi^  beetjba^  Quito 
with  niguas  or  chegpes,  and  Lima  with  lice  and  bugf^^^Tj^^S-* 
cient  Kings,  of  Mexico,  and  the  emperors  of  Peruj  f^ndq||^liiir» 
meatis  of  ridding  their  fubje^  of  thofe  infefls  which.Hi^  m|mI|' 
them,  than  the  impoiition  of  an  annual  tribute  of  a  certain  quantity^ 
of  lice.     Ferdinand  Cortes  found  bags  full  of  them  in  the  palao!!^ 
of  Montezuma."     But  this  argument  exaggerated  as  it  is,  praHrpm 
nothing  againll  the  climate  of  America,  in   general,  much  left 
againil  that  of  Mexico.     There  being  ibmc  lands  in  America,  in 
which,  on  account  of  their  hea^  humidity,  or  Avant  of  inhabitants, 
large  iufcfls  are  found,  and  exceffively  multiplied,  will  prove  ativ* 
mod,  that  In  Ibme  places  tlte  furface  of  the  earth  is  infe&ed,  a«  , 
he  lays,  with  putrefa^ion ;  but  not  that  the  foil  of  Mexico,  or' 
(hat  of  all  America,  is  llinking,  uncultivated,  vitiated,  and  abandon* 
cd  to  itfelf.     If  I'uch  a  dedufkion  were  juft,  M.  de  Paw  might  alfo 
fay,  th^t  the  foil  of  the  old  continent  is  b.rren,  and  ftinks ;  as  in 
many  countfies  of  it  there  arc  prodigious  multitudes  of  monftFous- 
inle&s,  noxious  reptiles^  and  vile  animal^  as  in  the  Philippine  illes, 
in  many  of  thofe  of  the  liidian  Archipelago,  in  fcveral  countriea  . 
of  the  fouth  of  Afia,  in  many  of  Africa^  and  even  in  fome  of  ,Eu*  • 
rope.     The  Philippine  ides  are  iiifefted  with  enormous  ants  and 
mon(b-ous  butterflies,  Js^n  with  fcorpions,  fourh  of  Afia  and 
Africa  with  ferpents,  Egypt  with  afpS,  Guinea  and  Ethiopia  with 
armies  of  ants,  Holland  with  field-rats,  Ukrariia  with  toads,  as  M. 
de  Paw  himielf  afHrms.     In  Italy,  the  Gampagna  di  Roma  (al- 
though peopled  for  fo  many  ages,)  with  vipers;  Calabria  with 
farantulas ;  tlie  Ihores  of  the  Adriatic  fea,  wirii  clouds  of  gnats ; 
and  even  in  l^rance,  the  |)opulation  of  which  iis  fo  great  and  fo 
ancient,  whofe  lands  are  io  well  cultivated,  and  whole  climate  is 
fo  celebrated  by  the  French,  there  appeared,  a  few  years  ago,  ac- 


%. 


8^ 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


cording  to  M,  BulFon^  a  new  fpecies  of  field-mice,  larger  than  f h» 
common  kind,  called  by  him  Surmulots^  which  have  multiplied 
exceedingly,  to  the  great  damage  of  the  fields.  M.  fiazin,  in  his 
Compendium  of  the  Hiftory  of  Infe£b,  numbers  77  fpecies  of 
bugs,  which  are  all  found  in  Paris  and  its  neighbourhood.  That 
lariige^-caiutal,  as  Mr;  Bomare  fays,  fwarms  with  thofe  difguftful 
inie<^«  'it  is  tru*:,  that  there  are  places  in  America,  wher&the 
mult&iiiei  of.infefls,  and  filthy  vermin,  make  life  irkfome;'but 
we  do:^||t  know  that  they  have  arrived  at  fuch  exccfs  of  multi^ 
plicatj^U^ai  to  depopulate  any  place,  at  leafl  there  cannot  be  fo 
many  ftxampies  .produced  of  this  caufe  of  depopulation  in  the  new 
as  in  |)|^  ol^  continent,  which  are  attefled  by  Theophraflus,  Varro, 
Pliny^  |bd  biher  at^hors.  The  ^c^s  depopuk^sd  one  place  ii^ 
Gaul^^nd  the  locufts  another  in  Africa,  One  of  the  Cyclade< 
wa»  dep%ulated  by  mice;  Amiclas,  near  to  laracina,  by  fer- 
peats;  another  place,  near  to  Ethiopia,  by  fcorpions  and  poifon- 
ou».^^^;.  imd  another  by  fcolopenflras ;  and,|iot  i'o  diftant  from 
otir'ol^times,  the  Mauritius  was  going  to  have  been  abandone4 
^^^iecouut  of  the  extraordinary  multiplication  of  cats,  as  \v«  ^an 
'  itmiember  to  have  restd  in  a  French  author. 

With  refpeft  to  the.fize  of  Hthe  infe£b,  reptiles,  and  fuch  anir 
mats,  M.  de  Paw  makes  ufe  of  the  teftimony  of  Mr.  Dumont, 
who,  in  his  Miemoirs  on,  Louifiaina,  fays,  that  the  frogs  are  fo 
large  there  that  they  weigh  37  French  pounds,  and  their  horrid 
croaking  imitates  the  bellowing  of  cows.  But  M-  <ic  Paw  him- 
felf  fayj)  (in  his  anfwer  to  Don  Pernetty,  cap.  1^7.)  that  all  thofe 
who  have  written  about  Louifiana  from  Hfenepin,  Le  Clerc,  and  Cav. 
Tonti,  to  Dun^ont,  have  contradifted  each  other,  fometim«s  on  One 
and  fometimes  on  ariothcr  fubjea.  In  faft,  neither  in  the  ojd  or  the 
new  continent  are  thdre  frogs  of  37  pounds  iit  weight  5  but  thcre^re 
in  Afia  and  Africa,  ferpents,  butterflies,  ants,  and  other  animals  i>t 
fuch  monflrous  fize,  that  they  exceed  all  thofe  whi^h  h^ve  been 
difcovered  in  the  new  wo||^d.  We  kiK;^  very  Weft,  that  fome 
'  American  hiflorian  fays,  that  a  certain  |r%;Uitic  fpecies  of  ferpents 
*is  to  be  found  in  the  woods,  which  attrad  men  with  their  breathy 
and  fwallow  them  up  ;  but  we  knonf  alfo,  that  feveral  hiftorians, 
both  ancient  and  modern,  report  ik^  faniB  thing  of  the  ferpents  of 
Afia,  and  even  fomething  more.  Magaflhenes,  cited  by  Pliny, , 
faid,  that  there  were  ferpeints  found  in  Afia,  fo  large,  that  they 
fwallowed  entire  ftags  and  bviUs.  Metrodorus  cited' by  the  fame 
author,  affirms,  th|it  in  Afia  there  were  ferpents  which,  by  their 
breath,  attr^fted  btrds,  however  high  they  were  or  quick  their 
flight.  Among  the  moderns,  Gemelli,  in  Vol,  ,V.  of  his  Tour  of 
the  world,  when  he  treats  of  the  animals  of  the  Philippine  ifles 
fpeaks  thus :   "  There  are  ferpents  in  thefc  iflands  of  immo4eratp 


OS  AMERICA. 


«7 


firt  ;  there  is  one  called  Ibitifty  very  long,  whith  fiirp'.ncUng  it- 
feif  by  the  tail  from  the  trunk  of 'a  tree,  waits  till  (lags,  bear%  and 
alio  men  pais  by,  in  order  to  attraft  them  with  its  breath,  and  de- 
vour them  at  once  entirely  ','*  from  whence  it  is  evident,  th^tthis 
very  ancient  fuble  has  been  common  to  both  continents. 

Further,  it  nfay  be  alked,   In  what  country  of  America  could 
M.  de  ^iM  find  ants  to  equal  thofe  of  the  Philippine  iflands,  called ' 
Julum^  rel'pcdiing  which  Hernandez  affirms,  that  ihcy  Mt^  fix 
fingers  broad  in  length  anil  one  in  breadth  ?     Who  has  evier  feen 
in  America  butterflies  fo  large  as  thofe  of  fimirbon,  Ternatf,  the 
Philippine  ifles,  and  all  the  Indian  archipelago  ?    The  largeft  bat 
of  America  (native  to  hot  fliady  countries),  which  is  that  called 
by  BufFon  va'ipiro^  is,  atcording  to  him,  of  the  lize  of  a  pigeon. 
La  rougettCf  one  of  the  fpecies  of  Afiay  is  as  large  as  a  raven ;  and 
the  rouftttCf  another  fpecies  of  Afia,  is  as  big  as  a  large  hen.     Its 
wingSj  when  extended,  meafurt  f^dm  tip  to  tip  three  Parifian  feet, 
ai)d  according  to  Gemelli)  who  meafured  it  in  thtf  Philippine  ifles, 
fix  palms*     Mi  BufFoh  acknowledges  the  excefs  in  fize  of  the 
Allatic  bat  ever  the  American  fpecies,  but  denies  it  as  to  number. 
Gemelli  fays,  that  thofe  of  the  iflaiid  of  Luzon  were  fo  numerous 
that  they  darkened  the  air^  and  that  the  noife  which  they  made 
with  their  teeth,  in  eating  the  fruits  of  the  woods,  was  heard  at 
the  dil^nce  of  two  'miles.    M.  de  Paw  fays,  in  talking  of  ferpents, 
"  it  cannot  be  afHrmed  that  the  New  World  has  Aiown  any  fer^ 
pcnts  larger  than  thofe  which  Mr.  Adanfon  faw  in  the  deferts  of 
Africa."     The  greatefl  ferpeht  found  in  Me;cico,  after  a  diligent 
fearch  made  by  Hernandez,  was  iS  feet  long  :    but  this  is  not  to 
be  cpmpared  with  that  of  the  Moluccas,  which  Bomare  fays  is  33 
feet  in  length ;  nor  with  the  anocanjada  of  Ceylon,  which  the 
fume  author  fays  is  more  than  33  feet  long ;  nor  with  others  of 
Afu  and  Africa,  mentioned  by  the  fame  author.     Laflly,  the  ar- 
gument drawn  from  the  multitude  and  fize  of  the  American  in- 
fefts  is  fuUy^a  weighty;vi|'^e  argumenl^rawn  .from  the  fniallnels 
and  fcarcity  of  :nuaikupin|l^  aiid  both  deted:  the  fame  ignorance, 
or  rather  the  ^e  voluntary  and  ftudied  forgetfulnefs,  of  the 
things  of  the  old  continent.  ^' 

with  refpeft  to  what  M.  de  Paw  haS  faid  of  the" tribute  of  lice 
in  Mexico^  in  that  as  ^ell  as  in^mal^y  other  things  he  diiboyers 
his  ridiculous  credulity.  It  is  true  that  Cortes  found  bags  of  lice 
in.  the  magazines  of  the  palace  of  king  Axajatatl.  It  is  alfo  true 
that  Montezuma  impofed  fuch  a  tribute,  not  on  all  his  fubjefls, 
however,  but  only  on  thofe  who  were  beggar*.'  ;  not  on  account 
of  the  extraordinary  multitude  of  thofe  infefts,  as  M.  de  Paw 
aiHrms,  but  becaufe  Montezuma,  who  could  not  fufFer  idlenefs  in 
bis  fubje^s,  refolyed  that  that  miferable  fet  of  people,  who  couM 


I    m 


I 


e$ 


CSN£RAL  DES^CRIPTIOir 


-.m 


*       1.-  ■ 

ipot IdKMr,  Auuldat'letll  be  occupied  in louftn^themfdvcs.  Thi^r 
wa»  ^etrue  reafonof  fuch  an  extravagant  tribute,  as  Torqucquada, 
Betaneointi  ando^her  HiAomAns  relate;  and. nobodyr ever  before 
thou^it  of  that  'M^ich  M^de  Paw  afiimis,  mer<fly  becaufe  it  f'uited 
his  preppfterous  fyftem.>  *  Thofedifguiling.infe£ks  poflibly  abound*.- 
••  much  in  tl^e  hair  and  cloaths  of  American  bti^rs^  'a$  of  any 
jp#or  and  uncleanly  low  people  in  the  world  ^  buttl^cre  is  not  a 
dkiu)b|l«>.<«hat  if  any  OovereiMi  of  Europe  was  to  e;catt'  fu<^h  a  tribute 
•frioni-^  poor  in  his  domioions^  ^*not  pnly  bagft,  but-igreat  vefTeU 
■Hghlibe  filled  with  >tfaem.  ,  :^- 

A9J|^KtGBNE».     jAt  the  tiJtie  America  wasdiUJcavered,  it  was 
foitt&d  inhabited  by^  a  paeeiof  men  no  lels  diifereiit  from  thofe  in 
the 0)11^1^$  |»art»  of  the  %rarld)  than* the  ^Ij^ate  and  natural  pro-  ' 
4u£tt0B»  of  thifr  eotitini^t  are  different  frqAV  thofe  of  Europe, 
Afia,  or  AfrieaV    One  great  peculiarity  in  the  riativc  Americans 
is  their,  colour^  and  the  identity  of *it  throu^out  the  whole  .ex tent 
of  the  continra^.     tntipifope  and  Afia,  the  people  who  inhabit 
the  nii^ithem  countries  ue  of  a  fiiirer  complexion 'than  thofe  who 
d^veU  more  to  the  fouthward*     In  the  torrid  zone;  both  in  Africa 
and  Afia,  the  native*  arc  ex^rely  black,  or  the  next  thing  to  it.- 
This,  however,  muH:  be  ttn|erftood  with  fcmiB  limitation.     The 
people  of  Lapland,  vrho  inlidbit  the  rqoft  northerly  part  of  Eu- 
rope, are  by  no  means  fo  fa|v  as  the  inhabitants  of  Bvitain ;  nor 
are  the  Tatars  fo  fair  as  the. inhabitants  of  Europe  who  lie  under 
the  fame  paralklsof  latitude.     Neverthelefs,  a 'Laplander  is  fair 
wB|n  compaikd  with  an  Aby(Iinian,'and  a  Tatifar  if  compared 
w^^  a  native  of  the  Molucca  illands.^-~In  Amenca^  this  diflinc- 
ticn  of  colour  was  not  to  be  fpund.     In  theltirridaQnc  there 
were  no  negroes,  and  in  the  temperateandfrigid  tones  there  were 
no  white  people.     AH  of  them  wfere^of  a  kind  of  red  copper  coi- 
lour,  which  Mr.  Forfter  dbfetved,  inthe  Pefferays  of  Terra  del 
Fuego,  to  have  fomcthifig.  of  a  gkifs  refemhtKng  that  nietal.     It 
4oth  not  appear,  hcKweven^that  this  asilliN^^^ath  ever  been  inquired 
into  with  Sufficient  accuracy.     T^ilcl|f|»^tants  of  the  inland  parts 
of  South  Ainerica,  where  the  continent  isiwidcft,andeonfciiuently 
the  influence  of  the   fun  the  mofr  powerfutf  have  never  been 
compared  with  thofe  of  Caaada,f^>r  inore northerly  parts,  at  leafl: 
by  any  perfon  of  credit.     Yet  this  ought  to  have  been  dcme,  and 
that  in  inany  inilances  too,  before  it  could  be  affertedib  pofitively 
as  moil  authors  40,  that  there  is  not  tl^  kaft  difference  of  com- 
plexion amoal  the  natives  of  America.     Indeed,  fo  many  fyftems 
have  been  fonned  concerning  them,  that  it  is  very  difficult  to 
«btain  a  true  knowledge  of  the  moft  fimple  fa£ls.     If  we  may 
jbelieve  the    Abbe  Ray nal,    the  Xaliforniafcs  arc  fwarthier  than 


OF  AMERICA, 


«9 


:r  Co- 
ra del 
I.     It' 
juired 
partft 
wntly 
been 
Icaft 
,  and 
lively 
«)m- 
ftenu 
:ult  to 
c  may 
thaa 


t^  Mij^icans ;  and  fo  ttofitive  is  he  in  thit  opinion,  that  he  gives  a 
leafon  for  it.  «'  This  diiFeren^c  of  colour,"  (ays  he,  "  proyes,  that 
the  civilized  life  of  fociety  fubverts,  or  touUy  changes,  the  order 
and  laws  of  naftire,  tince  we  find,  under  the  temperate  zone,  a 
favage  people  that  arc  blacker  than  the  civilized  nations  of  the  tor- 
rid zonp."  On  the  other  hand.  Dr.  Robertfon  clafles  ^U  the  in. 
habitants  of'  Spanifh  America  together  with  regard  to  colour, 
whethef  they  arc  civilized -or  uncivilized  *,  and  when  he  fpeaks  of 
Cali/ornja,  takfU'&o  noticb  of  aay  peculiarity  in  their  cdgtur  more 
than  others.  The  general  aftpearance  of  the  indigenous  Americana 
in  'various  diftri£ls  b  thus  defcJribed  by  thcChevalier  Pinto :  **  They 
are  all  of  a  topper  colour,  with  fome  dtyerfity  of  ihade,  not  in 
proportion  to  their  ^(lance  from  the  equator,  but  according  to  the 
degree  of  elevatij^  of  the  territory  in  which  they  refitte.  l^ofe 
who  live  in  a  high  coiintty  are  fairerithan  thofe  ^n  the  marfhy  low 
lands  on  the<<:oaft.  Their  face  as  fo\ind ;  farther  removed,  perhaps, 
than  that  of  any  people  from  an  ovqi  (biape.  .Their  forehead  is 
fmall ;  the  extrc!pil|y  of  their  ears  far  from  the  face';  their  lips  thick ; 
their  nol'c  flat;  their  eyes  black,  or  of' a  chefnut  colour,  fmaU,  but 
capable  of  dffcefning  objc^at  a  great  diflance.  Their  hair  is 
always  thick  aind'  fleek,  and  withquiany  tendency  to  curl.  At  the 
firfl  afpcft,  a  South  American  ap|>ears  to  be  mild  and  innocent  ^ 
but,  on  a  more  attentive  view,  one  difcovers  in  his  countenance 
fomcthing  wild,  diftruftful  and  fullen." 

The  fpUoyring  account  of  the  native  Americans  ifgiv^n  by  Don 

Antonio  Ulloa,,  in  a  Work  intitled  Memoires  /hilo/ophu^uej^  hifto' 

riques  et  phyjiquts^  conurnant^  la  dccduvtrte  dc  I'  Aiaeriq^Utcly 

publiihed*  / 

The  American  Indians  are  naturally  of  a  colour  bordering  upon 

red.    Their  fre(|uent  1E^xpofure  to  the  fun  and  wind  changes  it  to 

their  ordinary  dufky  hue.    The  tediperature  of  ^e  air  appears  to 

have  little  or  no  influence  in  this  refpeft.    There  is  no  perceptible 

-  difference;  ia  complexion  between  the,  inhabitants  of  the  high  and 

thofc  of  the  low  parts  of  Peru}  yet^c  climates  are  of  an  extreme 

di^erence.    Nay,  the^^iidians  who  live  as  ^  as  40  degrees  and 

Upwards  fouUk  or  north  of  the  equator,  are  not  tdbc  diftinguifhed, 

in  point  of  colour,  from  thofe  immediately  under  it. 

There  is  alfo  a  general  conformation  of  features  and  perfon, 
which,  more  or  lefs,  chara£ierifeth  them  all.  Their  chief  diftinc- 
tions  in  thefe^refpefls  are  a  fmall  forehead, partly  covered  with  hair 
to  the  eye-brcfws,  little  eyes,  the  nofe  thin,  pointed,  and  bent  to. 
wards  the  upper  lip ;  a  broad  face,  large  ears,  black,  thick,  and  lank 
hair ;  the  legs  well  formed,  the  feet  fmall,  the  body  thick  and  muf- 
cular ;  little  or  no  beard  on  the  face,  ancl  that  little  never  extend- 

'    M 


90 


G£N£AAl  DUCAtPflOlf 


Ipg  beyond  afmall  part  of  the  chin  and  upper  lip.  It  rnxftaSifi 
be  fuppofed  thai  this  general  defcription  cannot  apply,  in  all  iti 
parts,  to  every  individual ;  but  all  of  them  partake  fo  much  of  it, 
that  tibey  may  eadily  be  diftinguifhed  even  from  the  mulattocs,  whi^ 
conie  ncaren  to  them  in  point  of  colour. 

llie  refemhlance  among  afl  the  American  tribes  f$  not  Icfs  re- 
markable in  rcfpcft  to  their  genius,  character,  manners^  and  parti« 
cfular  cofioms.  The  moil  diflant  tribes  are,  in  thcTe  refpc£b,  as  fi' 
milar  as  though  they  formed  but  one  nation. 

Afl  th<^  jtndian  nations  hive  a  peculiar  pteafure  in  painting  their 
bodies  of  a  red  colour,  with  a  certain  fpecies  of  earth.  The  mine 
off  Giiancavetica  was  formerly  of  no  other  ufe  than  to  fupply  them, 
^ith  this  material  Yor  dyeing  their  bodies ;  and  the  tinnabar  ex- 
tra^d  from  it  was  app)ie<d'enUreIy  to  this  purpofc.  The  tribeit 
in  Louiflana  and  Canai^  haVe  the  fame  paflion ;  hence  minium  if 
thft  commodity  moil  in  demand  there.' 

It  may  feem  Angular  that  thefe  nations,  whofe  natural  colour  ia^ 
^ed,  fhould  afFe6l  the  fame  cdlour  a»an  artificial  ornament.  But  it 
may  be  obferved,  that  they  do  nothing  in  this  refped  but  what  cor- 
refponds  to  the  praftice  of  Europeans,  who  aKb  tludy  to  heighten 
and  difplay  to  advantage  the  natural  >cd  and  white  of  their  com- 
|»lexions.'  The  Indians  of  Peru  have  now  indeed  abandoned  the 
cuftom  of  painting  their  bodies :  but  it  was  cbmsnon  among  them 
before  they  were  con(|uered  by-  the  Spaniards ;  aaid  it  ftitl  remains 
the  cuftom  of  all  thofe  tribes  who  have  preferved  their  liberty. 
The  nothem  nations  o£  America,  befides  the  red  colour  which  i& 
predominant,  employ  alfo  blacky  whitte,  bkie,  and  jpnaeoy  m  paints 
jng  their  bodies. 

The  adfuftmcnt  of  thefe  co!oij||s  is  a  nntter  of  as  great  confidbra- 
lion  with  the  Incfians  of  Louimma  and  the  vaft  regions  extending 
to  the  north,  as  the  dmament*  of  dredi  among  the  moil  poliihed  na- 
tions.   The  buixnefs  itfelf  thi^  call  JIf ocfdcAer,  and  they  do  not 
fail  to  apply  all  their  talents  and  aiifiikiity  to  accomplilb  it  in  the 
moil  finiihed  manner.    No  kdy  of  the  greatisil  £B<hion  iever  con^ 
fulted  her  mirror  with  moi%  anxiety^  than  the  Indians  dp  while 
painting  their  bodies.    The  colours  art  applied  with  the  utmoft  ac- 
curacy and  iddrefs.    Upon  -the  eye^lidsy'-precifety-  at  the  root  of  ^ 
the  eyc-lafhes,  they  draw  two  lines  as  fine  as  the  fmalldb  thi'ead;? 
the  fame  upon  the  lips,  the  openings  of  thcnoilrils,  the  eye-brows, 
and  the  ears ;  of  which  lail  they  even  feliow  all  the  inflexions  and. 
inftnuoAties.    As  to  the  rei^  of  the  face,  they  diilributc  various  fi-  . 
gures,  in  all  which  the  red  predominates,  and  the  other  colours  are 
aflbrted  fo  as  to  throw  it  out  to  tlrc  beil  advantage.    The  neck 
alfo  receives  its  proper  ornaments :  a  thick  coat  of  vermilion  com- 
monly diilinguiihes  the  Aeeks.     Five  or  itx  hour^  are  requiitte 
for  arcompliihing  all  this  with  the  nicety  whiqh  they  affsft.    As 


OF  AMERICA,  9r 

Iheir  firft  attempts  do  not  always  fupccd  to  their  wifli,  they  efface 
|hem,  and  begin  a-new  upon  a  better  plan.  No  coquette  is  more 
faftidious  in  her  choice  of  ornament,  none  more  vain  when  the 
important  adjuilment  is  finifhed.  Their  delight  and  G^f.fiitisfiic. 
Ition  are  then  fo  great,  that  the  mirror  is  hardly  ever  laid  down.  An 
Indian  MacttUud  to  his  mind  is  the  vaineft  of  all  the  hunnaii  fpe. 
jcies.  The  other  parts  of  the  body  are  left  in  their  natural  ftate, 
and,  excepting  what  if  called  a  cathtaUy  they  go  entirely  naked. 

Such  of  them  as  have  made  theroiclves  eminent  for  Dravery, 
or  other  qualifications,  are  diftinguiQicd  by  figures  painted  >  on 
theii:  bodies.  They  introduce  the  colours  by  making  pun&utes 
on  their  fkins,  and  the  extent  of  furfMHi  which  this  ornament  cc 
vers  is  proportioned  to  the  expliuts  ihey  have  performed.  Some 
paint  only  their  arms,  others  both  their  arms  and  legs ;  others  again 
their  thighs,  while  thofe  who  have  attained  the  fummit  of  warlike 
renown,  have  their  bodies  painted  from  the  waift  upwards.  This 
is  the  heraldry  of  the  Indians ;  the  devices  of  which  are  probably 
more  exivftly  adjufted  to  the  merits  of  tbc  pcrfoni  who  bear  them 
than  thofe  of  more  civiliaed  countries* 

Befides  thefe  ornaments,  the  warriors  alfo  carry  plumes  of  fea* 
thers  on  their  headS)  their  arms,  and  andes.  I'hei'e  likewife  are 
tokens  of  valour,  and  none  but  fuch  aai  h^,c  been  thu9  diftinguilh* 
cd  may  wear  them. 

The  propenfity  to  indi^nce  is  equal  among  all  the  tribes  of  In* 
dians^  civilised'  or  favage.  The  only  employment  of  thofe  who 
have  prefeiKF«d  t^eir  independence  is  hunting  and  fiiking*  Ii| 
A>me  diftrids  the  wmnen  ex/e^s^^  a  little  agriculture  in  raifing 
Indian  com  and  pompions,  oJFuwich  they  form  a  fpecir  j  of  ali- 
ment, by  Vuifii^g  them  together :  they  aUb  prepare  the  oic  tnary 
beverage  in  ufe  among  them*  taking  care,  at  the  iame  time,  of 
the  children,  of  whom  the  father!  take  no  charge. 

Th^  fdpiale  Indians  of  alLthe^conqiiered  regions  of  South  Ame- 
rica praiftice  what  is  call^  the  «rct(;(a  word  which  an^ong  them 
iignifiesi  tlfivation^J  \%  jponllfts  in  thawing  forward  the  hair  from 
the  crown  of  the  head  t^on  the  brow,  and  cutting  it  round  from 
(he  ears  to  above  the  eyes  ^  that  the  forehead  and  eye-brows 
are  entirely  covered.  The  fame  cuftom  takes  place  in  the  No- 
tbern  countries.  The  female  inhabitants  of  both  regions  tie  the 
red  of  their  hair  behind,  fo  exadiy  on  the  (ame  fafliion,  that  it 
might  be  fuppofed  the  e£Fe&  of  mutual'  imitatibnt  This  however 
being  impolTtUe,  from  the  vaft  diftance'^'that  feparates  them,  is 
thought  to  countenance  the  fuppofition  of  the  whole  of  America 
Iking  originally  planted -with  one  racc^  of  people. 

M  a     ■         '  ^    ■' 


i,«. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


This  cudom  does  not  take  place  among  the  males.  Thofe  of 
the  higher  parts  of  Peru  wear  long,  and  flowing  hair,  which  they 
i^rckon  a  great  ornament.  In  the  lower  parts  of  the  fame  coun- 
try they  cut  it  fliort,  on  account  of  the  heat  of  the  climate  ;  a  cir- 
cumftance  in  which  they  imitate  the  Spaniards.  ITic  inhabitant* 
of  Louifnna  pluck  out  their  hair  by  the  root,  from  the  crown 
of  the  head  forwards,  in  order  to  obtain  a  large  forehead,  others 
wife  denied  them  by  nature.  The  reft  of  their  hair  they  cut 
as  fliort  as  poflible,  to  prevent  their  enemies  from  feiaing  them 
by  it  in  battle,  and  alfo  to  preyent  them  from  cafily  getting  their 
fcalp,  fliduld  they  fall  into  their  hands  as  prifoners. 

The  whde  race  of  American  Indians  is  diftinguiflied  by  tfiick-, 
nefs  of  flcin  and  hardnefs  of  fibres;  circumftanoes  which  pro- 
bably contribute  to  tliat  infenftbility  to  bodily  pain,  for  which 
they  are  remarkable.  An  tnftance  of  this  infcnfibility  occurred 
in  an  Indian  who  was  under  the  neceflTity  of  fubmitting  to  l^e 
cut  for  the  ilone.  This  operation,  in  ordinary  cafes,  feldom  laft^ 
above  four  or  five  minutes.  Unfavourable  circudftances  in  his 
cafe  prolonged  it  to  the  uncommon  period  of  87  minjfites;  Yet 
all  this  time  the  patient  gave  no  tokens  Of  th«  extreme  pain 
commonly  attending  this  operation ;  he  complained  only  as  a  per- 
fon  does  who  feels  fome  flight  uneafinefs.  At  laft' the  ftonc  was 
cxtra^ed.  Two  days  after,  he  exprefled  a  defirc  for  food,  and  on 
the  eighth  day  from  the  operation  hc  quitted  htsbed^  free  from 
pain,  although  the  wound  was  not  yet  thorou^Iy  cloied.  The 
fame  want  of  fenfifanlity  is  obfervcd  in  cafefa  of  fraftui^s,  Avounds/ 
and  o^her  accidents  of  a  fimilar  nature.  In  all  thefe  calea  their 
cure  is  eafily  effcfted,  vidthey  feem  to  fuffer,  lefs  prefent  pahi ' 
than  any  other  race  of  men.  Ilie  flei4Is  that  have  been  taken  up 
in  their  ancient  burying-grotinds  are  of  a  greater  thickncfs  than  tha^ 
bon6  i|S  commonly  found,  bsing  from  fix  to  fevien  lines  from  the 
outer  to  the  inner  fHperficies.  The  fime  is  nemarked  as  to  the 
thicknefs  of  their  flcins. 

It  is  natural  to  infer  from  hence,  that  their  comparative  infenfi- 
biiity  to  pain  is  owing  to  a  coarfer  and  ftrongcr  organization  than 
that  of  other  nations.  The  cafe  \yith  which  they  endure  the  feve- 
rities  of  climate  is  another  proof  of  this.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
higher  parts  of  Peru  live  amidft  pei-petual  froft  and  fnow.  Al- 
though their  clothing  is  very  flight,  they  fupport  this  inclement 
temperature  without  the  lead  inconvenience.  Habit,  it  is  to  be 
confefled,  may  contribute  a  good  deal  to  this,  but  much  alfo  is  to 
be  afcribed  to  the  compaft  tixture  of  thci^r  Ijkins,  which  d^fAid 
them  from  this  imprcflion  of  cold  through  their  pores. 

The  northern  Indians  refemble  them  in  this  refpeft.  The  ut- 
moft  rigours  of  the  winter  fieafon  do  n6t  prevent  them  from 


Of  AMERICA. 


98 


fonowing  the  chtce  almoft  naked.  It  is  true,  they  wear  a  kind 
of  woolen  cloak,  or  lometimcs  the  ikin  of  a  wild  braft,  upon 
chrir  ihoulden ;  but  bcfidci  that  it  covert  only  a  fmall  part  of 
their  ^ody,  it  would  appear  that  they  ufe  it  rather  for  ornament 
than  warmth.  In  faft,  they  wear  it  indircrimtnatcly,  in  the  feve- 
xities  of  winter,  and  in  the  fultrieft  heats  of  fummer,  when 
neither  Europeans  nor  Negroes  can  fufFer  any  but  the  flighteft 
doathing.  They  even  frequently  throw  afide  this  cloak  when 
they  go  a-hunting,  that  it  may  not  embarrafs  them  in  traverfing 
their  forefts,  where  they  fay  the  thomi  and  undergrowth  would 
tajce  hold  of  it ;  while,  on  thcr  contrary,  they  Hide  fmoothly  over 
the  fufface  of  their  naked  bodies.  At  all  times  they  go  with 
their  heads  uncovered,  without  fulFeringthe  leaft  inconvenience, 
cither  from  the  cold,  or  from  thofe  toufs  de  foleity  which  in 
ILouifiana  are  fo  often  fatal  to  the  inhabitants  of  other  climates. 

Dress.  The  Indians  of  South  America  difttnguifli  themfelvet 
by  modern  drelTcs,  in  which  they  afFeft  various  taftes.  Thofe 
of  the  high  country,  and  of  the  valleys  in  Peru,  drefs  partly  in  the 
Spanifh  fa(hj|pn.  Inftead  of  hats  they  wear  bonnets  of  coarfe  dou. 
ble  ^loth,  the  weight  of  whidi  neither  feems  to  incommode  theni 
when  they  go  to  warmer  clinutes,  nor  does  the  accidental  want 
of  them  feem  to  be  felt  in  fituations  where  the  moft  piercing 
cold  reigns.  Their  legs  and  feet  are  always  bare,  if  we  except 
a  fort  of  i'andjds  ttade  of  the  fliins  of  oxen.  The  inhabitants  of 
South  America,  con^pared  with  thofe  of  North  America,  are 
defcribed^s  genially  more  feeble  in  their  frame }  lefs  vigorous  in 
the  efforts «f 'their  mind;  of  gentler  difpofitions,  more  addifted 
to  pleafure^  and  funk  in'  indolence. — ^This,  however,  is  not 
vniarerfally  the  cafe.  Many  of  their  nations  are  as  intrepid  and 
entcrprifing  as  any  others  on  the  whole  continent.  Among  the 
tribes  on  the '  banks  of  Oroonoko,  if  a  warrior-  afpires  to  the 
poft  of  captain,'  hiji  probation  begins  with  a  long  faft,  more  rigid 
than  any  ever  obferved  by  the  moft  abftemious  hermit.  At  the 
clofe  Qf  this  the  chiefs  affemble;  «nd  each  gives  him  three  laihet 
with  a  lu|;e  whip,  applied  fo  vigoroufly,  that  his  body  is  almoft 
flayed.  If  he  betrays  the  leaft  fymptom  of  impatience,  or  even  of 
fenfibility,  he  is  difgrsced  forever,  and  reje^d  as  unworthy  of 
the  honour.  After  fome  interval,  his  conftancy  is  proved  by  a 
more  excruciating  trial.  He  is  laid  in  his  hammock  with  his 
hands  bound  faft ;  and  an  innumerable  mi,iltitude  of  venbmous 
ants,  whrtfc  bite  occafions  a  violent  <  pain  and  inflammation,  are 
thrown  upon  him.  The  judges  of  his  merit  ftand  around  the 
hammock;  and  whilft  thefe  cruel  infe£b  faften  upon  the  moft 
fenfil^e  parts  of  h!s  body,  a  figh,  a  groan,  or  an  involuntary  mo- 
tion expreffive  of  what  he  fufl'ers,  would  exclude  him  from  the 


94 


OENEJtAl  DESCRIPTION 


fUgility  of  which  ht  u  ambhiout.  Even  after  this  evittenea,  hll 
fortitude  is  nofc  deeiped  to  be  fufficicntly  al'certained,  till  he  has 
Aood  atioCher  teft  more  fevere,  if  poflible,  than  the  former.  He 
is  again  fufpendcd  in  his  hammockt  and  covered  with  the  leaves 
of  the  palmetto,  A  ^re  of  ftinKing  herbs  is  kindled  underneath, 
fo  a*  he  may  feel  its  heat,  and  be  involved  in  fmoke.  Though 
f(!Orched  and  almoft  fuflfbcated,  he  muft  continue  to  endure  this 
with  the  fame  patient  inlenfibility.  Many  perifli  in  this  efliiy  of 
their  firmnefs  and  courage ;  but  fuch  as  go  through  it  with  applaufc* 
receive  the  enfigns  of  their  new  dignity  with  much  I'olemnity,  and 
arc  ever  after  regarded  as  leaders  of  approved '  refolutiun,  whofe 
behaviour,  in  the  moft  trying  fituations,  will  do  honor  to  their 
country.  In  North  America,  the  previous  trial  of  a  warrior  is 
neither  fo  formal  nor  fo  fevere :  Though,  even  there,  before  a 
youth  ift  permitted  to  hear  arlhs,  his  patience  and  fortitude  ^re  pro. 
ved  by  blows,  by  fire,  and  by  infults,  more  intplerable  to  a  haughty 
fpirit  than  either. 

Manmbrs  and  Customs.  Of  the  mannerf  and  cuftoms  of  the 
NortE  Americans  more  particularly,  the  following  is  the  moft  con- 
Itftent  account  t^at  can  he  coUe£kcd  from  the  beft  informed  and 
moft  impartial  writers. 

When  the  ^uropemft  firft  arrived  in  America,  they  found  the 
Indians  quite  naked,  except  thofe  parfi^  which  even  the  moft  un-i 
jpultivated  people  ufually  conceal.  Since  that  time,  however,  they 
generally  ufe  a  coarfe  blan)(,et,  which  they  buy^of  the  neighbours 
ing  planters. 

Their  huts  or  cabins  are  made  of  ftakes  of  wood  driven  into  the 
ground,  andfovered  with  branchea  of  ireea  pr  reeds^  They  lie 
on  the  floor  either  on  mats  pr  on  the  fkin^  of  wild  beafts.  Their 
diihcs  are  of  timber ;  but  their  fpoons  are  made  of  the  fkulls  of 
wild  oxen,  and  |heir  knives  of  flint.  A  kettle  and  a  large  pla^ 
conftitute  almoft  all  the  whole  utenfils  of  the  ^muly.  Their  diet 
confifts  chiefly  in  what  they  procure  by  hunting ;  and  lagamite,  or 
pottage,  is  likewife  one  of  their  moft  comtnon  kinds  of  food.  The 
moft  honourable  furniture  ainongft  them  b  the  fcalps  of  their  ene. 
mies ;  with  thpie  they  omam|ent  their  huts,  which  are  eftcemed.in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  this  fort  of  fpoilsv 

llie  chara^r  of  the  Indians  is  altogether  founded  upon  their 
fircumftances  and  way  of  life.  A  people  who  are  conftandy  em- 
ployed in  procuring  the  means  pf  a  precarious  fubfiftence,  who 
live  by  hunting  the  wild  animals,  and  who  are  generally  engaged 
in  war  with  their  neighbours,  cannot  be  fupjio&d  to  enjoy  much 
gaiety  of  temper,  or  a  high  flow  of  fpirits.  The  Indians  therefore 
arO'in  gcnerad  grave  even  to  iadnefs;  they,  haVe  i^>!thing  of  that 
g^y  vivacity  peculiar  to  fdme  nations  of  £arope^  and  they  def-: 


Of  AUtktCA, 


^$ 


their 
ly  em- 

who 
igagcd 

much 
Irefore 
\i  that 
def. 


^ife  U.  tltetr  behaviour  to  thofe  about  than  ii  regular,  maittA^ 
fend  rerpe£lfuh  Ignorant  of  the  arta  of  amufcmcnt,  of  wbadi  that 
of  faying  triflea  agreeably  is  one  off  the  mod  confideraUc,  they 
never  fpcak  but  when  they  hive  foraething  important  to  «bfervet 
and  all  their  aftiona,  Worda,  and  even  looka,  are  attended  with  fomo 
meaning.  Thia  ia  extremely  natural  to  men  who  are  almoft  contin^ 
uilly  engaged  in  purfuita  which  to  them  ar«  of  the  higheft  impor* 
tance«  Their  fubfiftence  dependa  entirely  on  what  they  procure 
With  their  handa ;  and  their  livea,  their  honour,  and  every  thing 
dear  to  them,  may  be  loft  by  the  finalleft  inattention  to  the  defigna 
of  their  enemies.  At  they  have  no  particular  objeH  to  atlaoh  them 
to  one  place  rather  than  another,  they  fly  wherewr  ihey  cxpeft  t<» 
find  the  necefiariea  of  life  in  greateft  abundance.  Cities,  which 
are  the  elTtiftt  of  agriculture  and  arts/ they  have  none.  The  <ti  Ar* 
ent  tribes  or  mtiona  arc  for  the  fame  reiibn  extremely  fmall,  when 
compared  with  civilised  focietiea,  in  which  induftry,  arts,  agricul'' 
ture,  and  commerce,  have  united  a  vaft  numbtir  of  individuals^ 
Whom  a  complicated  luxury  renders  ufisful  to  One  anodier^  Tliefe 
imM.  tribes  live  at  an  immenfie  diftance }  they  are  feparated  by  t 
dcfert  frontier,  and  hid  in  the  bofooi  <^  impenetrable  alid  almoft 
boundlefa  fbrefta. 

GoviRNMSNT.  There  is  eftridiflied  in  «aeh  fodety  a  certain 
fpecies  of  government^  which  over  the  wh<4e  continent  of  Ame-' 
rica  prevails  with  exceeding  little  variation;  becaufe  ovcfr  the 
whole  of  thia  continent  lAnt  numnera  and  way  of  life  are  nearly 
fimilar  and  uniform.  Without  arta,  richea,  or  luxury,  the  great 
inftruments  of  lubjeCfcion  m  polifhed  fecieties,  an  American  has 
no  method  by  which  he  can  render  himfi^If  confidrraUe  among  hia 
companions,  but  by  fuperiority  ifi  perfonal  qualities  of  body  or 
mind.  But  as  Nature  nu  not  been  very  lavifh  in^  herperfonal 
diftinftions,  where  all  enjoy  the  fame  education,  all  are  pretty^ 
much  etpaal,  and  xrill  defire  tt>  rentiun  fo.  Liberty,  therefore,  4 
the  prevailing  paflion  of  the  An^jericans;  and  theft*  govOhiment 
Mhder  the  influence  of  this  fentimeat,  is  better  fecured  than  by 
the  wifeft  political  regulations.  They  are  very  ftr,  however, 
from  defpifing  all  fort  of  authority ;  they  are  atteittive  to  the  voice 
of  wifdom,  which  experience  has  conferred  on  the  aged,  and 
diey  inlift  under  the  banners  of  the  chief  in  whofe  valour  and 
Boilitary  addrefa  they  have  leanied  to  repofe  their  confidence.  In 
every' fociety,  therefore,  there  ia  to  be  confidered  the  power  of 
the  chief  and  oi  the  elders ;  and  according  as  the  government  in> 
cHncs  more  t»  the  cme  or  to  the  other,  it  may  be  regarded'  as 
monarchical,  or  as  a  fpecies  of  ariftocracy.  Among  thofe  tribes 
which  are  m<^  engaged  in  war,  the  power  of  the  chief  is  natural, 
ly  predomintot ;  bcfsuife  the  idea  of  having  a  military  leader  wa|> 


95 


GENERAL  I>ESCRIPTrOX 


the  firftfoqrbe  of  hiii  fuperiority,  aatd  the  continual  exigcnile*  of  th«r 
ftate  iMuOrfng  fuch  a  leader,  will  continue  to  fuppoFt,  and  even 
tx>  enhance  U.  Hit  power,  however,  is  rather  perftiafive  than 
coercive ;  he^  is  reverenced  as  a  fitther,  rather  than  feared  as  a  ^ 
monarch.  He  has,  no  g^ards^  no  prifons,  no  offices  Of  juilice,  and 
one  aft  of  ill-judged  violence  would  pull  him  fr<Mf»  the  throne. 
The  elders,  in  the  other  foiln  of  government,  which  may  be  con- 
fidered  as  an  ariftoeraey,  have  no  more  power.  In  fome  tribes, 
indeed,  there  are  a  kind  of  hereditary  nobility,  whofe  influence 
being  ccmftantly  augmenHed  by  time,  is  more  confiderable.  But 
this  fource  of  poWer,  which  depends  chiefly  on  the  iifaaginationr 
by  which  wc  annex  to  the  merit  of  our  contemporaries  that  of 
their  foreiathers,  is  too  refined  to  be  very  common  among  the 
natives  of  America.  In  moft  countries,  therefore,  age  alone  i& 
fufficierit  for  acquiring  refpe£k,  influence,  and  authority.  It  is 
age  which  teaches  experience,  md  experience  is  the  only  fource  of 
knowledge  among  a  barbafous  people.  Among  thofe  perfons  bu* 
finefsis  condu£ked  with  the  utmoft  iunplidty,  and  which  may 
xecal  to  thofe  who  axe  ^ci|uaitttcd  with  aBti(|uity  a  pifture  of  the 
moft  early  ages,  'the  heads  of  families  meet  together  in  a  houfe 
or  cabin  appointed  for  the  purpofe.  Here  the  bufinefs  is  difcufled  ^ 
and  here  thof(6  of  the  nation,  dlflingitifiied  for  their  eloquence 
or  wifdom,  have  an  c^portunity  of  dtfpUyingtthofe  tdlents.  Their 
orators,  like  thofe  of  Homer,  exprefs  themfelves  in  a  brio  figura. 
tive  ftyk,  ftronger  than  refined,  or  rather  fofteQcd,  nations  can 
Well  bear,  and  with  geftures  e^atly  violent,  but  often  extremely 
natural  and  exprcflive.  When  the  bufinefs  is  over,  ^d  they  hap- 
pen to  be  wdl  provided  with  food,  they  appoint  »;feaft  upon  the 
occafion,  of  which  sdmoft  the  r/hole  nation  pariakes.  The  feaft  is. 
accompanied  with  a  fong,  in  which  the  real  or  fabulous  exploits  of 
their  forefathers  are  celebrated.  They  have  dances  too,  though, 
tike  thofe  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  chiefly  of  the  military  kind ;, 
and  their  mafic  and  dancing  accompany  every  feaft. 

To  aflift  their  memory,,  th.ey  have  belts  of  linall  (hells,  or  bcads^ 
of  different  colour^,  each  reprcfenting  a  particular  objeft,  which  ia 
marked  by  their  colour  and  arrangement.  At  the  conclujfion  of 
every  fubjefil  on  which  they  difcourfe,  when  they  treat,  with  a  fo- 
reign ftate,  they  deliver  one  of  thofe  belts ;  for  if  this  ceremony* 
(hould  be  omitted,  all  that  they  have  faid  palTes  for  nothing*  Thofe 
belts  are  carefully  dspofited  in  each  town,  as  the  public  records  of 
the  nation*,  and  to  them  they  occafionally  have  recourfe,  \^hcn 
any  public  conteft  happens  with  a .  neighbouring  tribe.  Of 
jate,  as  /the  materials  of  which  thofe  belts  are  made  have  become 
fcarce,  they  often  give  fome  flun  in  place  of  the  wampum  (the  name 
of  the  beads,)  and  receive  in  return  prefchts  of  a   nK>re  va« 


OF  AME^Ij::Ai 


*r 


re  v»- 


iMaUe  kind  from  our  commifliohers ;  fot  they  nevc^;^iiifi4cr  &,  ' 
treaty  as  of  any  >veight»  unlefs  every,  article  ih  it  Krii^jlficd  by 
fuch  a  gratification*  *'/■'' 

It  often  happens,  that  thofc  different  trii|^  or  nations*  Mat- 
tered as  they  are  at  an  immenfe  diftance  from  one  another^  mect# 
in  their  excurfions  after  prey.  If  there  fubfifts  no  ammoAty  be-, 
tween  them,  which  feldom.is  the  cafe,  tjbey  behavQ  in.  ihe.iooft; 
friendly  and  courteous  manner;  but  if  .they  happe|i  to  be  in  K 
ftate  of  war,  or  if  there  has  been  no  previous  intercourfe  betweect 
them,  all  who  are  not  friends  are  dec»ned  enemies,  and  they  fi^ht 
with  the  moft  favage  fury.  ;$ 

War,  if  we  except  hunting,  is  the  only  employment  of  th»^ 
men;  as  to  every  other  concern,  and- even  the  little  agriculture 
they  enjoy,  it  is  left^o  the  women.  Their  motfticommdn  motive, 
for  entering  into  war,  whqn  it  does  not  arife  from  an  accidental 
rencounter  or  interference^  is  either  to  revenge  themielves  for 
the  death  of  fome  loft  friends,  or  to  aAquire  prifoness,  who  may. 
afTift  them  in  their  hunting,  and  whom  they  adopt,  inio  their, 
fociety.  Thefe  warA  are^  either  undertaken  by^ikmie  private  ad« 
venturers,  or  at  the  inftance  of  the  wholes  community.  In  tha 
latter  cale,  all  the  young  mep.  wJho:  tue  difpofe4.to:gp  out  to  bat<% 
tie  (for  no  one  is  compelled  contrary  to  his  inclination )«  give  a. 
bit  of  wood  to  the  chief>  as.  a  token  of  their  dd&gntp  accompanyi 
him;  for  every  thing  among  thole  peo]^  is  tran(a£bad  with  a 
great  deal  o£f'^eremony  and  many,  forms.  The  chi^w:ho  i&to 
<londu^.  thtm  Hfts^  feveral  dayii,.  d^ing  which  he^  convecfet  with 
no  one,  aiid,  is  particularly  c^efuVtc^  obl'erve  hU  dvefms ;  wJiich. 
the,  pri^pQfption  oatural  to.f;wtge|  gcosrally  rcadora^ai  &voura-> 
ble  as  hie  could  delire.  A  variety  of  other  fupcrftitions;  and  cere- 
monies  arjQ:  oblerved.  One  of  t^,  moft  hideous  is,  jetting  the 
yrar^kettlQ  on  the  fire,  as  an  emblem,  that,  they  are  going  out  to 
devour  their  enenpiie^ ;  which  amodg  f<;mie  options  muft  formerly 
have  beqn  the  cafji;,  fince  they  l^tt  continue,  to  expjrefs  it  in  clear 
terms,  and  ufe  an  etnblem  ri{^tfica]:U:  of  the  andem,  uiage.  Then 
they  difpatch  .".  porcelane,  or  large  ih^,<  to  their  allies,  inviting 
theni  to  come  alpng,  and  drink  the  blopd  ofjtheir.enemies.  They 
think  yiat  thoieia  their  alliance  muft  opt  onliy  adopt  their  enmi- 
ties, but  have  their  reientment  waund  up  to  tlu^  ,&mc  pitch  with 
themiclves.  And  indeed  no  peopjiecarry  their  friendfliip  or  their 
refentment  fo  far  as  they  do  ;  and  this  is  wha|:  fhould  be  expe£led 
•  f!rom  their  peculiar  circiimftances :  that  prin<;iple  in  human  nature 
I  which  is  the  fpring  of  the  focial  affe^ions,  a£^  with  fo  much  thegrear 
ter  force  the  more  it  is  reftrained.  The  Americans,  who  live  in  imall 
iocieties,  wh9  fee  few  obje£is  and  few  perfous,  become  woderfully 

attached  to  thofe  objefls  and  perfons,  and  cannot  he  deprived  of  them 

N  .         ■  -■    ' 


^ 


GMNEItAl  DESCAlPtiOiT 


vrtthotft  lifeUng  thcmfelves  mife^rable.  Their  ideas  are  too  confinali 
td  eAabl^  them  to  entertain  jufft  fentiraents  of  humanity,  or  uni- 
vcrfal  benevolence.  But  this  very  circumfbncc,  while  it  makes 
thiB*hi  cruel  and  favage  to  an  incredible  illgrec  towards  thofe  with 
Whom  th<sy  ar*  at  w*r,  adds  a  new  force  to  their  particular  friend* 
ihips,  and  lo  the  common  tie  which  unites  the  members  of  the 
fame  tribe,  6r  of  thofe  different  tribes  which  arc  in  alliance  with 
one  another.  Without  attending  to  this  reflcftion,  fome  fafts 
MHj  are  jgoh»g  to  rdlate  WouH  excite  our  wonder  without  inform- 
ing our  reafort,  and  wc  flioald  be  bewildered  in  a  number  of  par- 
ticulars, %mingly  oppofite  to  one  another,  without  being  fenfiblc 
of  the  gchneralcaufil  from  Which  they  procedd^ 

Having  finiSied  all  tht  c^runonies  previous  to  the  wir,  and  the  ' 
day  appdintcd  itt  their  frtling  out  on  the  expedition  being  arriv-  ' 
cd,  they  take  leave  of  their  ft^iends,  and  exchange  their  clothes^^ 
or  whatever  moveables  they  have,  in  token  ©C  mutual  frlendfliipi 
after  which  they  proceed  from  the  town,  thciir  wives  and  female 
relations  walking  beforehand  atttoding  theua  to  fome  diftance. 
The  warriors  march  all  %;ffed  in  their  finish  apparel  and  moft 
fliowy  ©rnamcnts,  .^^l^ithotit  «ny  order.  The  ^cbief  walks  flowly 
before  them»  fmginf  the  war-lbng,  while  the  reft  obferve  the 
moft  profound  :^cnce«  When  they  come  ^up  to  their  women, 
they  deliver  thesn  all  their  finery,  and  putting  on  their  worft 
clothes,  proceed  on  theix- cxpedij^n*  ' 

Every  nation  has  its  peculiar  enUgn  or  ftandard^  which  is  ge- 
ne»-aHy  fome  beai^  bird,  or  fifh.'  Thofe  among  the  Five  Nations 
are  the  beso^j  otter,  wolf,  tbr&rtfc,  smd  eagle  j  and  by  thefe  names 
the  tribes:  arc  ufiKilly  difttiigui&«sd.  They  have  fhe^^  figures  of 
ihofe  animals  pricked  and  painte4  onieveral  parts  of  their  bodies ; 
and  when  they  march  fhr<m|^  the  i^oods^  they  commonlyj.  at 
eveiy  Encampment,  cut  tibe  re|»£efentation  of  their  cnfign  on  trees, 
cfpccially  alter  a  fucccfsful  OUK^aign  :  tnarki|ig  at  the  fame  time 
the  number  of  (jcalpfr  ok^  ^foner»  they  have  taken.  Their'  mili- 
tary dj-efs  isextrcm^  fittigulan  They  cut  off  or  pull  out  all  their 
hair;  except  a  fpot  al^ut  tte  breadth  of  two  Engliih  crown-pieces, 
near  the  top  of  4theifheads^  aiid  entirely  deftroy  their  eye-brows. 
The  lock  left  upon  their  heads  is  divided  into  feveral  parcels, 
each  of  which  is  ftifiened  and  adorned  with  wampum,  beads,  and 
feathers  of  various  kinds,  the  whole  being  twifted  into  a  form 
much  refembling  the  modern  poinpoon.  Their  heads  are  painted 
led  down  to  the  eye-brows,  and  fprinkled  over  with  white  down. 
The  griftles  of  their  ears  are  fplit  almoft  quite  round,  and  diftended 
with  wires  or  Iplintcrs  fo  as  to  meet  and  tie  together  on  the  nape 
uf  the  neck.  Thefe  are  alfo  hung  with  ornaments,  and  generally 
bc^r  the  reprcfcntation  of  fome  bird  or  bcaft.     Their  nofes  arc 


OF  AM,E'RICA, 


99 


at 


arc  IHcewife  bored  and  hung  with  trinckcts  of  beads,  and>thclr 
faces  painted  with  various  colours  fo  as  to  make  an  awful  appcar> 
ance.  Their  breajfts  arc  adorned  with  a  gorget  or  medal,  of  brafs, 
copper,  or  Tome  other  metal ;  and  that  dreadful  weapon  the  (calp- 
ing-knife  hangs  by  a  ftring  from  their  neck. 

The  great  qualities  in  an  Indian  iyar  are  vigilance  and  atten- 
tion, to  give  and  to  avoid  a  furprife ;  and  indeed  in  thefe  they  arc 
fuperior  to  all  nations  in  the  worl4«:  Aocuftomed  to  continual 
wandering  in  the  forefts,  having;  their  perceptions  Sharpened  by 
keen  neceflity,  ajpd  livtng./n.  ev«ry  rbfpe&  accordinzjto  nature, 
their  external  fenfes' have  .a>  dc^^e  of  acuteneJTs  wflni  at  iirft 
view  appears  incred%h;.'  They<:an  trace  out  their  enemies  at  an 
.immcnfe  4iiftan,ce  hf  t^e  fmoke  of  th^ir  fires,  which  they  fmell, 
and  by  tlbue  ti^fcks  of  their  feet  on  the  ground,  imperceptible  to 
an  Euroj^eah  eye,  but  which  they  can  count  and'diftinguifh  with 
the  utmoft  facility.  They  cah  even  diftinguifti  the  different 
nations  with  whom  they  are  acquainted,  andean  determine  the 
precife  time  when  ^hey  paffed,  wbei^  bq  European  could  not^ 
with  all  his  glafles,  difl:ingui0i  foQtt|eps  a^  all.  Thefe  circum^ 
dances,  however,  are  of  fmall  knportaiace, .  becaufe  their  ehemies 
are  no  lefs  acquainted  with  thetfi.  When  they  go  out,  therefore, 
they  take  care  to  ^bi4  making  ufe  df  my  thing  by  which  they 
might  run  the  danger  of  a  difcoYery.  They  light  no  fire  to  warm 
themfclves  or  to /prepare  tlxieir  vii^ua}s;  they  Ue  clofe  to  the 
ground  all  the  day,  and  trav4^  only  in  the  ni|;ht;  and  marching 
along  in  files,  he  that  ck>fes  the  rear  diligently  covers  with  leaves 
the  ttiBts  of  his  awn  feet  tnd  of  theirs  wlio  preceded  him. 
When  they  halt  to  refresh  themfelwes,  fcouts  are  ferit  out  to  re- 
connoitre the  country  ^uid  b(a|,  itp  every  place  where  they  fuf- 
pefib  an  enemy  to  lie  concc^t^d*  In'  this  manner  they  enter 
unawares  the  villages  of  heir  fo^;  and  while  the  ^owcr  .  "  the 
nation  are  engaged  in  hunting!  mafliacre  all  the  children,  w«  i, 
and  helplel's  old  men,  or  make  p^ij^iiieye  of  as  many  as  they  can 
manage,  or  have  ftreng^h  enough  to  be  u&ful  to  their  nation. 
But  when  tJie  enemy  is  apprifed  of  their  dedgn,  and  coming  on 
in  am^  againft  them,  they  thyow  themfelV^  fiat  on  the  ground 
among  the  withered  herbs  and  leaves,  which  their  faces  are  paint- 
ed to  refemble.  Then  they  allow  a  part  to  pafs  unmoleftedj  when 
all  at  once  with  a  tremendous  fhout,  rifihg  up  from  their  ambufh, 
they  pour  a  ftorm  of  mulket  bullets  on  their  foes.  The  party 
attacked  returns  the  fame  cry.  Every  one  Ihelters  himfclf  with 
a  tree,  and  returns  the  fire  of  the  advcrfe  party,  as  foon  as  they 
raife  themfclves  from  the  ground  to  give;  a  fecond  fire.  Thtis  does 
the  battle  continu6  until  the  one  partv  is  fo  miicti  weakened  as 

Na     '    • 


«    toe 


GtN^RAt  DESCRIPTION 


fo  be  incapable  df  further  refifUnce;  But  if  the  force  on  eich 
-fide  contimies  nearly  equil,  the  fierce  fpirits  of  the  favages,  in- 
flamed by  the  lofs  of  their  friends,  can  no  longer  be  reftrained. 
They  abandon  their  diftant  war,  they  rufh  upon  one  another  with 
dubs  and  hatchets  in  their  hands,  magnifying  their  own  courage, 
and  irifulting.  ^eir  enemies  with  the  bittereft  reproaches.  A 
cruel  !eombat  ~niues,  death  appears  in  a  thoufand  hideous  forms, 
which  would  eongeal  the  blood  of  civilized  nations  to  behold, 
but  which  roufe  the  fury  of  lavages.  They  trample,  they  infult 
,  oyer  J^e  dead  bodies,  tearing  the  (icalp  from  the  head,  wallowing 
in  their ^fpod  like  wild  beafts,  and  fometimes  devouring  their 
flefli.  The  fbme  rages'  on  till  it  meiets  with  no  reitftance  *,  then 
the'  prifoiiers  are  fccured,  thofe  unhappy  meli,  whofe  fate  is  a 
thoufand  times  more^rcadful  than  theirs  who  have  died  in  the 
iield.  The  Conquerers  fet  up  a  hideous  howling  to  lament  the 
friends' they- have  loil.  They  approach  in  a  melancholy  and  fevere 
igloom  to  their  own  village;  a  meflciiger  is  Tent  to  announce  their 
arrival,  and  the  women,  with  frightful  flirieks,  conie  out  to  mourn 
ilhek  dead  brothers  ioqi'  thttt  ^huthands.  When  they  are  arrived, 
the  chief  rcilatfts  in  a 'Iqw  iVdftce  to  the^lders,  a  cir^umftantial  ac- 
count of.  every  ;parti$u|tir«^  ihe  expedition*  The -orator  pro- 
■claims  idoadlhis  account  to' the  people  I  and  as  he  mentions  the 
names  of  thofe  who  ImmiNis  f^lie^  the  {hrleks  of  the  v^men  are 
redoubled.  Tibo  mtfi  too  join  in  tkiefe  cries,  accordkig  as  each  is 
moll  connededwith  the  deceafied  by  blood  or  iriettdfliip.  The 
laiQt  ceremoi^  is  the  proclamation  of^the  yi£kory :  each  individual 
then  forgetSr  his  private  misfortiinoft,  and  ynn%  in  the  triumph  of 
the  nation ;  all  tears  are  wiped  Irofti  tiusir  eycl*  «iidr  by  an  unac- 
countable ti^fition,  th^  paisi«n,t^  ihoiiient  from  (he  bitterneis  of 
forrow  to  an  extravagance  pf  ji^.  But.  the  treatment  of'  the  pri- 
foner<,  whofe  fkteall  this  time  remains  undecided,  is  what  chiefly 
chara£lerifes  the  favages. 

We  havci  alfi^y  mentioned  the  ftrcngt;h  of  their  afiFe£bions  or 
refentmentf.  jCnlt<d  as  th<^  are  in^  fo»ll  focieties,  conneAed 
within  theihCblveslb»y  the  6irmeft''tie»,  their  friendly  affeftions, 
which  glow  >widi  t^e^oft  intenfe  warmth  within  the  walls  of 
their  own  vilt^e,  f44ona  extend  beyond  them.  They  f^el  no- 
thing for  the  enemies  of  their  nation ;  and  their  refisntment  is 
eafily  extended  from  the  individual  who  has  injuri^d  them  to  all 
others  of  the  fame  tribe/  The  prifoners,  who  have  themfelvCS 
the  fame  feelings,  know  the  intentions  of  their  conquerors,  and 
are  prepared  for  them.  The  perfon  whq  has  taken  the  captive 
attends  him  to  the.cottag^,  where,  according  to  the  diftribution 
made  by  the  elders,  he  Is  to  be  delivered  to  fupply  the  lofs  of  a 
citizen.     If  thofe  who  receive  him  have  their  family  weakened  by 


war  oi 

^yhich 
him,  o 
to  em 
cerned 
met  w 
nation 
A  fcafl 
they  c 
feene 
on  the 
refined 
body,  a 
his  nai 
-mouth, 
finger, 
which 
fingers 
joints, 
immedi 
themal 
ed  bit 
faces  w 
,they  ha 
tendon 
ar^  emj 
that  cai 
hours; 
getlier. 
their  fu 
to  refi-c 
a  variei 
ileep,   1 
and  rei 
again  ti 
matche 
tinualli 
out  his 
after  hs 
having 
having 
human 
poured 
—they 
with  p 


OIF  AMERICA. 


fOt 


of 


ind 


war  or  other  accidents,  they  adopt  the  captive  into  the  fatnilyi  of 
which  he  becomes  a  member.     But  if  they  ha^'e  no  occafiotijfor 
him,  or  their  rcfentment  for  the  lofs  of  their  friends  be  too  high 
to  endure  the  fight  of  any  conneftcd  with  thofe  who  were  con- 
cerned in  it,  they  fentence  him  to  death.     All  thofe  who  Ivave 
met  with  the  fame  fevere   fentence  being  coUe£lcd,  the  whole 
nation  is  aflembled  at  the  execution,  as  for  fome  great   folemmty. 
A  fcaffold  is  ere£led,  and  the  prifoncrs  are  tied  to  the  ftake,  whe|^ 
they  commence  their  death-fong,    and   prepare  for  the  enfuini^ 
feene  of  cruelty  with  the  moft  undaunted  courage.  Their  enemies, 
on  the  other  fide,  are  determined,  to  put  it  to  the  proof,  by  the  moft  > 
refined  and  exquifite  tortures.  They  begin  at  the  extremity  of  htt 
body,  and  gradually  approach  the  more  viral  parts.   One  plucks  out 
his  nails  by  the  roots,  one  by  one ;  another  takes  a  finger  into  his 
■mouth,  and  tears  off  the  flefli  with  his  teeth ;  a  third  'thrufts  the 
finger,  mangled  as  it  is,  into  the  bowl  of  a  pipe  made  red  hot, 
which  he  fmokes  like  tobacco;    then  they  pound  his   toes   and 
fingers  to  pieces  between  two  ftones;    they  cut  circles  about  hh 
joints,  and  gafhes  in  the  flefliy  parts  of  his  limbs,  which  t^eyiear 
immediately  with  red-hot  irons,  cuttings  burning;  and  pinching 
them  alternately;  they  pull  off  this  flefli,  thus  mangled  and  roaft- 
ed  bit  by  bit^  devouring  it  with  greedinel's,  and  (tnearing  tlwir 
faces  with  the  blood  in  an  enthufiafm  of  horror  and  fury.     When 
cthey  have  thus  torn  off  the  flefli,  they  twift  the  bare  nerves  and 
tendons  about  an  iron,  tearing  and  fnapping  them,  whilft  others 
ar^  employed  in  pulling'and  extending  their  limbs  la  every  w^ 
that  can  increafe  the  torment.  '  This  continues  often  five  or   fix 
hours;  and  fometimes  fneh  is  the  flrength  of  the  favage,  days  to- 
getlier*.    Then  they  frequently  unbind  hitn,  to  give  a  breathing  to 
their  fury,  and  to  think  what  new  torments  they  fliall  infli£l,  and 
to  re&efli  the  ftr^ngth  of  the  fufierer,  wh(^  weaned  out  with  fuch 
a  variety  of  unheard-of- tortures,  often  falls  into  fo  profound  a 
.fleep,   that   they   are   obliged  to  apply   the  fire  to  aijlike  him, 
and  renew  his  fuffeiiags.     He  is^gain  faftetted  to  the  ftake,  and 
again  they  renew  their  cruelty;  they  ftick  him  all  Ofver  with  fmall 
miitches  of -wood  tliat  eafily  takes  fire,  but  burns  floWlyi  they  con- 
tinually run  fliarp  reeds  into  every  part  of  his  body ;  they  drag 
out  his  teeth  with  pinchers,  and  thruft  out  his  eyes ;    and  laftly, 
after  havi  ng  burned  his  flefli  from  the  bones^ with  flow  fires ;  after 
having  fo  mangled  the  body  that  it  is  all  but  one  wound ;  after 
having  mutilated  his  face  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  carry  nothing 
human  in  it ;    after   having  peeled  the  flcin  from   the  head,  and 
poured  a  heap  of  red-hot  coals  or  boiling  water  oi^ti^  naked  fl^uU 
-—they  once  more  unbind' the  wretch ;  who,  blilid,  ImH^aggering 
with  pain  and  weaknefs,  aflaulted  and  pelted  upon  eyery  ^i  witl|^ 


J^ 


u» 


GKlJ%ltAL  J^S^CHIPTJON 


■■■-■»■ 

!>t«nd  ftones,  now  upittow  down,  falling  into  their  fires  at 

1^  ftep,  run*  hither  and%i<her,.MntIl  one,  of^hc^iefs,  whe- 

>  «|it  of  rompaiBon,  <Y^|^<iaiy  of  cruelty,  putSan  end  Ho  hi$ 

litS^i^thiV  club  or  dagger^    Xh»*ody  is  then  put  into  a  kettle, 

/'radl<i^  barbarouremplcyniept  is  lucceeded  by  a  feaft  a«  barbarous, 
■/:'^%^  women,  forgetting  the  huxnaiias  well  as  the  fcma|e:h«tur?, 
.fnH'iri||isfomied  inta.fomethingworfethan furies,  even  outdo  t^C' 
jpen  in  this  ffjenc  of  horror ;  while  the  principal  perfons  of  the 

ll^ntry  fit  round  the  ftake,  finoakihg  and  looking  on  without 

^^  lieaft  emotion.     What  is  moft  extraordinary,  the  fufFerer  him- 

felf,  in  the  little  intervals  of  bis  torments,  fmokcs  too,  appcani 

,  unconcerned,  and  cpnverfes  With  his  torturers  about  irtdiffci-ent 
matters.  Indeed,  during  the, whole  time,  of  his  execution,  there 
feem*  a  conteft  which  {hall  exceed,  they  in  infli£lin^  the  moft  hor- 
rid pains,  or  he  in  enduring  ^hem  with  a  firmnefs  and  cpnftancy 
almoft  above  human  ^  not  a  gi^^o^  not  i  figh^  not  a  diilorcion  of 
countenance  efcapes  him;  heTpoj|e(Se8  his  inind  entirely  in  the 
mid(l  of  hia  torments  i  he  ree|unNihi^  own  exploits  ^  be  informs 
them  what  cmeUiej  ha  )jas  iniidctd  upon  their  countrymen,  and 
threatens  them  Vrilk  thiS^rcvcngpthirt  will  attend  his  death  ?  and, 
though  H»  rej^rqacltef  exafp^tlUte  them  to  a  perfed:  madnefs  of  rage 
and>  AirXf  hi^ continues  his  ihfults  even  of  their  ignorance  of  the 
art  of  tc^riiMsnrtitngt  pointing  out  himfclf  more  exqaifite  methods, 
and  more  fenfibh  parts  of  thibody  to  be  aSiftedv  The  women 
have  tins  part  of  courage  as  Hi^ill  as  the  men  ;  and  it  is  ;i^  rare  for 
•n  likdian  to  behave  otherwife  as  it  would  be  for  any  European 
to  fuffer  as  an  Indian,  Such  U  the.  wonderful  power  of  an  early 
iaft^ipn,  and  a^ftrociousthirft^; glory,  ♦*  I  am  brave  and  in- 
trefwl:  (exclaim;  the  favage  ill  the  fecc  of  his  tormentors);  1  do 
not  fear  death,  norany  kind  of  tortures;  thofe  who  fear  them  arc 
cowards  i  they  are  l«(s  than  wotnea  ;  life  is  nothing  to  thofe  that 
have  courage;  May  niy  enemi^b?  confounded  with  delpair  and 
rage  I  O^J  that  1  coiild  dcysttir  them,  and  drink  th«r  blood  to 
fhelaftdro^*' 

But  ndither  the  intrepidity  on  one  fide,  nor  the -inflexibility 
on  the^  o^K^  are  among  themfelves  matter  of  aftoniftiment :  for 
vengeance,,  and  fortitude  iu  the,  midft  of  torment,  are  duties 
which  they  confidcr  as  facred  ;:  they  arc  the  cffefts  of  their  earli- 
eft  education,  and  depend  i^pon  principles  inftillcd  into  them  from 
their  infancy*  On  all  otl^fer  occJkfions  they  are  humane  and  com- 
pafltoqate.  Nothing  can  exceed  th6  warmth  of  their  aiFcftion 
towards  their 'fficnds,  who  confift  of  all  thofe  who  live  in  the 
lame  villag^e*  are  in  alliance  with  it :  among  theie  all  things  arc 
commonj,  and  this,  though  it  may  in  part  arife  from  their  not 
«^^po^5^vcry  diftinft  notions  of  feperatc  property,  is  chiefly  to 


mr 


^     OS  AmRicji.^;^^ 


W9 


*x 


be  attributed  to  the  ftrength  of  their  atta^h^ent ;  btfcafufe  in  «&<r 
ry  thing  elfc,  with  their  lives  as  well  as  their  fortunes,  theyl^ 
ready  to  fcrvc  their  friends.     Their  l^ufes,  their  pro;vifion%  Ji|ril- 
their  young  women,  are  not  enough  ^  oblige  a  gueft,  ^Mwl^feyl"'. 
one  of  thefe  fuccceded  ill  in  his  hunting?  Has  hiftharvlJft:i^t$dF;u 
or  is  hishorfc  burned?  He  feels  no  other  eiSefi;  of  his  misfSbtt^plilf*'' 
than  th^t  it  gives  him  an  opiportunity.  to  experietnce  the  bdrieWo?  '. 
Icncc  and  regard  of  his  fellow-citizens.     On  th«  other  lufiid,  1101?.    - 
the  enemies  of  his  country,  or  to  thofe  who  have  privately  olFendlNr 
cd,  the  Americui  is  implacable.     He  conceals  bis  fentiments,  he  * 
appears  re(;;onctled,  until  by  fome  treachery  or  furprife  he  has  »tli' 
opportunity^gf  .executing  an  horrible  revenge.  No  length  of  time     ' 
is  fufficiopt  to  all^  his  refentmc^nt;  no  diftance  of  place  great 
enough' to  protefl  the  objcft ;  he  croffes  the  ftdepeft  mountains, 
he  pierces  the  inoftimpra£bicableforeft,anidtraverfes  themoflT  hi. 
dcous  bogs  trndtfeferts  for  fever^l  hundreds  of  miles ;  bearing  the 
inclemency  of  the  feafons,  the  fatigue  of  the  exjpedition,  the  ex- 
tretnes  of  hunger  and  thirft,  with  patience  and  cheerfulnefs,  in 
hopes  of  furpriftng  his  en^my,  on  whom'^he  exercifes  the  irtoft 
fhocking  barbarities,  eveii  to  the  eating  of  his'fidih.     To  fuch  ex- 
tremes do  the  Indians  pufh  their  friend(hip  or  their  enniity$  «nd 
fuch  indeed,  in  general,  is  the  charader  of  all  ^ng<  nvd  uhcuUi-' 
vatied  minds.  ''   '    ,  '■■.•'     .rv  ■"'■■■- ^-l  ^- ,    '" 

But  what  we  have  iatd  refpe<8;ing  ^he  Indians  would  be  a  fatht 
pii^ure,  «iid  V^  omit  obfei^rlng  the  forciS  QjF  their  friendihlj^,  W^ith 
principally  apfiears  by  the  tr«itment  of  their  dead.  wi|;h  any 
<Mic  of  the  fociiety  is  cut  off,  he  is  lamented  by  the  Whole:  on 
this  occafion  4  thoufand  cereinonies  are  pra£lifed,  denotii^|  the 
moft  lively/ forrow.  No  bufinefs  is  tranfk^d,  however  pre^ng, 
till  all  the  pious  ceremomes,  due  to  the  dead  ^bre  perfonned. 
The  body  i^wafhed,  anointed,  and  painted.  Then  the  Women 
lament  the  loft  with  hideous  howlinjgs,  inteniiixed  w^th  fongs 
which  celebrate  the  g^eat  a&ions  of  the  deceafed  and  bt*  ancef- 
tors.  The  men  mourn  in  a  lefs  e jctravaganl  manner.  }  'fljlB. whole 
village  is  prefcnt  at  the  interment,  and  the  cor^e  kliablteid  in 
their  moft  fumptuous  ornaments.  Clofe  to  the  bpdy  of  the  de- 
itin&  are  placed  his  bows  and  arrowSs,  with  whateiNn'  he  valued 
moft'  in  his  life,  and  a  quantity  of  proviiion  for  his  Tubfillence  on 
the  journey  which  he  h  fuppofed  to  take.  Thi's  folemnity,  like 
every  other,  is  attended  with  feafting.  The  funeral  being  ended, 
the  relations  of  the  dcceafed  confine  thCirifclves  to  their  huts  for 
^  cenfideralMe  time  to  indulge  their  grief.  Afffr  an  interval  of 
fome  weeks  they  vifit  the  grave,  repeat  their  forrow,  new  clothe 
the  icniains  of  the  body,  and  aft  over  again  all  the  folenmities  of 
the  funeral. 


,v'-  ';     > 


V'  ' 


ibnoiif  the  yanout  tekent  of  their  regard  for  their  imm6si 
fr£en<it,  the  meft  leiMtk^M*  it  what  they  call  th€ feafi  of  th$  tM, 
<k  ^Jmjt  ^Jh^  -  1*he  fk^  for  this  ceremony  it  appointed  in 
tb«>PUAcil  of  timk  «hie%  who  give  order*  lor  every  thing 

.iirhieli  nay  eMfeletlwBV^to  eelehrate  it  with  pomp  and  magnifi- 
j8«pi«l  S  «nd  the  niiHdl0(na^g  nation*  aie  invited  to  partake  of  the 
iiiMeUlhiiMlit*  At  Ji|i»«lli«»  alt  who  have  died  fince  the  preced- 

"'iiii  Ifeaft  ol  the  kiM  ^  tiim  out  of  theur  graveti  Even  thofe 
ji^io  have  heori  interred  at  th)e  greateft  diftaac^  from  the  viUagea 

■^^^gently ibu^t  fcnvimd  conduced  to  thit  rende&vous  of  the 

t|lii^  which  ekhibitft  a  fcene  of  horror  beyond  the  power  of  def- 
criptiun.  When  the  feaA  ia' coasUAeAi  the  bodiei  are  drefled^  in 
tbfe  fineft  ikina  whieh  can  be  procured,  .and  after  being  expofed 
for  fome  time  in  thia  pomp,  are  again  committed  to  the  earth  with 
gimtt  io^nity^  which  i»  fticceedipd  by  funeral  gwnea. 

Thfttr  tafte  for  war^  which  form*  the  chief  ingredient  in  their 
dwralUr,  give*  a  flyrong, hiaa tatliekre^i^flfii.,    Areikoui,  ov  th9 
god  of  battle,  f»  nsverfd  aa  the  giieat  god  of  the  Indiana.    Htm 
th^  iivrok#  be%n  ^  go  into  the  field ;  and  aecording  a»  hi» 
ii^m^vn'4  msimm  yk  favowraUe  to,  thm,  Hktf  conclude  they 
mi  he  more  pr  UU  dti^kful     Soom  tlitiffM  worfldp  the  fun 
iui4lB«oa}  «mong  otherf^  there  are  a  nttmhur  of  tradition*,  reU* 
tive  to  th^  creation  of  the  Mi^orld  and  the  hiftpry  of  the  goda::  pt*^ 
mtm  W^^  ftdamt'thn  €jfecia«r  fahl^hMir whifh  »r«  ftill 
mm  ^iM  and  inpim^>     Mm  re Hg,i%  is.  HOI  tlie  fffrf^l^%^ 
dN^i^Vthe  U4im»i  im^iJdffifi^hetrthiKJr^i^e (omUim ' 
dt«b9i|ifton  for  1M  «ifiMr^  iMr  gods,  1ih«^  pay  thm  ^ 
fm  .«f  wdHhip.    M)») att.vttde  Mo9^  howfver^  they  «we  ftrong- 
ly  i|ii^  to  fuper^mki;!^    Th^y  b«Uftve  in  the  e^id^l^  of  f, 
nititipttof  good  an^^'IA^'gni^^  «r  kim^  who  imerfere  in  the  afr 
fiMr»  ejf  mortala,  «ttd  'pffi^^,0  (m^ftuj^ts^  ^.mUtry,    It  ik 
from  tho  evil  genw,  w^w^j^,,  ^t^oj^  dl^«t^  firoceipd  •,  and 

ol:iHpi%<M^.  thff'-MlNi^'lP*  ^^  *^^  the. offdy  phyfidijMi% 
*«'^^iwf^  '^^^  l^i|p*<^>  *'^*^  iJAppofed  to  ,he  -infpi^ 
by  '^Wi^^^Ph  >^<^  ^sfliiBftQi^y  ui  their  dreamy  'wi^  the^ 
k<««^^Pw^^l>^e"eY6ntf  i.L'0|«y  are  called  in  t^  %l0  ^MmR^ 
of  the  ndi^^n^  «i«  £>ppo&d  4«^'lNs  infqdiafld  by  the  gsmi  >v.]!^^h?r 
they  wiU  get  over  4lf  dift^^  »nd  m  what  way  they  m^ft  bft 
treated. .  But  thefo^^iila  are  extt«niCly  fimple  in  their  fyilen» 
of  phyfic,  and,  in  alin^l^  overy^  ^Kcf (e,  direft  the  ju^gleF  to  the 
&me  remedy.  The  patift^  is  iniEMBd  in  a  narrow  <#N^i»  |n  tb*; 
midft  of  which  U  »  ftone  redrhot  j  on  thi*  they  th«o^  water^  untit 
he  is  well  foaked  with  the  warm  v^pOurand  his  ^wn  fwe8rt>  Then 
they  huiiy  hint  ^rom  thia  bagnio,  and  plunge  him  fuddenly  into  the 
*   er.    'rtuacoarlc  method,  which  cofts  many  their  lives, 


thnk$d, 
ointed  in 
sry  lt|ing 
i  magnifi- 
ke  of  the 
e  preced- 
vea  thofe 
B  viUigcs 
tils  of  the 
er  of  def- 
trefled^  in 
I  expofed 
MTth  with 

I  in  their 
41,  Qt  thp 
».  Htm 
an  a»  hi» 
lude  they 
p  the  fu|i 
i^tis,  reU* 
Ipdi;  J»»- 


leftjTOQg* 

Midf 


cir  fy^&em  ' 
^er  to  t^e. 
i»i%  in>  the 
ritcr,  uQtii 
lat,  Thcrv 
rly  into  the 
heir  lives, 


■:m*A 


OF  AM^RICAi 


t^ 


often  p9rf6rnu  very  extraordinary  cuxts;  "flie  jtigglert/  have 
likcWile  the  ufe  of  fonie  fpecifica  of  wc^dejrfiul  efficacy  (  ai|4  aUL 
the  favages  are  dexter6ii»  in  cuHni|  Wbundthy  ^  .a{q|4iq|tMipt  o^ 
herbs.  But  the  power  of  thefe/enifdicl  il  ^j^^ibyt  jttiiWM  ^^ 
the  magical  ceremonie«  with  which  twn:  are  ajJBrtillllA^tfd;. 

Though  the  women  generally  bear  t^  iMOmiia  ffO^  <( 
tic  economy^  their  condition  is  far  frorii  haiiig^  fo  J^ilSnit 
pears.    On  the  contrary^  the  grepteft  fefee^is  paid  W  Um  .  mm 
to  the  fcmalg  fex.    Tht  women  even  holnbcttr  eounciis^aB4)|tVi 
their  (hare  in  all  dcliberationaWhiclr  concern  ibft  iUte^^  toiy^ut^^ 
ii  pra£lifed  by  fome  nation;i,  out  is  i^  ^Mifali     in  moft,.|b«y  <^<^, 
tent  themlelves  wiih  one  wife;  but  a  drt^ienrce  is  admitted  imafy  . 
of  adultery.    No  uation  of  the  Americans  is  without  '$^  regular  mir^ 
riage  in  which  there  are  many  cerenfoaiet }  the  pritntipal  pf  wl^l|{|k ' 
is,  the  bride's  prefentpg  thebiddfymimwitli.a  plate  of  their  c)#rn# 
The  women^  though  ladibit.ineoatineMil^IfrjQ  rei»ai;kable  fbfr  ^kmff 
tity  after  i^ltrH^e* 

Liberty^  in  its  lUliextent,  beiiigrtI»i|^|Ui| pafltmi  'of  th«  lo. 
dianS|  t^eir  ediMstiflai ,  it  ;^teficd  iir^f  |[  ifMlQMr  as  to .  che^ 
this  difpofttioH  to  the  uttnoft.  'ktilil^'-^m^  ar9  n^veiitt^ 
any  a^^coont  cha(||jH  with  blows,  ai|il^4N]e)  f0EJe;.jpU4pii^^fe&  re- 
*|primanct«d.'  Re^tk;^  tbey:  fay^  ^tjHMf^  ^^^Mffli^ '  vbe» 
Ikff.je^^  Ott^^^lf  it»  and  'hMt^^glS^  d^«ir;fiu4^i^rtinot, 
blet^vef)ri||^ryi|H|lcnKa  might 'dii^liKlir.ff^^Hkli^^  fpi* 

^•r  «iii8PP«  my^0^^mii^  dcp«n#ii^'- w  _  irub^rdi.. 

nations  *fm  ftrong  pei||l^ 

who  ||it«t'MueiiC6  atno^f&N^lf^ll'ftf^  f»  Iwld  in^greal  ^fteero, 
nv^  ttt^lMl'^nereafed  t^,i^iM|j^M^''^i''*M^^  vnth'.^cimtivr, 

oradpVfsd-lKkr  hau|  with,* JHf^|Mi|l|^^  .»a..  , , . 

Coi^tro^etfie*;<h^|^;P^^||||^^^  '    "' 


m^lso 


When  any  ck 

cancem,it,ift'brm4iit  ,,•  —'^^.f**- -",'.'.  ^ 
but  in  ^nrdinairy  cafes,  thei;riil«Mfi|^U!l^ 
by  the  prties  co«(^rned.  If  gj^M^  be 
yijl^  h|^  loft  a  relation  prej^Bfiieift^  retaliate  eql 
cr.  They  often.  liJLtheirwnhjm;  ^tuiwhexi.thj 
JliAndred  of  the  laft'^erfim  9ain1o4!|^,($|ioii  themfei^to  be  as  much 
injurf^f  and  tohavo-^^liwie  rig]Mi|^^^ctege«ace-a&the  other  par> 
ty.  1%  jgeneral,  hoW«||rer,.  th^  o^p^dcr.  abfents  himfclf ;  the 
frteiide^lp^  c;oi]t!plimen;s  of  ■  condaj^gj^e  to  thofe  of  the  perfon 
th«t  hatred  mdVdersd,  *rThe  head  of  the  family  at  .  agih  apr 
pears  with  a  number  of  pri^ents,.thq  delivery  of  which  he  accom- 
jpanies  with  afonira^^eech*  The;wh|^le  ends  3s  ufual,  in  mutual 
Vol, -I.  .;.,i;''   •     I i       €>     '     '     ' 


•  *r,-4lil«ii'i 


iH 


CENEkAl  OESCRtFTION 


9i 


»f. 


feaflSngI,  rotrgS}  #hd  danta.  If  the  thtrrcE^r  is  committed  I»y  tme 
•f  tlii  ikme  fnull^  ttr.  ciftin,  Unt  cabin  has  the  fuW  right  of  judg- 
MeM  ^mH'h^f  ilrftei'  tb  ^iwifll  tlfe  gtimy  with  death,  or  to 
^iHbil fttMr, ^WifMil^^ivtt  km  rccompetit^  to  the  wife 
^.f^f^v^  tHPffi  ffite  fuch  acrxine,  however,  very 

^^?^^^^^k''^  ***^  ^'^**"**^  to  fhofc  <iif  the  Came  family 
i*,yipi#^|i'^aAdil  tald  fd  J^rodure  fuch  ffietidfhips  ai 
J^  rife  Ifrih  ifltr  i^lf  cetelnttied  ikl  f:<tful6u$  antiquffy. 

ibttt,kgtMtetttfv|Hl  the  iilinn^c  ahd  cuftomt  of  (he  Indiaii 
litiiMa  >  but  fe^^  trAl iit  lbMiet)»Hig  fx^culiar  to  itn?If.  Among 
lfi|Hdn»Ritfiidfl9itdll|^  lhedi|iiriyor  t  chief  is  hcKditary, 
%m  f^mik$^  {^kmBmkktUlaiuliit  nne.  When  this  happens 
ik  ^  timmrJSi*  Ihofl  re%6iihle  nittrofi  tit  the  ttibe  xttxiktt 
^pf6  bf  Wiioin  Ide  pl^db  io  fumHA. 

■M'^mht^pm^m  "tVA^I^K^iM  B^  fev**«  fiichtms  vt  chiefs,  i 

WfAgr^li^fe^  vkiitt^  tiii46reVktand  Chic 

*  «»t-^.      «-.,     :^.^.«.  jdultery  in  a  y^ii;^  by  ctittlhg  otf 

|f^  |«M  th«  cbru  is  ripe 

(^flll^^lre;'atid» 
et  that  of 'tht 

^^Igittmiilirilcdiit 


(vireai  «ge,  ifthlMigft  |i 
iekaaitendserof^^ 
t"^^t^  i0  be  extroiMy 
[Miity,  #at  hil  re^ly^ 
^KOfui)  by  iHBAfimdiilg 
,Mytt*chu,raid)ie, 
iiid  he  ha:d  (^t$i 
Urittft  hive  eh(|»ftfd^  ikdw 
rii)  tehiembratKfi  to  tlil 
tl^i^y^iii.    The  mah  ^o,nted«  tbil  ni' 
.,    _.  ^^       isoj^^tie^^«|e:  1br,|»efidekthe  whitenefs  of 

„his  hair  tmd^  liud,  Wk^MbM^^m^  amo^  bent  to  the  ground; 
without,  howelrer,  ihowiQ^^oithlsr  kirki  of  dtbilit^tir*  fuflfer- 
inj.  This  happened  in  ifi^,  fhis  fongerity,  attend^s^  g^ew 
ral  wfth  uninterrupted  health,  is  probably  the  ctmfcqUenle  in  part  ^ 
of  their  vacancy  from  all  ffirious  thought  and  emp!o)iaent,  joinjeil* 
alfowith  the  robuft  texture  and  conformition  of  their  bodily. 
If  the  Indlins  didii0t  teftroy  one  aiiother  in  thcjr  almpft 

StAmm 


ply  appeatec^^ 


Mr  AMSRICJ. 


i«7 


pfTpftuit  WMT*,  »nd  if  itwir  habits  of  intoxkation  were  not  fo 
univerliil  and  inci^rahle,  the^  would  l^t:,  ol  aU  the  races  of  men 
who  inhabit  the  globe,  the  moft  likely  |<^  fn^tn^  not  only  the 
bounds,  but  the  enjoyments,  of  anVpat  Ufe  to^lKti^  mtmoft  dura^imi* 
Let  ua  now  auend  tp^flfher  pii^iirft  M^Hwlte)»;^f0n  |iyen  of 
the  aboriginal  inhabitaiitt  of  the  I^ew  Wafli.  t|«  yketafd, 
<lcfc^  of  the  An^ricjin  4n4iaii»(Wvf  Jby  i|bv]^.  b#4ii 

moft  unaccoutitaWy  aggraTJ^e4  itfi|/lppr  !r|iirtu««|frm|  ^^^^ 
<lenied  them.    Their  cruellka  hav^  »Jbi#eQ  'l^Mllh'  iS^'^M4lf>4 
accounted  for.    l>e  follb\viM  V^fpf^  M  ini}iftfifi0$» 
we  find  adduced  as  a  remai^^ii|e;wa[^  Qjf  t|^  Mpnatf  tl^ft  of 
blood.    That  nation  >cing|t;iiii?kr?ri^& 
to  be  ma«fe  wri|ofUfr,  a^#to  arri4;i»  one  df  Aeyg|j«tW- 
longing  tO^llMnt,    Uwt  tkp  was  ftiwMMbd  naked,  mm  her  %»>k»|| 
and  fc&4p5n|fyi^b  ropes  m  one  oftbevcu^      *j[.nt1jpjfe|<jfp«y 
dition  Am  remained  ten  dt^   |||b  j&JKfifs  !4ee|un|  romi4  .Her.. 

every  nigTit.    Thf  eleirefl^  l*!^  **#  ilH'  ^^'^  if  W»r  ft? 

found  means  to  4^^|fe  fft^^  k^^  lwiii||i^si^^ 

mediately  f.^dl|?riif  ^^^»^^J^m^ 

Though  ihc  !Md>^  ^  'm!^V^M^gg^'m!^!*m      Ap 

reveng4fvd  ieiM»«r<£ou{d  not  let  |p  " 

of  killing  OMjK^tf  |ifr  enemic|>.    T^t 

liazard.of  ^, 

,the  favagc  |i|; 

conceal^ 


lavage^  and 
'     Perceiloni^  J^m 
-.way*  and^hat  j^ 
flyingByap 

^recite4    "tltf 
wen?  4ifc<iVer^  ij* 
^thatthetHicdd*y|p^ 
,th}s  &«  t^rnir  bei^* 
$^-'V^^  and  biilr 
-l^i^m^'-hiin^  pernor 
IC^foardi,  Were 

oxAer  courTe  thnp|^  %d(|!t  ipid  deiai 
lance  than  rootaii^in^  l^s^es,    Wh«i 


«the 
Ibek^ 

'-pf*  ^•■*  *^*jr 

the^^ther. 
it  one 

i$li"^  iH^uon. 

Itlterijidi    Upon 

^;,an4*divl|[«mpp^ 

breathe  above  w^er 

Ing  the  mx^ 

ibis  wonyn 

any  other 

c  to  th^. 


ri^«t»  Lawrence,  fee  iBidcL%»4a  heir  own  Ji^iMk  l^ind  of  a  > 
wicker  fi^^  on  which  §lk  «ro^A^  As  the  we**  by  the  French 
fort,|iflbtf^;|livieres,  whhout  n^^lmowing  where  (he  was,  flic 
peisiitere44canqc  f ull  of  favag^a|p|Mid,  fearing  they  might  be 
Iro({^lM|irin  a^in  into  the  woods,  #here  flic  remained  till  funfet. 
Coatinumg  her  ^ogle,  foon  after  fhefawTrois  Rivieres;  jnd 


leB 


OESERAL  DB^CRtPTtON 


ill 


Wit  then  difrovere^  by  a  party  whom  (he  kn«w  to  be  Huroni,  t 
nation  in  alliance  with  th«  Algon<|uinf.  She  then  fquattcd  down 
behind  a  bulh,  calling  out  to  theiA  that  (he  waa  not  in  a  condition 
to  be  feen,  bccaufe  file  waa  naked.  They  immediately  threw  hei- 
•  blanket,  and  t^eQ  oonduAed  her  to  the  fort,  where  iho  recounts 
fdhvr  ftoiry. 

Perlbnal  (Mmrage  ha»  bcel«  denied  them.  In  prpof  of  their 
puliUaiiiinlty,  the  following  incident!  are  quoted  from  CharlevoI>: 
by  Lord  Kamea,  in  '..^  (ketches  of  the  Hiftory  of  Man,  **  The 
fort  de  Veroherea  in  Canada,  belgagjing  to  the  French,  waa,  in 
the  year  1690,  attiCke4  hf  fomc  Iroquois.  They  approached 
filently,  pre^rit^  to  fcali  the  paliCide,  when  Ibmc  mu(kct  (hot 
made  thf»i  retire,  Advjiiidng  a  (ccond  time,  they  were  again  r^ 
qpulfed,  ytrondering  they  c0uld  dlfcover  none  but  a  woman,  who 
Waafeen  everywhere,  Th|»  i«fia  Madame  de  Vercherea,  who 
appeared  aa  refolute  a«  if  fvpported  by  a  riumeroua  garrifon.  The 
hopea  of  ftonhitig  a  pbice  without  Mtn  to  defend  it  occafioncd 
reiteratfeii}  *^ci|!lf  .  A^^  two' days  jR|E|fB^  t|i9y  retired,  fearing  to 
fa{(Biiiibrcieiit^%-jil^^^^^  'i^i  yean  i|^,  a  party  of  the 

/.  ;A  '  '^^  ^^  ^^^^(^  thijfdrt'fouiKXpW^^      tlvMagirl 

Ike  fMrbpHctOr,  ^a^  bttt  WM  le  (hut  the 
iui  Ijlkre  waa  not  *^  rfiMi)  'iHit  one  raw 
>«'kih  h^  •(fll^W^^iQimetimci  in  qne 

ce  c^^^ial0»rC^^ 

_  u  ■  - Ja. . «:    j^  -  0Mtt^  ■  without' 


laitje  Ration  a>|»pif>i 
•  pf  fourteen, 
gate.    With  the  yoiil 
fddier.    $hi(}i«^ed> 
place  and 
in  order  to  i^ 
^i^ipoirtunely.'^' 
fucceil." 

Thet9  xa  iMlli^ncc;1t  || 
an  it)4>vidut(:  6f 
tWir^^tM^y  vent 
nuinbe^of  any  (bet.    Kveii: 
bcr8,'they  dar^  notme^ 
this  \^nt.of  ^oiun^e,  t! 
knowii,  tna^  a  (mall ' 
bcKiy  of  regular  troop; 
Itirpriied  them  in 
of  the  wooidniAy^i 


(ifigl^lmUatlfii^Mt^ 
4  opeQ'Combati  ofW' 
bi^vrHb  ane^ual 
Ik  £|lpeiru>rity  of  bum- 
notwithibnding, 
i|ay,  itihaa.j^n 
routc4  •  mttch  fuperior 
yrhen  th^  li#V9 
^(Is,  where  the  f^ftt 
take th«ir  aim  w>t|i  tj^^ 


xitmoft  certiHtt^^  y;!^^  immediately  r«^#^, 

^eat,  withoi^pif ing  thejmaja^^^^t^^  route.    I^nay 

eafily  be  fuppj^i^  that  ap  on^  Jf>!thia  Igi^d  muft  pr<«4^ce  con- 
fufion  even  among  the  (ieadt«^|^|^poopa,  when  they  <eid|''|9MHher 
know  the  number  of  their  fi^figp^,  nor  perceive  the  p|^e  v^|>er« 
they  lie  in  ambuih.  ji»  ;&  , 

Perfidy  combined  with  crueUy  has  been  alfillffn^^e  a  part  of  their 
charafter.    Don  Ulloa  relates,  T^t  the  iniluuaa  of  the  country 


^al 

nil 

lc< 

«h^ 

obi 

unl 

f«> 

Th| 

to 

hac 

di( 


OF  AMERICA 


109 


^lled  f^Mtchet,  in  LouIliaiM,  laid  •  plot  of  mtflacreing  in  one 
night  every  indivitluil  belonging  to  the  French  colony  eftabliflied 
there.  This  plot  they  lAiMlly  execnted,  nocwithfUiMiing  the 
teeming  gtiod  underftanding  that  fiabftAed  ttiwn  them  >nd 
«hcfe  European  neighbours.  Such  wai  the  iwig»y  which  they 
oblerved,  that  no  perlbn  hadtf<?  leaft  i'uipictoA  «l  their  defigfi 
until  the  blow  wa»  llruck.  One  Frtnehmaa  alflM  •Infad*  by 
favour  of  the  darkneb,  to  relate  the  dUfiifterof  hit  cbunfrynen. 
The  compaflion  of  a  feaale  Indian  contribiJUadiUb  is  fimeawafure 
to  his  exemption  from  the  gencftl  maffacre.  The  tribe  bf  Netchee 
had  invited  the  Indian*  of  other  coantiict,  tirtu  to  a  confiderablc 
diftancc,  to  join  in  the  fame  confptr•ey.^  The  dayi  of  rather  the 
nighty  waaftxed,  on  whkh  tbey  wereto iiiilll  all  uhited  attaik  on 
the  French  colonifta.  It  was  intimated  bj^ieoding  t  parcel  of  rods, 
more  or  tela  numeroua'iceclrding  to  the  local  diftance  of  eacli  tribe, 
with  an  injun^iori  to  ilMMkone  rOd  diilyV  the  day  on' which  the 
Uft  fell  to  be  taken  away  iMJog  thll  fiied  tot^t  execuCioo  of 
their  plan.  The  women  fviW  partii^ef  the  blMNly  Ijlcret.  The 
parceU  of  rods  beiny^.tbiH  diftrihytod,  ihtt  birkteiiiig  to  the  tribe 
<^f  Natchet  faappenid  to  Uaa^  in  the  cuftodf^oT  i  female.  Thii 
woman,  ^hiim9¥^hyha^iuiMfnt6l^i^  or  by 

the  commiAtallliii^tciKprelledbylwr  fein^^  the 

view  of  the  prapil^  ficeiie  ol  btOddfh^llMlMia^  im  diiy  thirae 
«r  ibuv  of'tU^db,  vaiLAnujiaaU&pili^  tribe'* 

|iro<eedioit«^'-#^''tot|ipM|^#  The  con- 

miwnee  of '^^i^  (^iiN^eh«i  ^tlTo^onty  iftors  in  lUia 


Oamage^  their* 
at  tbt  timeJtei 


l^li^Mral  rida  remalninir 

imHUti'  An  opportuhit/ 
qtbtftcia  to  take  irtea- 
i  laore  exteiifive  exe- 


their 
itry 


,..^itei.|%.thOhr:ddSi$ii|e. 

liititionof  the  4«fig 
^  J  It  waaibjf  cbnf] 

ptib^rinCeofMaca*, 
cttyof|^egro|ho,i 


the  Indians  of  the 
'^ftroye^  the  <jpulent 
^  and  its  Capital  SevHla 
ia  no  longC^r  known  S 
WherO^iiwt  abundance  of 
)^i^lfoi^  from  whglb  theiidi^^ipUoned^  the  ad<fi. 

|0v  Ha-?  tiame.  Like  ravagea  hiinre  been  colaanutted  upon 
111  Chili^t^  ciAaitim^^  the  MiJIiona  of  Chuncas, 
|0|irien  in  Tei^v  phmri^^iiid  many  ether  places,  which 
have  iplwded'feenes  of  this  barbafiu*  ferocity.  Thefe  conspiracies 
are  aprays  carried  on  in  the  lame'ipn&er.  The  fer*-ct  is  inviola- 
bly  i^tf  the  aftors  4|fiinble  at  thc^'precife  hour  appointed,  and 
every  iilMlbidual  is  aniflllted  .with  the  fame  fanguinary  purpoies. 
The  males  that  faU  into;|lMtr  hands  are  put  to  death  with  every 


tio 


GENERAL  DSSCR2PTI0X 


I  -,  i***- 


iii 


ml 
III 


I      ''!S 


fhockiil^  circumftance  that  can  be  fti^gcfted  by  a  cool  and  deter, 
mined  cruelty.  The  females  are  carried  off,  and  prelervcd  as  mo- 
numents of  their  vi^orv,  to  be  employed  as  their  occafions  require. 
Nor  can  this  odious,  cruelty  and  treachery,  it  is  faid,  bejuiUy 
afcriibcid  to  (heir  fulye^pn  to  a  foreign  yoke,  fccinf  the  fame  <ha- 
rader,  belongs  c^^Uy  to  all  the  original  inhabitants  of  this  vjA 
continent,  even  thofe  who  have  preferved  their  independence 

.rwilk  completely.  Certain  it  is,  continues  he,  that  thci'e  people, 
with  <be  moA  limked  capacities  for  every  thing  elfc,  diiplay  an 
aftomihing  degree  of  pcnetf atiQn  and  i'ubtlety  with  rcfped  to  eve- 
ry obje£l  that- involves  treachery,  bloodihcd,  and  rapine.  As  to 
thefe,  they  icem  to  have  been  all  educated  at  one  fchool ;  and  a 
fccret,  refering  to  any  fuch  plai\,  no  confideration  on  caith  can 
extort  from  them. 

Their  undcrdandit^s  alfo  have  been  reprcfcntedas  not  lefs  con- 
temptible than  their- manaiers  are  grols  and  brutal.  Many  nations 
are  neither  capai^e  of  forming  an  arri^ement  for  futurity ;  nor 
did  their  folic^tude  er  £oi«%ht  extend  Co  far.    They  fet  no'Vjilue 

,  upon  thofe  things  of  ^uch^tliejf  were  no^  in  fame  immediate  want. 
In  the  evening  ^rhiin  %  Carib  is  going  to  treft,  Jno  ,(ponfideration 
will  tempt  him  tofr^.hwhartimock,;  shut  in  ihe-^moriUng  he  will 
part  with  it  for  the;' iU|rhteft  trifle.  A*  the  clofe  of  winter,  a 
North  Americaivt^ioitlul  '<^iw1bat  he  has  fufFeiM  from  the  ^old,' 
fets  himfelf  witih  viiiWtfi*  iPfKrepare  matcfiakfor  ercfiking  a  com- 
fortable hlit,tp^|it^ti^;li|i|]|^aic(ft  thjp  inclep«!ncy  of  ,i[he  fucceed- 
i9|.f(»fon  :  ))ut  pf  XofMi  «S;|he  weath^  becomes  mii<4;he  abandons 

^i^  work,,  and  never  thini(»  vof  it  nriore  tilt  jI^  return  of  the  cold 

>i9pebhiiQtorefupe'it.iH^  iflimrt^o  tfjB'i^e  from  labour  feemti 

b  be  the  utmoft  wiAipf  «;&  AiiM^ictUfK  ,  They  will  continue  whol^ 

|days  ftretchcd  in  their  ti^^npirks,  or  feated  on  the  earth,  withoiit 
changing  their  podure,  raiitng^^eif  eyes,  or  uttering  a  fmgle  word, 
/  They  cannot  compile  the  (Sc^ip^uc^i^f  days^fnor  of  weeks.  The 
I  different  arpe6b  of  the  moon  alot|^j|i||i^  their  attention  as  a  mea- 
fure  of  time.  Of  the  year  th^jhntve  no  other  conception  than 
what  is  fuggefted  to  them  by  t^e  alternate  hcat  of  fummer  and  cold 
of  winter  ;  nor  have  they  the  Icaft  idea  of  applying  to  this  period 
the  obvious  eomputpition  Q&Uie  months  which  it  contains.  When 
it  is  aflced  of  any  old  maipfiri  Peru,  even  the  moft  civilized,  wha^, 
age  he  is  of  p-the  only  c^lTvnsi' he  can  give  is  the  nuniber  of  cicii- 
ques  he  has  feen.  It  often  happens,  too^  that  they  onlyjrccoUcft 
the  moft  diftant  of  thefe  princes  in  whofe  time  cert^n  cirtiupftan-^ 
ces  had  happened  peculiarly  memorable,  while  of  thofe  that  Jived 
in  a  more  recent  period  they  have  loft  all  remembrance. 

The  fame  grofs  ftupidity  is  alledged  to  be  obfervable  in  thofe 
Indians  who  have  retained  their  original , liberty.    They  are  never 


I  detcr« 

I  iS  Dln- 

rcquire. 
te  juiUy 
mc  cha- 
his  v>ft 
cndcncc 
people, 
{play  an 
t  to  tvc- 
As  t(i 
;  and  a 
arth  can 

lefs  con- 
'  nations 
ity;  nor 
no*  value 
tc  want, 
deration 
he  will 
rinter,   a 
the  9oldlr 
^  com- 
uccccd- 
bandpns 
the  cold 
ur  feemb 
le  whplp 
without 
le  word, 
s.    The 
as  a  mea- 
ipn  than 
and  cold 
S  period 
When 
cd,  what, 
ofcicif- 
rccoUcft 
Hj^ftan-, 
lat  lived 

in  thofc 
re  never 


OF  AMERICA. 


U> 


known  to  fix  the  dates  of  any  events  in  their  minds,  or  to  trac^ 
the  fuccefiion  of  circumftances  that  haVe  arifflli  from  fuch  events, 
'i'hcir  imagination  takes  in  only  the  prefent,'  and  in  that  only  what 
intitnafely  concerns  themfclves.  Nor  can  difctplinc  or  inftru^on 
6vcrcoftie  this  natural  defe£^  of  apprehenfion.  In  faft,  tht  6iK 
jefted  Indians  in  Peru,  who  have  a  cbntinuit  intercourfe  with  the 
Spaniards,  who  are  furnifhed  with  curates  perpetually  occupied 
in  giving  them  leiTons  of  religion  and  morality,  and  who  mix  with 
all  ranks  of  the  civilized  fociety  cftabliihed  among  them,  are  aU 
mod  as  {lupid  and  barbarous  as  their  cbuntryoien  who  have  had 
no  fuch  advantages.  The  Peruvians,  while  they  lived  under  the 
government  of  their  Incas,  preferyed  the  records  of  certain  re- 
markable events.  They  had  alfo  a  kind  of  regular  government, 
defcribed  by  the  hiflorians  of  the  conqueft  oiF  Peru,  This  go. 
verninent  originated  entirely  from  the  attention  and  abilities 
of  their  princes,  and  from  the  regulations  enafted  by  them  for  di- 
iefting  the  conduft  of  their  fubje£ls.  This  xntieint  degree  of  c:vi. 
lization  among  them  gives  ground  to  prefun^  that  their  legiflatorS 
i'prung  from  fome  race  more  enlightened  than  the  other  tribes 
of  Indians  |  a  race  of  which  no  individual  feems  to  remain  in 
the  prefcnt  times.     ^  '.       ' 

Vanity, and  conceit  are  faid  to  be  blended" with  their  ignorance 
and  tr^achcry^  NbtwllMatidin^  all  thi^  fuffcr  from  Europeans, 
they  ftill,  it  is  Cud,  c&nfid*ir  thcmfdviw  aitfa  ttice  of  men  far  fupe-' 
ribr  to  their  cohquerors.'  tliU  proud  belief,  arifing  from  tlweir 
perverted  ideas  of  excellence,  is  uniirerial  'over  the  whole  known 
continent  of  America.  They  ido  not  think  it  pofiible  that  any 
people  dOx  be  fo  intelligent  is  themfelvts.  When  they  are  de- 
te£l^.|n  any  of  their  plots,  it  is  tliPaM'  common  obfervation,  that 

.  the  Spiniards,  or  Vtmi^cbchaSy  wiutt  ib  be  as  knowing  as  they  are. 
Thofe  of  Lbuifiana,'iind  the  cottiild^  adjiu^bnt,  are  equally  vain 
of  their  fuperior  uhderftailidtilg,  confounding  that  quality  with 
the  cunning  which  they  theirml^  coiiftantly  pra£Bfe.  The 
%yhole  ob)e£^  of'  their  tranfaftions  is  to  over-reach  (hofe  with 
whom  thfcy  deal.'  Y,et  though  faithtefs  thcmfelves,  they  never 
forgive  the  breach  of  promife  on  thepirt  of  otherj.  While  the 
Europejvu  feck  their  amity  by  pref<fentf.  they  give  thcmfcveS  no 
concern  to  fecurc  a  reciprocal  frieh'dfliip.  Hence,  probably,  arilies 

i ;  4}|f^.  idea,  lluit  they  muft  be  a  I'upcrior  race  of  men,  in  ability 
mdintclligenciej  to  thofe  w)io- are  at  fudi  pains  to  court  their 
i^ahce  and  avertthcir  enmitj^  * 

Hieir  natural  eloquence  has  alfo  been  decried.  The  free  tribes 
of  fava^es  who  enter  into  conventions  with  the  Europeans,  it  is 
ubfcrved,  are  accuftomcd  to  make  long,  poMpou*,  and,  according 
t«  their  own  noflons,  fublimie  harangues,  buii  without  any  method 


I  ^i 


Its 


GENERAL  DESCRlPTIOJf 


or  conne3!«fi.  The  whole  is  a  colledion  of  disfointed  metaphors 
and  comparifons«  ,vThe;l%ht,  heat  and  courfe  of  the  fun,  form  the 
princiiMd  tc^ic  of  liieur  dUi^urfe  [^  ahd  thefe  unintelligible  reafon- 
ings  ii«  alWyt'^KBI^iAnied'with  vicilent  and  ridiculous  geftures^ 
,  NumWl«^M|^l<»*  P«^8  t*»«  oration,  which,  if  not  inter- 
iiipted,%|Sw'^^#%ll«^,^^  At  |he  feme  tin#,  theymeditate 
very  •ccufJtelyVl^w^i^  in  ord»*J  avoid  njentioning  any  Hiing 
'  but  what  they  arc  del6t>t<^t6  obtamf  This  pompous  faculty  of 
-  miking^fpeeches  t»  aMo*on^ '^ftw  grounds  on  which  they  con- 
ceive themfelve»to be "fiitonrrior  to  the  nations  of  Europe  :  They 
imagixie  it  is  theisr  cloi^^#ee  that^rocures  them  the  favours  they 
aik.  The  fubjelU^d  IwHans  convcrfe  precifely  in  the  fame  ftyle. 
Prolix  and  tedioiiis,  they  never  Know  when  td  fto^;  fo  that,  ex- 
ceptiiig  by  the  difference  in  language,  it  w6uld  be  impoHible,  in 
this  refpeft,  to  dii!Unguini  a  civilized  Peruvian  from  an  inhabi- 
unt  of  the  ihoft,  favage  d^ftii&s  to  thi^^north\ywd. 

Bijt  fuch  piitial^^  dfetac|w4  v^^  »*  |he  above,  were  they 
even  free  from  ,raif|iif!^cfentitioB,  are  not  tSte  juft  ground  upon 
.  which  to  form  an^'ellu|»te  of  their  charafter.  Their  qualities,  good 
and  bad  (Wthey  pertainly  poffefs  both,)  their  way  of  life,  the 
ftate  of  fociety  among  fhem,  with  all  the  circttmftanccs  of  their 
condition,  onght  to  be  confideved  in  connexion,  and  In  regard  to 
>  their  mutualinfluqpce.  ^ch  a  view  h^  been  given  in  the  precede 

'*ing  part  of  tUtmrtti^  firom  wbic|>«  it  i«  hoped,  thcif  real  iha- 
raijl^,  may  be  eamy  dedncfsd.  -   :,    . 

Many  of  t|ie  difagree^tle  tirjuiu  ekKibited  in  ^  anecdotes  juth 
quoted,  ace  indeed  extracted  from  Don  UUoa^..an^uthor  of  credit 
and  reputation ;  but  VSpi^iniard,  ^nd  Evidently  biaflbd  in  lo«ne  den 
^ree  by  a  <le(tr6't6  palliate, the  enormities  of , his  countrymen  iii 
that  quarter  of,  the  glc^. .  And  Mpith  regard  ta  the  worft  and  leaft 
equivocal  parts  of  the  A«?rica«  charaftpif.  Cruelty  and  revenge, 
it  may  be  fiiirly  ^cfUpned*  wfietl^r  the  ipftjmces  of  thefe,  either 
in  refp^^  of  their  caufe  or  ikf^  atrocity^  be  at  all  comparable  to 

;  thofe  exhibitcjd  in  Eufc^pean ,  htftory,  and  ftaining  the  annals  of 
Chriftendom  iM*  thofe^^  for  ihilance,  of  that  Spaniards  them- 
felves,  at  their  fii'ft  difcovery  of  America;  to Uiofe  indicated  by 
the  lengincs  found  on  board  their  mighty  Armada ;  to  thofe  which 
in  cold  blood,  were  perpetrated  by  the  Dutch  at  Amboyna ;  to- the 
dragoonings  of  the  French ;  to  their  religious  maflkcres  ;  or  even 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  Inquifttioft  T  '  '  vf/' ,*• 

Still  harftier,  however,  are  theidftfcriptic^ns  given  by  Bujon  unci 
de  Pant)  of  the  natives  of  this  wh?|e  C^owrfncut,  in  which  the  mo(t 
mortifying  degeneracy  of  the  hv^man  Mce,  as  well  as  of  all  the. 
inferior  animals,  is  affe?-ted  to  be  confpicuou*.  Againfl  thofe 
philolbphcrs,  cr  rather  theorifls,  the .  Americans  tave  found  ati 


OP  America^, 


MS 


able  advocate  in  the  Abbe  Clavigeroj  anhlftorian  whofe  (ituatlon 
and  lon^  refidpnce  in  America  afforded  him  the  beft  mean&  t>f  in* 
formation, , and  who,  though  himfelf  a  fubjeft  of  nSpain,  appears 
fuperior  to  prejudice,  and  difdains  in  his  defcription  the  gloffes 
of  policy.      ,  *"         r.  . 

Concerning  the  ftature  of  the  .Americans,  M.  dc  Paw  fays,  m 
general,  that^aUhough  it  is  not  equal  to  the  ikature  of  the  Caftili- 
aqp,  there  is  but  little  (^fllence  bttltliyOBn  them.  '.But  the  Abb^ 
Clavigero  evinces,  that  m^  IndiaA>^.i«f|K^  inhabit  thofe  countries 
lying  between  9  and  40  deglfcs  0f' north  latitude,  which  are  the 
limits  of  the  difcoyeries  of  the  Sps\^i^rds,.  are  more  than  five 
Parifian  feet  in  height,  and  that  thofe  that  do  not  reach  that  fta- 
ture are  as  few  in  number  amongft  the  Indians  as  they,  are  amongft' 
the  Spaniards.  It  is  befides'  certain,  that  many  of  tho(h  nationSj, 
as  the  ApackeSy  the  Hia^iie/e,  the  Pimefe^  and  Cockimies,  are  at 
leaft  as  tall  ^s  the  talleft  Europeans ;  and  that,  in  all  the  vaft  ex- 
tent of  the  New  World,  no  race  of  people  lias  been  found, 
except  the  Efquimaux,  fo  ^diminutive  in  ^ture  as  the  Laplanders, 
the  Samojeds,  and  Tartars,  in  the  nortlr  of  the  Old  Continent. 
In  this  refpe£l,  therefore,  the  inhabitants  of  the  two  continents 
are  upon  ah  equality. 

Of  the  ihape  and  ehara£ler  of  the  Mexican  Indiansj  the  Abbe 
gives  a  moft  advantageous  defcription ;  which  he  aiferts  no  one 
who  reads  it  in  America  will  contradif):,.  ii^lefs  he  views  them 
with  the  eye  of  a  prejudiced  mind.  :|^  fs  tree,  that  Ulloa  fays, 
in  fpeal^O^i^  the  Indians  of  Quito^  he  had  obferved,  "that 
imperfe!|"|l(9||»le  abounded  among  them ;  that  they  were  either 
irregularly  (iiiaainuirve,-  or  monftrous  in  fome  other  refpeft ;  that 
,.they  became  either  infenfible,  dumb,  or  blind^  -or  wanted  fome 
Hmb  of  their  body."  Hav^ing  therefore  inapde '  fome  inquiry .  re- 
fpe£ling  this  fingularity  of  the  Quitansj  the,  Abb^  found,  that 
fuch  defe£U  were  neither  caufed  by  bad  humouis,  nor  by  the 
climate^  but  by  the Hiiftaken  and  blind  humanity  bf  their  parents, 
whO)  in  order  to  free  their  children  froih  the  hardlhips  and  toils 
to  which  the  healthy  Indians  are  fuhjefted  by  the  Spaniards,  fix 
fome  defoirmttyor  weaknefs  upon  them  that  i^eyt  may  become  ufe- 
lefs :  a  circunn(£jince  of  mifery  which  does  not  happen  in  other 
countri^  of  Amierica,  nor  in  thofe  places  of  the  fame  kingdom 
of  Quito,  where  the  Indians -are  under  no  fuch  oppreflion.  M. 
de  Paw,  and  in  agreement  with  him  Dr.  Robertfon,  fays,  that  no 
deformed  perfons  are  to  be  found  among  the  favages  of  America ; 
becaufe,  ItlTe  th^  ancient  Lacedemonians,  they  put  to  death  thofe 
children  which  are  born  liunch-backed,  blind,  or  dcfedive  in 
any  limb ;  but  that  in  thofe  countries  where  they  are  formed  into 

P 


iti 


GENERAL   DESCRIPTIOy 


Ibcieties,  and  the  vigilance  of  their  rulers  prevent  ^he  murder  of 
Aach  inlFants,  the  number  of  their  dcfqrmed  individuals  is  greater 
than  it  is  in  any  other  country  of  Europe.  This  would  make  an 
exceeding  good  fi^ution  of  the  difiicuUy  if  it  were  true :  but  if, 
poflibly/  there  hat  been  in  America  a  tribe  of  favages  who  have 
finitated  the  bi^rbirou^  example  of  the  celebrated  Lacedemonians^ 
it  is  certain  that  thole  ituthors  have  no  grounds  to  impute  fuch 
inhumanitfjlr  to  the  reft  of  the  Americans ;  for  that  it  has  not  been 
the  prafitiee,  at  leaft  with  the  far  greater  part  of  thofe  nations,  is 
to'  be  demonftrated  from  the  atteftations  of  the  authors  the  befi 
ac(]uainted  with  their  cuftoms. 

No  ai^gument  agamft  thie  New  World  can  be  drawn  from  the 
colour  of  the  American* :  for  their  colour  is  lefs  difbint  from  the 
jwhite  of  the  Europeans  thin  it  is  from  the  black  of  the  Africans, 
and  a  great  part  oiP  the- Aiiatics.'  Thehair  of  the  Mexicans,  and 
of  the  {greater  part  of  the  Indians,  is,  as  we  have  already  faid, 
coarfe  and  thick  %  ton  their  fa6e  they  appear  to  have  little,  and  in 
general  none  on'  t^r  arms  and  kgs :  but  it  is  an  error  to  lay,  as^ 
M.  de  Paw  does;  "^lat  they  are  entirely  deftitute  of  hair  in  ill 
the  other  parts  of  the  body.  This  ii  one  of  the  many  palTages  of 
the  Philofophical  Refearehes,  at/  which  the  Mexicans,  and  all  the 
other  nations,  fauh  fmile  to  find  an  European  philofopher  fo  eager 
to  diveft  them  of  the  drefs  they  had  from  nature.  Don  UUda, 
indeed  in  the  defcription  which  he  gives  of  the  Indians  of  Quito, 
fays,  that  hair  neitner  grows-  upoh  the  men  nor  upon  the  women 
when  they  arrive  at  puberty,  as  it  does  on  the^reftJlfliKmkind ; 
but  whatever  ithguhHty  may  attend  the  Quhana^^  'lir^dccafion  this 
circumftance,  there  is  i^  do|ibt,  that  among  the  Anwrieaas  in 
general,  the  period  of  puberty  is  accompanied  with  the  &me  fymp- 
toms  as  it  is  among  other  nations  of  the  world.  In  faft,  with  the 
North  Americans,  it  iidi%racefut  to  be  hairy  mi  the  body.  They 
fay  it  likens  thorn  to  hogs.  ■  They  therefore  pluck  the  hair  as  faft 
as  it  appears.  But  the  traders  who  marry  their  women  and  pre- 
vail on  them  to  difcontinue  this  pra£|ice,  fay,  that  nature  is  the 
fame  with  them  as  with  the  whites.  As  td  the  be«rds  of  the 
men,  had  BufFon  6r  de  PaW  known  the  pains  amd  trouble  it  cofts 
them  to  pluck  out  by-  the  roots  the  hair  that  gtoWi  on  their  facesj, 
they  would  have  feen  that  nature  had  not  been  deficient  in  that 
refpc£fc.  Every  nation  has  its  cuftoms.  "^  I  have  feen  an  Indian 
beau,  with  a  looking-glafs  in  his  hand  ffays  Mr.  Jefferfon), 
examining  his  face  for  hours  together,  v  ana  plvfcking  out  by  the 
roots  every  hair  he  could  difcover,  with  a  kind  of  tweezer  made 
t)f  a  piece  of  fine  brai's  wire,  that  had  beentwiftjcd  round  a  (tick, 
and  which  he  ufcd  with  great  dexterity." 


■■«*'^ 


IS 


OF  AMERICA, 


«»S 


The  very  afpeft  of  an  Angolan,  Mandigan,  or  Congan,  would 
have  (hocked  M.  dc  Paw,  and  made  him  recal  that  cenfurc  which 
lie  pafles  on  the  colour,  the  make,  and  the  hair  of  the  Americans. 
What  can  be  imagined  more  contrary  to  the  idea  we  have  of 
beauty,  and  the  perfe£lion  of  the  human  frame,  thap  a  man  whole 
body  emits  a  rank  fmell,  whofe  <kin  is  as  black  as  ink,  whofe 
head  and  face  are  covered  with  black  wool  indead  of  hair,  whoit; 
eyes  are  yellow  and  bloody,  whofe  lips  are  thick  and  blackiih, 
and  whole  nofe  is  flat?  Such  arc  the  inhabitants  of  ai  vcr)'  large 
portidn  of  Africa,  and  of  many  iilands  of  Alia.  What  men  can 
be  more  imperfe£):  than  thofe  who  meafure  no  more  than  four  feet 
in  (lature,  whofe  faces  are  long  zvA  fiat,  the  nofe  comprelTed,  the 
irides  yellowifli  black,  the  eyd-lids  turned  back  towards  the  lem* 
pies,  the  cheeks  extraordinarily  elevated,  their  mouths  monllrouf'-' 
ly  large,  th^ir  lips  thick  and  prominent,  and  the  lower  part  of 
their "^  vifages  extremely  narrow.?  Such  according  to  Count  de 
BuiFon,  are  the  Laplanders,  the  Zemblans,  the  Boirandines,  the 
Samojeds,  and  Tartars  in  the  £afL  What  obje6ts  more  deformed 
than  men  whofe  faces  are  too  long  and  wrinkled  even  in  their 
youth,  their^nofe^  thick  and  comprelfed,  their  eyes  fmall  and 
funk,  their  cheeks  very  much  raifpd^  their  upper  jaw  low,  their 
teeth  long  and  difunited,  eye-brows  To  thick  that  they  fhade  their 
eyes;  the  eye-lids  thick,  fome  briftlcs  on  theii  faces  inftead  of 
be^rd,  large  thighs  a^d  fmall  legs  ?  Such  is  the  picture  Count  de 
BufFon  gives  of  the  Tartars;  that  is,  of  thofe  people  who,  as  he 
fays,  inhabit  a  tl^  of  land  in  Alia  1 200  leagues  loiig  and  up- 
wards, and  more  than  750  broad.  Amongft  thefe  the  Calmucks 
are  the  mod  remarkable,  for  their  deformity ;  which  is  fo  great, 
that,  according  to  Tavernier,  they  are  the  mofl  brutal  men  of  all 
the  univerfe.  Their  faces  are  fo  broad  that  there  is  a  fpace  of 
live  or  lix  inches  between  their  eyes,  according  as  Count  de 
BufFon  himfelf  affirms.  In  (Calicut,  in  Ceylon,  and  other  couh- 
tries  of  India,  there  is,  fay  Pyrard  and  other  writers  on  thofe  re- 
gions, a  race  of  Hi^  who  |iaveone  or  both  of  their  legs  as  thick 
as  the  body  of  » iwiil ;  and  that  this  deformity  among  tliem  is  al- 
mofl  hereditary.  The  Hottentots,  befides.  other  grbfs  imperfec- 
tions, have  that  raonflrous  irregularity  attending  them,  of  a  callous 
appendage  extending  from  the  os  pubis  downwards,  according  to 
the  teflimony  of  the  hillorians  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
Strays,  Gemelli,  and  other  travellers  afHrm,  that  in  tl^  kingdom  of 
Lambiy,  ii^  the  iflands  of  Formofa,  and  of  Mindoro,  men  have  been 
found  with  tails.  Bomare  fays,  that  a  thing  of  this  kind  in  men 
is  nothing  elfe  than  an  elongation  of  the  os  coccygis;  but  what  is  a 
tail  in  quadrupeds  but  the  elongation  of  that  bone,  though  divi- 

i*  2 


ail 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


djcd  into  diilin£^  articulations  p  However  it  may  be,  it  is  certain 
that  tliat  clonj^ation  renders  thofe  Aftatics  fully  as  irregular  as  if  it 
>vas  a  real  tail. 

If  wc  were,  in  like  manner,  to  go  through  the  nations  of  Afi* 
and  Africa,  we  jQiould  hardly  i^nd  any  extenfive  country,  where 
the  colour  of  men  is, not  darker,  where  there  are  not  (longer  irre-" 
^uUfitics  Qbfcrvfd,  and  grofler  ^efe^s  to  be  found  in  them,  than 
M.  4e  Paw  finds  fault  with  in  the  Americans.  The  colour  of 
the  latter  is  a  good  deal  clearer  than  that  of  almofl  all  the  Afri- 
cans .and  the  Inhabitants  of  Southern  Afia.  Even  their  alledged 
fcantinefs  of  beard  i^  coihmop  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Philippine 
lilands,  and  of  all  the  Indian  Archipelago,  to  the  famous  Chinef(i, 
Japanefe)  Tartars,  aud^many  other  nations  of  the  Old  Continent. 
The  imperfe&^onji  of  the  Americans,  however  great  they  may  have 
been  reprefented,  are  certainly  not  comparable  with  the  defe£is  of 
that  iiQmenfe  people,  whofe  chara6ler  we  have  (ketched,  and 
others  whom  we  omit. 

M.  de  Paw  reprefents  the  Americans  to  be  a  feeble  and  difeafed 
fet  of  bations  i  and]  in  ofder  to  demonftrate  the  weaknei's  and  dif- 
order  of  theif  phyAcal  conflitution,  adduces  feveral  proofs  equally 
ridiculous  and  ill  founded,  and  w'hich  it  will  not  be  expelled  we 
ihou].d  enumerate.  He  alleges,  among  other  particulars,  that  they 
were  overcome  in  wreftling  by  all  the  Europeans,  and  that  they 
-funk  under  a  moderate  burden  ;  that  by  a'  tomputation  made, 
200,000  Americans  were  found  to  have  periQied  in  One  year 
fre  1  carrying  of  baggage.  With  refpe£l  to  the  firft  point,  the 
Abbe  Clavigero  obferves,  it  would  be  neceiTary  that  the  experi- 
ment of  wrefUing  was  made  between  many  individuals  of  each 
^continent,  and  that  the  -^vifiiory  ihould  be  atteftcd  by  the  Ame- 
ricans as  wel|  as>  the  Europeans.  It  is  not,  however,  meant  to 
iniift,  that  the  Americans  are  ftronger  than  the  Europeans.  They 
may  be  lefs  ftrong,  without  the  human  fpecies  having  degenerated 
in  them.  The  Swils  are  ftronger  than  the- Italians;  and  ilill  we. 
do  not  believe  the  Italians'Sre  degenerated,  nor  do  we  tax  the  cli- 
mate of  Italy.  The  inftan^e  of  200,000  Americans  having  died 
in  one  year,  under  the  weight  of  baggage,  w^re  it  true,  would  not 
convince  us  fo  much  of  the  weakneis  of  the  Americans,  au  of  vnc 
inhumanity  of  the  Europeans.  In  the  ulDne  manner  that  thofe 
soOjOoo  Americans  perifhed,  20p,opo  Pruflians  >vould  alfo  have 
^erifhed,  had'they  been  obliged  to  make  a  jburnry  of  between 
300  and  400  miles,  with  100  pounds  of  burden  upon  their  backs ; 
if  they  had  collars  of  iron  about  their  necks,  and  were  obliged  to 
carry  that  load  over  rocks  and  mountains ;  if  thofe  who  became 
exhaufted  with  fatigue,  or  wounded  their  feet  fo  as  to  impede 
their  progrcfs,  had  their  heads  cut  off  that  they  znight  not  retard 


OF  AMERICA. 


'«f 


j^e  p^ce  of  the  reft ;  and  if  they  were  not  allowed  but  a  finall 
morfel  of  bread  to  enable  them  to  fupport  fo  fevere  a  toil.  Lcs 
Cafas,  from  whom  M.  de  Paw  got  the  account  of  the  aoo,ooo 
Americans  who  died  under  the  fatigue  of  carrying  baggage,  relates 
alfo  a}l  the  above-mentioned  circumftances.  If  the  authdr  there- 
fore is  to  be  credited  in  the  laft,  he  is  alfo^  to  be  credited  in'  the 
firft.  But  a'philofopher  who  vaunts  the  phyfical  and  moral  qua- 
lities  of  Europeans  over  thofe  of  the  Americans,  would  have 
done  better,  we  think,  to  have  fuppreifed  fa£ls  fo  opprobrious  to 
the  Europeans  therpfelves.  '  , 

Nothing  in  fa£l  demonftrates  fo  clearly  the  robuftnefs  of  the 
Americans  as  thofe  Various  and  lafting  fatigues  in  which  they  are  v. 
jContinually  engaged.  M.  dc  Paw  fays,  that  iy hen  the  New  Wiprld 
was  difcovered,  nothing  was  to  be  feen  but  thick  woods;  that  at 
prefent  there  are  feme  lands  upcultivated,  not  by  the  Am^ericans, 
however,  but  by  the  Africans  and  Europeans;  and  that  the  foil 
in  cultivation  is  to  the  foil  which  ijs  uncultivated  as  2000  to 
2,000,000.  Thefe  three  aflertions  the  Abbe  demonftrates  to  be 
precifely  as  many  errors.  Since  the  conqueft,  the  Americans 
alone  have  been  the  people  who  have  fupported  all  the  fatigu<!s 
of  agriculture  in  all  the  vaft  countries  of  the  continent  of  South 
America,  s^d  in  the  greater  part  of  thofe  of  South  America  fub- 
je£l  to  the  crown  of  Spain.  No  European  is  ever  to  be  feen 
employed  in  the  labours  of  the  field.  The  Moors  who,  in  com> 
parifon  of  the  Americans,  are  very  few  in  number  iii  the  king- 
dom of  New  Spain,  are  charged  with  the  culture  of  the  fugar/ 
cane  andtdbacco,  and  the  making  of  fUgar;  but  the  foil  deftined 
for  the  cultivation  of  thofe  plants  is  not  with  refpe£l  to  all  the 
cultivated  land  of  that  country  in  the  p  "-oportion  of  one  to  two 
thoufand.  The  Americans  are  the  people  who  labour  on  the  foil. 
They  are  the  tillers,  the  fowers,  the  weeders,  and  the  reapers  of 
the  wheat,  of  the  maize,  of  the  rice,  of  the  beans,  and  other  kinds 
of  grain  and  pulfe,  of  the  cacoa,  of  the  vanilla,  of  the  cotton,  of 
the  indigo,  and  all  other  plants  ufeful  to  the  fuftenance,  the  cloath- 
ing,  and  commerce  of  thofe  provinces ;  and  without  them  fo  little 
can  be  done,  that  In  the  year  1762,  the  harveft  of  wheat  was 
abandoned  in  many  places  on  account  of  a  ficknefs  which  pre- 
vailed and  prevented  the  Indians  from  reaping  it.  But  this  is  not 
all }  the  Americans  are  they  who  cut  and  tranfport  all  the  necef- 
fary  timber  from  the  woods ;  who  cut,  tranlport,  and  work  the 
ftones ;  who  make  lime,  plafter,  and  tiles ;  who  conftruft  all  the 
Buildings  of  that  kingdom,  except  a  few  places  where  none  of 
them  inhabit ;  who  open  and  repair  all  the  roads,  who  make  the 
canals  and  iluices,  and  clean  the  cities..  They  work  in  many 
aaincs  of  gold,  offilver,  of  copper,  &c.  they  are  the  fhephcrds, 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

herdfmen,  weavers,  potters,  baflcet-makers,  bakers,  covriers,  day- 
labourers,  &c.  in  a  word,  they  are  the  perfons  who  bear  all  the 
burden  oiF  j>ubJic  labours.  Thefe,  fays  our  juftly  indignant  au- 
thor, are  the  employments  of  the  weak,  daflardly,  and  ufelefs 
Americans ;  wh;ile  the  vigorous  M.  de  Paw,  and  other  indefatigable 
Europeans,  are  occupied  in  writing  inve£Uves  againft  them. 

Thefe  laboun,  in  which  the  IndiaiS^  are  continuaHy  employed, 
certainly  atteft  their  healthiaefs  and  (Ircngth- ;  for  if  they  are  able 
to  undergo  fuch  fatigues,  they  cannot  be  difealcd,  nor  have  an 
exhaufted  ftream  of  blood  in  their  veins,  as  M.  dc  Paw  infinuates. 
|n  order  to  nuke  it.  believed,  that  their  conflitutions  are  vitiated, 
he  copies  whatever  he  finds  written  by  hiftorians  of  America, 
whether  true  or  falfe,  refpe^ing  the  difeaf|s  which  reign  in  fome 
particular  countries  of  that  great  continent.  It  is  not  to  be  deni. 
ed,  that  in  fome  countries  in  the  wide  compafs  of  America,  men 
are  expofed  more  tban  elfewhere  to  the  diftempers  which  are  oc- 
cafioned  by  the  intetuperature  of  the  air,  or  the  pernicious  quali- 
ty of  the  aliments  ;  but  it  is  certain,  according  to  the  aflertion  of 
many  refpe^blq  ^uthors  acquainted  with  the  New  World,  that 
th^  American  -countries  are,  for  the  moft  part,  healthy ;  and  if  the 
Americans  were  difpofed  to  retaliate  on  M.  de  Paw,  and  other 
European  authors  yho  write  as  he  does,  they  would  have  abun- 
dant fubje6l  of  materials  to  throw  difcredit  on  the  clime  of  the 
Old  Continent,  and  the  conftitution  of  its  inhabitants  in  tl^e  en- 
demic diftempers  which  prevail  there; 

Laftly,  The  fuppofed  feeblenels  and  unfound  bodily  habit  of 
the  Americans  do  not  corn;fpond  with  the  length  of  thei^  liVes. 
Among  thofe  Americans  whofe  great  fatigues  and  exceifive  toils 
do  not,  anticipate  their  death,  there  are  not  a  few  who  reach  the 
age  of  80,  90,  and  too  or  more  years,  as  formerly  mentioned,; 
and  what  is  more,  without  there'  being  obferved  in  them  that  de-p 
cay  which  time  commonly  produces  in  the  hair,  in  the  tefeth,  in 
the  (kin,  and  in  the  mufdes  of  the  human  body.  This  phenome- 
l^on,  fo  much  admired  by  the  Spaniards  who  relide  in  Mexico, 
cannot  be  afcribed  to  any  other  caufe  than  the  vigour  of  their 
conflitutions,  the  temperance  of  their  diet,  and  the  falubrity  of 
their  clime.  Hiftorians,  and  other  perfons  who  haye  fojourned 
there  for  many  years,  report  the  i^^ut  thing  of  other  countries  of 
the  Ncv  World. 

As  to  the  mental  qualities  oFtl^e  Americans,  M.  de  Paw  has 
not  been  able  to  difcover  any  other  chara£lers  than  a  memory  fo 
feeble,  that  to  day  they  do  not  remember  what  they  did  yefter- 
day  *,  a  capacity  fo  blunt,  that  they  are  incapable  of  thinking,  or 
putting  their  ideas  in  order ;  a  difpofition  fo  cold,  that  they  feel 
no  excitement  of  love  ^  a  daftardly  fpirit,  and  a  genius  that  is 


OF  AMERICA, 


0 


««* 


<  t 


ers,  day- 
r  all  the 
nant  au- 
di ufelefs 
sfatigablc 
em. 

Bployed, 
r  are  able 
-  have  an 
ifinuates. 

vitiated, 
America, 
I  in  fome 

be  deni. 
rica,  men 
h  are  oc- 
»U8  quali- 
fertion  of 
arid,  that 
ind  if  the 
md  other 
ive  abun- 
|Ae  of  the 
tl\e  en- 


habit  of 
leif  liVes. 
ive  toils 
each  the 
ntioned; 

that  de^ 
tebth,  in 

lenome- 
Mexico, 

of  their 
ibrity  of 
sjourned 
intries  of 

Paw  has 
*mory  fo 
d  yefter- 
tking,  or 
they  feel 
that  i« 


torpid  and  indolent.  Many  other  Europeans,  indecid,  ind:  what 
is  ftill  more  wonderful,  many  of  thofe  children  or  defcendants  of 
Europeans  who  are  born  in  America,  think  as  M.  de  Paw  does ; 
fome  from  ignorance,  fome  firom  want  6f  rfeflcAion,  atid  otheri 
from  heredjtary  prejudice  and  prepoffeflion.  'But  all  this  and 
more  would  not  be  fuf&cient  to  invalidate  the  teftimonie's  of 
other  Europeans,  whofe  authority  have  a  great  de^  more  weight, 
both  becaufe  they  were  men  of  great  judgment,  laming,  and 
knowledge  of  thefe  countries,  and  b«cattfe  they  gave  thi^r  tefti^ 
mony  in  favour  of  ftrangers  againft  their  iown  countrymen.  In 
particular,  Acofta,  whofe  natural  and  moral  hiftory  even  de  P|iw 
commends  as  an  excdUnt  auorA,  employs  the  whole  fixth  book  in 
demonftrating  the  good  fenfe  of  the  Americans  by  an  explanation 
of  their  ancient  government,  their  laW«,  their  hiftories  in  paint- 
ings and  knots,  calendars,  &c.  M.  de  Paw  thinks  the  Americans 
are  beftial;  Acoftaj  on  the  other  hand,  reputes  thofe  perfons 
weak  and  prcfumptuous  who  think  them  fo.  M.  de  Paw  fays, 
that  the  iBoft  acute  Americans  were  inferior  in  induflty  and  faga- 
city  to  the  hideft  nations  of  the  Old  Continent ;  Accfta  extols 
the  civil  government  of  the  Mexicans  above  many  republics  of 
Europe.  M.  de  Paw  finds,  in  the  moral  and  political  condifft  of 
the  Americans,  nothing  but  barbarity,  extravagance,  "and  brutali- 
ty ;  and  Acofta  finds  there,  la^ws  that  are  admirable  and  worthy 
of  being  preferved  for  ever. 

M.  de  Paw  denies  them  courage,  and  alleges  the  conqueft  of 
Mexico  as  a  proof  of  their  cowardice.  **  Cortes  (he  fays,)  conr 
quered  the  empire  of  Mexico  with  450  vagabonds  and  15  horfes,' 
badly  armed ;  his  miferable'  artillery  confifted  of  fix  falconets, 
whidi  would  not  at  the  ^refent  day  be  capable  of  exciting  the 
fears  of  a  fortrefs  defended  by  invalids.  During  his  abfence  the 
capital  was  held  in  awe  by  the  half  of  his  troops.  What  men  ! 
what  events !- — It  is  confirmed  by  the  depofitions  of  all  hiftbri- 
ans,  that  fh<:  Spaniards  entered  the  firft  time  ints  Mexico  without 
making  one  fingle  difcharge  of  their  artillery.  If  the  title  of  he- 
ro is  applicable  to  him  who  has  the  difgrace  to  occafion  the  death 
of  a  great  number  of  rational  animals,  Ferdinand  Cortes  might 
pretend  to  it ;  otherwife  I  do  not  fee  what  true  glory  he  has  ac- 
.  quired  by  the  overthrow  of  a  tottering  monarchy,  which  might 
have  been  deftroyed  in  the  fame  manner  by  any  other  alTaflln  of 
our  continent."  Thefe  paffages  indicate  either  M.  de  Paw's  ig- 
norance ^f  the  liiftory  of  the  conqueft  "of  Mexico,  or  a  wilful 
fuppreffion  of  what^Vould  openlj-  contradift  his  fyftem :  fince  all 
who  have  read  that  hiftory  know  well,  that  the  conqueft  of 
Mexico  wa»  not  made  with  450  men,  but  with  more  than 
200,000.     Cortes  hiriifelf,  to  whom  it  was  of  more  importance 


."Q 


GENERAL  DESCRTPTIOIf 


i 


ill 


if  i 


than  to  M.  de4^iw  to  make  hit  bravery  confpicuous,  and  his  coiw 
quell  appear  glorious,  confefTes  the  cxccflive  number  of  the  allica 
vho  were  under  his  command  at  ^he  ftege  of  the  capital,  and 
combated  with  more  fury  againll  the  Mexicans  than  the  Span- 
iards themfelves.  According  to  the  account  which  Cortes  gave 
to  the  emperor  Chales  V.  the  fiege  of  Mexico  began  with  87  horfes, 
848  Spanifli  in&ntry,  armed  with  guns,  crofs-bows,  fwords, 
and  lances,  and  upwards  of  75,000  allies,  of  Tlafcala,  Huexotzin- 
co,  Cholula,  and  Chalco,  equipped  with  varipus  forts  of  arms ; 
with  three  large  pieces  of  cannon  of  iron,  il fmall  of  copper,  and 
13  brigantines.  In  the  courfe  of  the  fiege  were  aflembled  the  nu- 
merous nations  of  the  Otomies,  the  Cohuixcas,  end  Matlazincas, 
and  the  troops  of  the  populous  cities  of  the  lakes ;  fo  that  the 
army  of  the  befiegers  not  only  exceeded  200,000,  but  amounted 
to  4,ooo,ooOj|,aasording  to  the  letter  from  Cortes ;  and  befides  thefe 
.3000  boats  anii  canoes  came  to  their  afltilance.  Did  it  betray 
cowardice  to  have  fujAained,  for  full  74  days,  the  fiege  ol  un  opea 
city,  engaging  daily  with  an  army  to  large»  and  in  parr  provided 
with  arms  fo  fttperior,  and  at  the  fame  time  having  to  v/ithftand 
the  ravages  iail' famine  ?  CaQ  they  merit  thQ  charge  of  cowardice, 
who,  after  having  loft  feven  of  the  eight  parts  of  their  city,  and 
about  50,000- citizens,  part  cut  off  by  the  fword,  part  by  famine 
and  ficknefs,  Continued  to  defend  themfelves  until  they  were  fu- 
rioufly  affauked  in  the  laA  hold  Which  was  \?ft  them  ? 

Accor(^ing  to  M.  de  Paw^  *'  the  Americi»ns  a^  firft  Were  not 
believed  to  b^  n^,  but  rather  fatyrs,  or  largp  apes,  which  might 
be  murdered  iv^thout  remorfe  or^replroach.  At  laft,  in  order  to 
add  infuit  to  the  oppreflion  of  thofe  times,  a  pope  made  an  origi- 
nal bull,  in  which  he  declared,  that  being  defirous  of  founding' 
biihopries  in  the  richeft  countries  of  America,  it  pleafed  him  and 
the  Holy  Spirit,  to  acknowledge  the  Americans  to  be  true  men  : 
in  fo  far^  that  without  this  decifion  of  tin  Italian,  the  inhabitants 
of  the  New  World  would  have  appeared^  even  at  this  day,  to  the 
eyes  of  the  faithful^  a  race  of  equivocal  men.  There  is  no  ex- 
ample of  fuch  a  decifion  fince  this  ^obf  'has  been  inhabited  by 
men  and  apes."  Upon  this  paflage  the  Abbe  animadverts,  as  be- 
ing a  Angular  inftance  of  calumny  and  mifreprefentation ;  and 
gives  the  following  hiftory  of  the  decifion  alluded  to.- 

"Some  of  the  firft  Europeans  who  eftabliihed  themfelves  in 
America,  not  leis  powerful  than  avaricious,  defirous  of  enriching 
themfelves  to  the  detrimeifit  of  the  Americans,  kept  them  conti- 
nually employed,  and  made^  ufe  of  them  as  .flaves :  and  in  order 
to  avoid  the  reproaches  which  were  m[ade  them-  by  the.bifhops 
and  miffionarics  who  inculcated  humanity,  and  the  giving  liberty 
tt»  thofe  people  to  get  themfelves  inftru£led  in  religiotu  that  they 


JPF  AMERICA, 


1 »« 


id  his  con* 
>f  the  allic* 
:apital,  and 
,  the  Span- 
fortes  gave 
1 87horfcs, 
rs,   fwords, 
rluexotzin- 
s  of  arms ; 
•opper,  and 
lied  the  nu- 
datlazincas, 
fo  tktt  the 
t  amounted 
>efide8  thefe 
id  it  betray 
oi  un  open 
rr  provided 
>  withftand 
cowardice, 
lir  city,  and 
t  by  famine 
ey  vere  fu- 
? 
were  not 
lich  might 
in  order  to 
e  an  origi- 
'  foimding^ 
ed  him  and 
true  men : 
inhabitants 
day,  to  the 
is  no  ex- 
nhabited  by 
>rerts,  as  be- 
tation;  and 

lemfelves  in 
f  enriching 
hem  contt- 
id  in  order 
the.bifliops 
ving  liberty 
n,  that  they 
k 


Imight  do  their  duties  towards  the  church  and  their  families,  alledg- 
ed,  that  the  Indians  Were  by  nature  flaves  and  incapable  of  bdng 
>n(lru6ied;  and  many  other  falfehoods  of  which  the  Chronicler 
Herrera  makes  mention  againft  them.  Thofe  zealous  /ecdefiaftict 
being  unable,  either  by  their  authority  or  preaching  to  free  thofe 
unhappy  converts  from  the  tyranny  of  fuch  nuferS)  had  recouHe 
to  the  Catholic  Kings^  and  at  laft  obtained  frcm  their  juftice  ard 
clemency,  thofe  laws  as  favourable  to  the  Anaericana  u  honoura- 
ble to  the  cpurt  of  Spain,  that  compofe  tlM  Indian  eode^  nvhich  were 
chiefly  du<vto  thoRndefatigable  zeal  of  the  bifflif^  de  lat  Qdu»  On 
andlher  fide,  Garces  bifliop  of  Tlafcala,  knowing  that  thofe  Spent- 
iurds  bore,  notwithftanding  their  perverfiiy»  a  great  refpeft  to  th« 
4ieifions  of  the  vicar  of  Jefus  Chrift)  made  application  in  the  year 
1586  to  pope  Paul  III.  by  that  famoualetter  of  which  we  have  made 
mention ;  reprefcnting  to  him  the  evils  which<-AaL  Indiana  fuffer- 
ed  from  the  wicked  ChriftianS)  and  praymg  lam.  to  interpofe  hi* 
authority  in  their  behalf.  Hie  pOpe^  moVed  by  fuch  htfavy  re- 
monftrances,'  difpatched  the  next  year  the  original  hull*  which 
was  not  ma.de,  as  is  manifcfl;,  to  declare  the  Americana  true  men  $  , 
for.fucha  pieceof  weaknefs  was  yf9!ty  diftant  inkn  that  or  any 
other  pope ;  but  folely  to  fupport  the  natural  rights  of  the  Ame- 
ricana againft  the  attempts  of  their  eppreflbrs,  and  to  condemn  the 
Injuftice  ahd  inhununity  of  tho(t,  wlio,  under  the  pretence  of 
fuppofing  thofe  people  idolatrous, -or  incapiable  of  being  inftrufted* 
took  from  them  their  property  and  their  liberty^  and.  treated  them 
as  flaves  and  beafts*,^ 

If  at  firft  the  Americans  were  efteemedtatyrs^  nobody  can  bet- 
ter prove  it  tha9  Chriftopher  Columbus  their  difcoverer.  Let  us 
hear,  therefore,  how  that  celebrated  admiral  fpeaks,  in  his  account 
to  the  Catholic  King  Ferdinand  and  Ifabella,  of  the  firft  fatyrshe 
faw  in  the  iiland  of  Haiti,  or  Hifpaniola.  **  i  fwear,"  he  fays,  " ' 
your  majei^es,  that  there  is  not  a  better  people  in  the  world  than 
thefe,  more  affe6Uonate^  affable,  or  mild. '  They  loVe  their  neigh* 
hours  as  themfelves:  their  language  is  the,fweetcft,  the  fofteft,  and 
the  moft  cheerfql ;  for  they  always  fpcak  fmiling  ;  and  although 
they  go  naked,  let  your  majefties  believe  mc,  theii^  cuftoms  are  ve- 
ry becoming;  and  their  King,  who  is  ferved  with  great  majefty, 
has  fuch  engaging  mannei;s,  that  it  gives  great  pleafiire  to  fee  him, ' 
and  alio  to  confider  the  great  retentive  faculty  of  that  people,  and 
their  defirc  of  knowledge,  which  incites  them  to  afk  the  caufes  and 
the  efFe£ls  of  things." 

"  We  have  had  intimate  commerce  with  the  Americans  ^con- 
tinues  the  Abbt);  have  lived  fprfome  years  in  a  feminary  deflined 
for  their  in(lru£^ion  j  faw  the  '^eftion  aild  progrefs  of  th^  royal 


ifii 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


V       A 


a 


iiiii 


rdt^igcf  of  Caudalnupe,  founded  in  Mexico,  by  *  Mexican  Jefuir, 
for  Vhe  «dttC>tion  of  IndMn  children  ;  had  afterwards  fome  Indi- 
ana amongft  our  pupils  *,  had^rticulur  knowledge  of  many  Ame- 
Hcan  reAors,  many  noMct,  and  numeroua  artifts ;  atteiuivety  ob* 
fenred'  Mietir  clianrtEker,  their  gicnhis,  their  dirpofition,  and  manner 
of  ihinlLing ;  and  fiiiave  cxaittinrd  beildcs,  with  the  utmoft  diU- 
gtnce,  4AMliir  awekm  4iillory,'th^rr  religion,  their  govcmnient,  their 
)aw«  and  their  cuftmns.  After  Tttch  ton«r  experience  and  ftudy  of 
them,  f  r»m  ^n^ftdi  ^wtlMttghicourret^eBetwhlrd  to  decide  without 
danger  «f«ri4iij|,<wr4«dlai«'io  M.  de  Paw,  andto  all  Europe,  that 
rhe«Hhitat  ^fviMi^k^'^  iAm  Amei4cans  are  not  tn  the  leaft  inferior 
te  ^teXt  «C  tKe  WM$atp0lMi  <1m4  Vhey  ajr  capable  of  a)l,  even  the 
moft  alMbaA  (cienUH;  aMt  tliat  if  c^^l  care  was  taVen  of  their 
^edueatkm,  if  they  vww  Vmm|^  up  from  childhood  in  feminarieft 
undergooA  matleMi'  W«re  protein  and  ftimutated  by  rewards,  we 
fhouldice^ife  amongt^cf  Americans,  ptiiloTopAiers,  mathematicians, 
Mvl  divines,  ivlio  would  >riv«l  ^  fim  in  Europe/' 

£kit  aMiough  wc  ftid«Ad  ^wpbc/k,  ihat,  in  tbe  torrid  dimates  of 
thel^rfKABcM,  u.w<?ttaSm4hofe'of  <he  Otd,  efpedally  under 
the  adiditionaladei^eifion  of  Ikvcry,  4hei«  was  an  inferiority  of  the 
mesita)  |Miiver8,  tjbip  Chatc4e  and  the  North  Americans  have  difco> 
«ered  Ughcr  sudiaacots  of  huvmn  excellence  and  ingenuity  than 
luve  ever  bee»  known  amlong  tribes  in  a  {knilar  Hate  of  (bciety  in 
,  any  pint  4)1  tiie  woild. 

M.  de  iPinr  «fiBr<iia,  that  -the  American*  were  unac^ainted  witfc- 
the  ufe  of  money,  and^  quotes  the  following  we!l-kn6wh  pafTage 
from  MonCef^iiieu:  ^lnia|^ne4o  yourfdf,  that,  by  Tome  accident, 
yuujuoe  placed  in  n  unJutown  «oufitry  •,  if  you  find  money  there, 
do  AOt  )dQH)>t:l3vrt:  y fiu  arc  arrived  among  a  piotifhed  people.**    JBut 
if  by  money  wt  are  to  4mder(buui  a  pieicc  'Of  metal  wkh  the  ftamp 
of  the  pdnce  or  the  ptiblic,  the  want  of  it  4*  a  na^on  k  no  token 
oi  barharky.    The  Akhei|ians  employed  oxen  for  money,  as  the 
Romans  did  Iheep.    The  Romans  had  -  ao  ^^oined  money  till  the 
time  of  Scrvma  TuUios,  xior  tlie  P«<;fians  until  the  reign  of  Darius 
Hy ilafpes.    But  if  by  money  is  underilood  a  fign  reprefenting  the" 
value  of  merchandile,  .tke  Mesdcans,  and  other'ratSdns  of  Anahuac, 
employed  money  m  tiieir  commetcs.    The  oatae,  of  which  they 
made  conftanc  v$»  in  the  tnarkft  to  pure ^^r<»  w4iatevcr  <hey  want- 
ed, was  employed  for  fKhis  purpoTe,  as  fait  is    n  Abyflinia. 

It  has  been  affirmed,  *4iat  &onc-bridges  w«i  e  unknown  in  Ame- 
rica when  it  \vas  firft  difcovered ;  and  that  the  natives  did  nOt 
know  how  to  Iprei  arches.  But  thefe  aifertions  are  erroneous. 
The  remains  of  the  aikcient  palaces  of  Tezcuco,andfHU  more  their 
vapour^baths,  fiiow  :the  .ancienC  Isfe  of  arches  and  vaults  among  the 
Mexicans.    But  the  ignorance  <^  this  art  would  have  been  no 


p^f  AMRRJCA, 


t%$ 


proof  ol  baxUvity.    Neitthcr  Uu-  Kgyptiaafr  nor  B«by'lomu>fr  vm" 
doriUo4  tht  «onilru6kion  of  gvchei* 

M.  do  Paw  sfinru,  that  tht  pahct  of  Modlc««UB»  wu  iioiArin|| 
eira  tiMa  a.  hm»  But  ii  ia^^certatts  fvont  tk«  aftraiaiion  of  ali  tAr> 
hiftoriaaft  of  Menka,  th«b  tht  wmy  .iA<ier.G««tM^  conftAing  of 
6^00  men,  w«re  aU  lo4g«<ii  in  tk«  fialaiM  -,  «a4)«lici«  raitfaitiMl  AiA 
fuAckat  room  £ui  MontrAoma^  wad  hit  «tt«fMi•(^»»• 

The  advances  wkicK  tUe  MeHl««iia<  kad  aiKk.  i»  the  ftiidbjr  hf 
aftronomy  i»  p«f haft  the  laoft  rurpsMiiifipciiof  of'  iKeir  Kt^eionlt 
and  ragacity;  for  it  appeara  frdt»  tiM  AM'46l|Pri|plt>'a  Hi4(b¥jrV- 
that  they  noe  oidy  adwntoA  ^^^  dayt  t«  tlM'  ^^iWV  %ot  M6'lMdSif  of 
tlic  cxc^  <if  abiout  ftx  hours^  iw  the  ffatiHr  over  l4ie'crvil'^yi^,  kud* 
rem<(ii«4fhttdtfleMiicjcby  iMam'Aftnt^tiraitlrjrcliya:  '» 

\  Of  AiMri«an  moraMiy^  the  StAitmin^  ^jfhbrtirtiott  of  *  Mcxittrf 
le  his  IbiT  moji  fewo  as  « (^eohneiv.  «  My  (b^  who  nt  emxH&hitti 
«be  light  fvom  the  ^tMiIk  of  «hy  ntoihoriiliitf  t  «fki<.-^cit  frc^  tHd 
«ggy  aaiki  liko  it  arepntipanng  to  df  thrdi^^tif  w6Ml,'  \9^  Kiimw* 
noe  how  long  Heaven  wtt  granr  io  us  the  «ii)#fmvnt  4t  ifhet  pnv 
«imi»  gem  which  we  |>offB&  in  thee  ?  but  hoi««ve»  fltoVlfl^^idniEM}; 
endefevAur  ta  ltvt.fitii8A7c,.  pvayiaig  Godcontkivalty  ItyilRfft  ff^M 
He  creet^d  tbctt  ;  thoi*  a«t  hui  pc«pei«y.  Bj  i»  thy  falAtcr,  aslU 
loviBs  thee  ftill  more,  tbMi  I  db:  repofie  in  him  thy  thougliiiH  Mi<t 
day  and  night  disc^  thy  fij^s  to  hinu  Revevenee  and  iiilUte  t1^ 
ciders,  and  hold  naoae  in  cooientpt.  T»  the  pomr  md  dHhtAM 
be.  not  dumb)  bot  rather  ufis  words  of  oouifiart^  Hoiloiii^  ali  ptri 
fons,  particulaiiy  thy  parents  to  whom  tkovi  oweft  <b(MK«M«e^  r<S 
%ie^  and  fnrviejQ.  Gnuard  againft  imitatinf  the  oxaiMplie  of  tHoi'e 
wicked  fonSy  who,  like  brutes  who  arc  depidrcd  o^rcttfimf  ttfcithc^ 
reverence  th«ir  pftteota^  liften.  to  dxcir  iniftiruftion,,  nor  (Iibraie  to 
ihoir  corredion}  becaufc  whoevi^  follows  tbieie  ftc|>ft  will  kabe'-an 
unhappy  end^  wiU  die  in  »  dcfperate  or  fuddm.  mannttrt  or  xmW 
be  killed  and  devoured  by  wild'< bcaiib.  ■     •• 

.  *'  Meek  niot,  my  fiany  the  aged  or  the  impearCtfb,  Scitm  nbtfbiiif 
whom  ye  fee  fall  into  fome  fblly  or  ttenfgareffion^  normalM  kiav  rcu^ 
proeches ;,  but  reAr^n  thyfolf,.  and>  beware  left  tbottfMl^itftd'thj 
fame  cvreir  which  offends  thee  io>  another-.  Go'  net  -wdrt  thou 
not  called,  nor  interfere  in  that  whk^  does  not  concern  th«e; 
Endeavour  to manifefl  thy  goodt bRyiing  in  all* tftiy  words  and  Jkr- 
tions.  In  converfatiori^  do  not  lay  dry  handi  upon  another,  nor 
fpeak  too  much,  nor  interrupt  or  difturb  another's  difoburict 
When  any  one  difcourfes  witb  thee,  hear  him  attentively,  and 
hold  thyfelf  in  an  eafy  attitude,  neither  playing  with  thy  feet,  nor 
putting  thy  mantle  to  thy  mouth,  nor  fpitting^  ♦oo  Often,  nor  look^ 
ing  about  you  here  and  there,  nor  riling^  up  frequently,  if  thou  art 

Q  2 


2 


"4 


GEN'ERAL  DESCRIPTJON 


fitting;  for  fuch  aftiohs  are  indications  of  levity  arid  ldw-brceding.'»^ 
—He  proceeds  to  mention  feveral  particular  vice*  which  are  to  be 
avoided,  and  concludes, — "  Steal  not,  nor  give  thyfclf  to  gaming  •, 
otherwife  thou  wijt  be  a  difgrace  to  thy  parents,  whom  thou  oughu 
eft  rather  to  honour  for  the  education  they  have  given  thee.  If 
thou  wilt  be  viituouf,  thy  example  will  put  the  wicked  to  (hame. 
No  more,  my  fon ;  eiujugh  his  been  Taid  in  difcharge  of  the  duties 
of  a  father.  With  thcfe  councils  I  wifh  to  fortify  thy  mind.  Re- 
fute, them  jnatf  nor  a^'in eontvadidion  to  them;  fo^  on  them  thy 
life  and  all  thy  h«ppin«&  depend.^' 


■t-».) 


I- 


An  iH|il.l.  lAs  ranging  on  the  fame  fide  with  the  Abbe  Clavige- 
ro,  the  ingeiUQus  ^r. JelFerfoii  deferves  pairtici4ar  atteAtioh.  Thi;^ 
gentleman,  in  his  notes  bn  thev$tatevof  Virginia,  ^c.  has  tlaken-oc-: 
csfion  to  con^bat  the  qpinions  ofBuffdn ;,  and  feems  to  have  fully 
refuted  them  both  by  argumei^  and  f»^.  The  French  philc  ^o-: 
pher  aiTerts,  "That  Uvi^ngoature  is  lefs  a^Uve^  lefs  energetic,  in 
the  New  World  than  in  the  Qld<"'  Heiaffirmf,  li  That  the  ani- 
mals common  to  both  contineAtis  are  fmallcr  V  Aodarioi,  2.  That 
tl:)9fe  peculiar  to  the  New  are  on  an  infect' jfeale^ '  ^  That  thofe 
-wbi(»h  have  l>een  ^omeiticated  in  both  have  deijpnerated  in  Ame- 
ritca*  And  4.  That  it  exhibits  fewer  fpecies'  bf  liying  creatures. 
The  eAufe  of  this  he  afcribes  to  the  diminution  of  he^t  in  America,*  . 
and  t0;ilhe  prevalence  of  humidity  from  the  ^Jltenfion  piF  its  lakes 
$nd  WMeis  over  a  prodigious  furface.  In-  other  y^rds,  he  affirms, 
that  heat  is  friendly  and  taoj/lure  adverfe  to  the  p^pdu^ion  and  de- 
velopement  of  the  large  quadrupeds.  ';  ' 

Tb^  bylpotbefis,  that  moifture  is  unfriendly  to  kttimal  growth^ 
^T.  Je^erfoh  ihows  to  be  contradi6fced  by  obfervs^ion  and  experi- 
ence.   It  is  by  the  afiiftance  bt  heat  and  mcnfturc  that  vegatables 
areelabdrtted'from  the  elements.    Accordingly  we  find,  that'Ah«: 
more  biunid  climates  produce  plants  in  greater  pi-ofufion  than  the 
dry.    Vegetable*  are  immediately  or  remotely  the  food  of  every 
aniittial ;  and  frooi  t^e  uniform  <^tration  of  Nature's  laws  we  dli- 
cern,  that,  iii.pipt^rtion  to  the  quantity  of  food,  animals  are  not 
only  multiplied  Jo  their  niuhbers,  but  improved  in  their  fize. 
Of  this  laft  opinion  is  the  Count  de  Buffon  himfelf,  in  another 
part  of  his  worl; :  "  £a  general,  il  paroit  que  les  pays  un  ^cu/rouit 
convlenn'^nt  mieuX  a  nos  boeufs  que  les  pays  chauds,  et  qu'ils  font 
d'autan,t  plus  gros  et  plus  grands  que  le  climat  eft  plus  humiik  et 
plus  abondans  en  paturages.    Les  boeufs  de  Danemarck,  de  la  Po- 
dolie,  de  I'Ukraine,  et  de  la  Tartaric  qu'habitent  les  Cilmouques, 
font  les  plus  grands  te  tous."    Here,  then,  a  race  of  animals,  and 
one  of  the  largeft  too,  has  been  increafed  in  its  dimenfions  by  cold 
and  moifture,  in  dircft  oppofition  to  the  hypothefis,  which  fup- 
'  pofes  that  thcfc  two  circumftanccs  diminilh  animal  bulk,  and  that 


Of  AMERICA. 


*25 


le- 


ques, 
,  and 
r  C0I4 
fup- 
1  that 


it  h  their  cdntraries,  heat  and  drynefs,  which  enlarge  it.  But  to 
tjry  the  queitidn  on  more  general  ground,'  let  us  take  two  portions 
of  the  earthy  Europe  and  America  for  inftance,  Sufficiently  exten* 
five  ^o  give  operation  to  general  caufes ;  let  us  confider  the  cir- 
cumftances  peculiar  to  each,  and  obferve  their  eifef):  on. animal 
nature.  America,  running  through  the  torrid  as  well  as  temperate 
zone,  has  more  heat,  cdlle£lively  taken,  than  Europe.  But  EuropCi 
according  to  oiir  hypothecs,  is  the  drieiK  They  are, equally  adapt- 
ed then  to  animal  produ£fcions;  each  being  endowed;  with,  one  of 
thpCe  jcaufes  which  befriend  animal  growth,. and  with  one  .which 
oppofes  it.  Det lis,  then,  take  a  comparative  ViciW^of  the  qutdx^peds 
of  Europe  and  America,  prefenting  them  to  the  eye  in  three  differ- 
ent tableis  i  in  one  of  which  fhall  be  enumerated  thofe  found  in 
both  countries ;  in  a  iecond,  thofe  found  iiri  one  only ;  in  a  third, 
thots  which  have  been  domefticatcd  4a  both.  To  facilitate  the 
compariron,  let  thofe  of  each  table  be  arranged  in  gradation,  ac- 
cording to  their  fizes,  from  the  greatcfl  tp  the  frtialleft,,  fo  far  as 
their  fizes  can  be  conjeflured.  The  weights  of  the  large  animals 
Aiall  be  exprefled  in  the  Englilh  avoirdupoife  pound  and  its  deci- 
ma;ls;  thofe  of  the  fmaller  in  the  <^nce  and-its-decimals.  Thofe 
which  are  marked  thus*,  are  zEtval  weights  of  particular  fubjeAsj 
deemed  ambngil  the  largefb  of  their  ipecies.    ^hofe  marked  thusf , 

are  furniflie^  py-jud^^fH's  P^^'^'^^v^Y^^^-^^^^^'^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^  Se- 
cies, and  faying,  from  conjefture  onfy,  what.the  largeil  individual 
they  had  feen  would  probal>ly  have  v^eighed.  The  other  weights 
are  taken  from 'Me  flrs.  ^ufFon  and  D'Aub&ntOn,  and  arc;  of  fuch 
fubjcGks  as  came  cafually  to  their  hands  for  d«fie£lion., 

**  Comparative  View  of  the  Quadrupeds  of  Europe  and  of  America. 


TABLE    I.     Aboriginals  of  ht'h,  - 

Mammoth  -  - 

Buffalo;     Bifon        -        -         - 

White  bear.     OUrs  bhi}c  • 

Caribou.     Renue 

Bear.     Ours        -         -        - 

Elk.     Elan.    Original,  palmated 

Red  deer.     Cerf        -        - 

Fallow  deer.     Daim        -        -        - 

Wolf.     Loup        _         .        _ 

lloe.     Chevreuil         ,         -        -         - 

Glutton.     Glouton.     Carcajou 

Wild  cat.     Chat  fauvage 

Lynx.     Loupcervier        -         -        - 

Beaver.    Caftor        -        - 

Badger.     Blaircau         .... 

Red  fox,,    Renard        -        - 


Europe. 

America. 

lb. 

lb. 

•1800 

>53-7 

•410 

288.8 

167.8 

69.8 

56.7 

•273 

+30 

25- 

18.5 
13.6 

♦45 

13-5 

GLNIR4L  DtRSCR^IPTION 


'IKIK 


lyn"  j^i^A'"M  ■ '. 


■■-■■■    ^    "^  ■    .  ■ '  . ,. 


Europe* 

^All^ripa. 

■ft.:'- 

IS. 

1 

^         f.9 

'  ^i.fi*'  • 

»  •  ■:  ■  A:^ 

^2 

»-9 

'                  f^ 

02. 

;    '.'^^r 

>      ^ 

1              Sii 

«te. 

:«,♦»,■, 

u 

*•• 

K'.            "  f 

if  A  ML  J^  |l.     ASori^inats  of  one  anty. 


hn  MiiiiiitUiiiii  <■> 


FB. 


»*>*M<—^i    hiitw'  Ok 


Motriidttai    W^d  ihee^ 
BMi(tti«t|a.    Wadgdtif, 
Lmk^9..,    !*«•«■  It*-  I-'."'"*-- 
J,!»IHi^;    Jb^Jiit    -    -:    - 
PutQisi.    PcAecat    ,-- r    ■ 
f^tn^i^     ■'    -    -'.■,*•■    "- 
I)^t!^an.     MuOcrat 
Ectfreufl.    Ilfjanti^   -    • 

Rat.    Eat      •    *■    -.  - 

\mT^  T-.  -•  ':'  ^' ^--ur  . 
Lerdt.  ]i)onnQiA(f  ^  - 
Toupc.  Mole  r'.  -''  - 
Hamfter     -    -    -    -    «■ 


-     ^9 


AMERICA. 

I  i  III      'rVl'iill     1 1  II  ^■tpJafcHIM'Wyi*!* 


m     •    «;  !    -w     ■  *    ■  ■  m- 


tapir    - 

gri  Tanuinuiiii 
m.  Cougar  etf  K.  Artliric* 
ii,  CoQtar  of  S.  Aaitt-iciir 
Oottot 

tAtak 
Paco 

rilii*-.  -  -  -  - 

Serval 

llDtll^    Unau    - 
Sirif  c^vienne 
KincaJQu 
Tatotl  Rabaffou 
Urfota.    Urchin 
iUccoont   Raton 
Co«lt 


534- 
+450. 

-  05-4 

-  75. 

43.6 


Slgth.    Ai      -    - 
Iftpljou  Ouarini 
Sapajou  Coaita    -    • 
TatQU  Encubert 
Talou  Apr 
Tatou  CacKica    -    • 
Little  Coendou  .    • 
Opoflum*    Sariguc 
Tapeti 
Margay 


-  3«-7 

-  ,«7i 

-  at.8 
116.3 

-  16.3 
•      »8.  ^ 

-  9'» 

-  ^5 


evii6f«. 


\^ 


'\'*'i-rid'\  •■ 


tn'iiryf'" 


AMtltrCA. 


a^3 


>^ 


Aioud 
Mpi^«tt^ 

Qn4>tnu  ^ulkm 

. ^rWIP-*  .'P  ••   -■  •<  .a...  . 

jfUWk  -    -    "    -    -    -    +8, 
Supt^iu    S|iou     -    .      1.8 
WMi^ig,  Cochond'Inde  xJS 
SifH^tt.    %tfa&n    -    -     i.^ 

Immr  grey  Ctmmtl    .     tx,^ 

E^fofer  " " "  ^'-^ 

iieci  ii|ttint9i      •    -    .    JO.  02, 

Stgoiiift^i 

Sii^  Ftftchlft 


6 


» 


lae 


GENE  HAS  DESCRIRTION 


**  Tht  refult  of  this  vievir  isj  that  of  26  quadrupeds  conunoh  t6 
both  countries*  feven  are  faid  to  be  larger  in  Anierica,  feven  of  equa! 
fizKy  andia  nut  fufllciciUly  ejtamined.  ISO  that  the  firft  table  iiri. 
peaches  the  firft.m<^ber  of  the  aflertion,  that  of  the  Animals  com- 
mon to  both  countrjei  the;  American  are  fmalleft,  "£t  cela  fans 
aucune  exceptiottl^* '.'It  41ti>Wsl  it  not  jud,  in  all  the  latitude  in 
which  its  authoi;  'lifti  idyaz^iced  it,  and  probably  not  to  fuch  a  de« 
gree  as  to  found  it.^^m^{lidn  l^tween  the  two  countries. 

»*  ProceedU^  itP:  the^JEpcond  table,  which  arranges  the  animals 
found  in  one  ^f.^hit  tmro  jcowntries  only,  M.  de  BufFon  obferves, 
that  thtftapMr,  the^phtatVdf  America,  is  but  of  the  fize  of  a  fmalt 
cow.  To  preferve  our.  (;tiitiparifon,  Mr.  Jefferfon  ftates  the  >trild 
boar,  the  elephant  Qfr£uit|»e  a^'Uttfemore  than  half  that^iize.  He 
has  made  an  dk  wii^  foiifi^  or  Cylindrical  horns,  an  animal  of 
America,  and  pecidiar  to  x%\  becaufe  he  has  feen  many  of  them 
himfelf,  and  more  of  their  horns ;  and  becufe,  from  the  beft  infor- 
mation, h  IS  certain  that  in  Virginia  this  kind  of  elk  has  aboundcfd 
much,  and  ftill  exifts  in  fmaller  numbers.  He  makes  the  American 
hare  or  rabbit  peculiar j l>eItevi|Bg  it  to  be  different  from  both  the. 
Buropean  animjuii  of  thofe  denominations,  and  calling  it  therefore 
by  its  Algonouin  name  WMbus,  to  keep  it  diitin£l  from  thef6, 
Kalm  is  of  the  fame  opinion.  The  f^^uirrcls  are  denominated  from 
a  knowledge  derived  from  daily  fight  of  them,  becaufe  with  that 
the  European  appellations  and  defcriptions  feem  irreconcileabte. 
Thefe  are  the  only  ii^nces  in  which  Mr.  Jeiferfon  departs  from 
the  authority  of  M.  de  BufFon  in  the  conftruftion  of  this  table  ; 
whom  he  takes-  for  his  grQund-work,  becaufe  he  tlijnks  him  the 
beft  informed  of  any  naturalift  who  has  ever  written.  The  refult 
is,  that  there  are  1^  quadrupeds  peculiar  to  Europe ;  more  ,than 
four  times  as  many,  to  wit  74,  peculiar  to  America ;  that  the  firft 
of  thiefe  74,  the  taphir,  the  largeft  of  the  animals  peculiar  to  America 
weighs  more  than  the  Vrh«^e  column  of  Europeans';  and  confe^ 
qoently  this  fecoiid  table  difproip^s  the  fecond  member  of  the  afler- 
tion,  that  the  animals  pccull^  to  the  New  World  are  on  a  fmaller 
feale,  fo  far  as  that  a(Ierti<M|  reHed  on  European  animals  for  fup- 
port :  and  it  is  in  full  oppoHtion  to  the  theory  which  makes  the 
animal  volume  to  depend  on  the  circumftances  of  heat  and 
moiflure. 

'*  The  third  tible  comprehends  thofe  quadrupeds  only  which 
are  domefkic  in  both  countries.  Thaf  fofhe  of  thefe,  in  fome  parts 
of  America,  have  become  lefs  than  their  original  flock,  is  doubt- 
lefs  true  }  and  the  reafbn  is,  very  obvious,.  In  a.  thinly  peopled 
country,  the  fpontaneous  produ£Uons  of  the  ^orells  and  wafle 
fields  are  fufficent  to  fupport  indifferently  the  domefltc  animals  of 
the  farmer,  with  a  very  little  aid  from  him  in  the  feverefl  and 


^s. 


OF  AMERICA. 


a  89 


ficarceft  fetfon.  He  therefore  finds  it  more  convenient  to  re- 
ceive them  from  the  hand  of  Nature  in  that  indifferent  ftate,  than 
to  keep  up  their  fize  by  a  care  and  nouriftiment  which  would  cofk 
him  much  labour.  If,  on  this  low  fare,  thefe  animals  dwindle,  it 
is  ho  more  than  they  do  in  thofe  parts  of  Europe  where  the  po- 
verty of  the  foil,  or  poverty  of  the  owner,  reduces  them  to  the 
fame  fcanry  fubfiftence.  It  is  the  uniform  eiFeft  of  one  and  the 
lame  cauie,  whether  a£ling  on  this  or  that  fide  of  the  globe.  It 
would  be  erring,  therefore,  againil  that  rule  of  philofophy,  which 
teaches  us  to  aicribe  like  efFe£is  to  like  caufes^  fliould  we  impute 
this  diminution  of  fize  in  America  to  any  imbecility  or  want  of 
uniformity  in  the  operations  of  nature.  It  may  be  affirmed  with 
truth,  that  iii  thofe  countries,  and  with  thofe  individuals  of  Ame- 
rica, where  uecefll(y  or  curiofity  has  produced  equal  attention  ag- 
in Europe  to  the  nourifhment  of  animals,  the  horfes,  cattle,  flieep, 
and  hogs  of  the  one  continent  are  as  large  as  thofe  of  the  other* 
There  are  particulai-  inftances,  well  atlftfted,  where  individuals  of 
America  have  imported  good  breeders  from  England,  and  have 
improved  their  fize  by  care  in  the  courfe  of  fome  years.  And 
the  weights  a£lually  known  and  flated  in  the  third  table^^  will  fuf- 
fice  to  ihow,  that  we  may  conclude,  on  probable  grounds,  that, 
with  equal  food  and  care,  the  climate  of  America  will  preferve  the 
races  of  domeflic  animals  as  large  as  the  European  flock  from 
which  they  are  derived;  and  confequently  that  the  third  mem- 
ber of  Monf.  de  Btuffon's  afiertion,  that  the  domeflic  animals  ai-e 
fubje6l  to  degeneration  from  the  climate  of  America^  is  as  proba- 
bly wrong  as  the  firfl  and  fecond  were  certainly  fo. 

That  the  lafl  part  of  it  is  erroneous,  which  affirms,  that  the  fpe^ 
cies  of  American  quadrupeds  are  comparatively  few,  is  evident 
from  the  tables  taken  altogether;  to  which  may  be  added  the 
proof  adduced  by  the  Abbe  Clavigero.  According  to  BufFon's 
latefl  calculation,  in  his  Epoches  de  la  JV^/ur^, there  are  300  fpecie& 
<^f  quadrupeds ;  and  i\merica,  though  it  does  not  make  moref  than 
a  third  part  of  the  globe,  contains,  according  to  Clavigero,  almofl 
one  half  of  the  different  fpecies  of  its  animals. 

Of  the  human  inhabttants  of  America,  to  whom  the  fame  hy- 
pothefis  of  degeneracy  is  extended,  M.  BufFon  gives  the  following 
defcription :  "  Though'  the  American  favage  be  nearly  of  the 
fame  ffciture  with  men  in  polifhed  focieties  i  yet  this  is  not  a  fuf- 
ficient  exception  to  the  general  contra£lion  of  animated  Nature 
throughout  the  whole  continent.  In  the  faVage,  the  organs  of 
generation  are  fmall  and  feeble.  He  has  no  hair,  no  beard,  no 
ardour  for  the  female.  Though  nimbler  than  the  European,  be- 
caufe  more  accuftomed  to  running,  his  flrcngth  is  n6t  i"o  great. 


ifid 


\ 


dtNt^AAL  D£SCklPTiOir 


His  fehfations  are  lefs  acute  :  and  yet  he  is  more  timid  and  taW-* 
ardly.  Hie  has  no  vivacity,  no  a^ivity  of  mind.  The  aAivity  of* 
his  body  is  not  fo  much  an  exercife  of  fpontaneous  motipn,  as  • 
neceflfary  aftion  produced  by  want«  Deflroy  his  appetite  for  vic» 
tuals  and  drink,  and  you  will  at  onee  annihilate  the  aftiVe  princi" 
]^le  of  all  hia  movements :  He  remains  in  ftupid  repofc)  on  hi* 
limbs  or  coUch,  for  whole  days.  It  is  eafy  to-difcover  the  caufe 
of  the  fcattered  life  oJF  favages,  and  of  their  eilrangement  from  fo^ 
eiety.  They  have  been  refufed  the  mod  precious  fpiark  of  Na- 
turif's  fife :  Thby  have  no  ardour  for  women^  and^^  of  courfe,  no* 
love  to  mankiod^  Unacquainted  with  the  moft  lively  and  moft 
tender  of  ,.U  attachments,  their  other  fcnlations  of  this  nature  arO  - 
cold  and  languid.  Their  love  to  parents  and  children  artf  extrcime^  > 
)y  weak*  The  bor.:ls  of  the  ni»ft  intimate  of  all  focieties,  that 
of  the  fame  family,  an.  feeble  ;  and  one  family  has  no  attachment 
to  another.  Hefiice  no  union^  no  republic^  no  focial  ftate,  can 
take  place  among  them.  The  phyfi«al  eatifeiiriove  gives  rife  t« 
the  morality  of  their  manners^  Their  heart  ia  frozen,  their  foci- 
ety  cold,  and  t^eir  empire  cruel.  They  regard  their  flemales  as 
ierVants  deftined  to  labour^  or  as  beafts  of  burden,  whom  they 
load  unmercifully  with  the  produce  of  their  huntings  )and  oblige^ 
without  pity  or  gratitude,  to  perform  labours  which  often  exceed 
their  ftrength.  They  have  few  children,  and  pay.  little  attention 
to  them.  Every  thing  muft  be  referred  to  the  firit  caufe  i  They 
are  indifferent,  becaufe  they  are  weak  ;  and  this  iiklifForence  t<» 
the  fex  is  the  original  (lain  which  difgraces  Nature,  prevents  her 
from  expanding,  and,  by  deftroying  the  germs  of  life,  cuts  the 
root  of  fociety.  Hedle  man  makes  no  exeeptibn  to  ^hat  has 
been  athr^anced.  Nature  by  denying  him  the  faculty  of  love,  has 
abufed  and  contradied  him  more  than  any  other  animal." 

A  humila|ing  pifture  indeed }  but  than  which,  Mr.  Jefferfon 
aifures  us,  never  was  one  more  unlike  the  original.  M.  BufFon 
grants,  that  their  ftature  is  the  fiune  as  that  of  the  men  of  Europq^ 
and  he  might  have  admitted*  that  the  Iroquois  were  larger,  and 
the  Lenopi  or  Dela wares  taller,  than  people  in  Europe  generally 
are :  But  he  fays  their  organs  of  generation  are  fmaller  and  weak- 
er than  thofe  of  Europeans ;  which  is  not  a  faft.  And  as  to  their 
want  of  beard,  this  error  has  been  already  noticed. 

"  They  have  no  ardour  for  their  female."— It  is  true,  that  they 
do  not  indulge  thofe  exceffes,  nor  dil'cover  that  fondnefs,  which 
are  cuilomary  in  Europe  ;  but  this  is  not  owing  to  a  dcfe3:  ia  na-  . 
ture,  but  to  manners.  Their  foul  is  wholly  bent  upon  war.  This 
is  what  procures  them  glory  among  the  men,  and  makes  them  the 
admiration  \>f  the  women.  To  this  they  are  educated  from  their 
carliefl  youth.     When  they  purfue  game  with  ardour,  when  they 


OF  AMERICA, 


»a» 


htax  the  fatigues  of  the  chace,  when  they  fuftain  and  fuffer  patient- 
ly hunger  and  cold,  it  is  not  fo  much  for  the  fake  of  the  game 
they  purCue,  as  to  convince  their  parents  and  the  council  of  the 
nation,  that  they  are  fit  to  be  inroUed  in  the  number  of  the  war- 
riors. The  fongs  of  the  woman,  the  dance  of  the  warriors,  tl>e 
fage  counfel  of  the  chiefs,  the  tales  of  the  old,  i\it  triumphal  entry 
of  the  warriors  returning  with  fuccefs  from  battle,  and  jthe  refpe^l 
paid  to  thofe  who  diilinguifh  thcmfelves  in  battle,  and  in  jlUhdu- 
ing  their  enemies,  in  ihort,  every  thing  they  fee  or  hear,  tends  to 
infpire  them  with  an  ard'-nf  defire  for  military  fame.  If  a  young 
man  were  to  difcover  a  fondnefs  for  women  before  he  l^s  hieen  to 
w;  r,  he  would  become  the  contempt  of  the  men,  a|i4  the  fcurn 
pud  ridicule  of  the  women;  or  were  he  to  indulge  )iimlelf  with 
a  captive  taken  in  war,  and  much  more  were  he  to  offer  violence 
in  order  to  gratify  his  luft,  he  would  incur  indelible  difg;>ace. 
The  feeqriing  frigidity  of  the  men,  therefp^e,  is  the  effed:  of  man- ' 
pers,  and  not  a  d^||^  of  nature,  They  ^re  neither  toore  defec- 
tive in  ardour,  nor  more  impotent  with  the  fennale,  than  are  thp 
whites  i-educed  to  the  fame  diet  and  exer^ife, 

"  They  raife  few  <:hildrcn,"?-rThey  indeed  ralfc  fewer  childreii 
Jthan  we  do  $  the  caufe^  of  which  ajrc  to  be  foundt  not  in  a  differ- 
ence of  nature,  but  of  circum^nce.  The  women  very  fre^uent^ 
\y  attending  tbje  men  in  their  parties  of  war  ar^d  of  hunting,  child- 
bearing  becoifies  extremely  ifjconveijient  to  them.  It  is  faid, 
therefore,  that  they  have  learned  the  praftice  of  procuring  abor- 
tion by  the^  ufe.  of  fome  vegetable  ;  and  that  it  even  extends  to 
prevent  conception  for  a,  confulerable  time  afti&r.  Paring  thefe 
parties  they  are  cxpoled  to  numerous  hazards,  to  exceRlve  e«er- 
tioais,  to  the  gfeateft  ejttr^mitie*  of  hunger.  Even  a,t  their  homes, 
the  nation  depends  for  food,  thrptt|(^  a  c^ertainpart  ojF  eyery  year, 
on  the  gleanings  of  the  foreft  >,  that  is,  ^they  experience  a  famine 
PQC:e  in  every  year,  Wi^h  all  ani^mals,  if  the  £Bm4c  |be  badly  fed, 
or  not  fed  at  all,  her  young  periih ;  and,  if  bo^  male  aixd  female 
be  redu(:ed  to  like  want,  generation  becomes  lels  ja£Uve,  lefs  pro- 
du^ive,  To  thjB  obftacLes,  then,  of  want  and  hazard,  which  Na- 
ture! Hal  0ppqfe4  to  the  multiplication  of  wil^  animals,  for  the 
purpole  of  rcftraining  their  numbers  within  certain  bounds,  tho^ 
of  labour  and  voluntary  abortion  arc  added  with  the  Indian.  No 
wonder,  then,  if  they  multiply  leis.than  we  do.  Where  food  is 
regularly  fupplied,  a  fingle  farm  will  ihow  more  of  cattle  than  a 
wh(4e  country  of  forefts  can  of  bufialoes.  The  fame  Indian  wo- 
men, when  married  to  white  traders,  who  feed  them  and  their 
cluldren  plentifully  and  regularly,  who  exempt  thern  froni  exf ef- 
iive  drudgery,  who  keep  them  flationary  and  unexppfed  to  acci-. 

R  2 


i3« 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


ijii '  „, 

Hi 


dent,  produce  end  raife  as  many  children  as  the  white  women. 
Inftances  are  known,  under  thefe  circumflances,  of  thcfir  rearing 
a  dozen  children.    ' 

Neither  do  they  feem  to  be  "  deficient  in  natural  afFeAion/' 
On  the  contrary,  their  fen  Ability  is  keen,  even  the  warriors 
weeping  moft  bitterly  on  the  lofs  of  their  children ;  though  in 
general  they  endeavour  to  appear  fuperior  to  human  events. 

Their  friendihips  are  ftrong,  and  faithful  to  the  uttermoft  ex- 
tremity. A  remarkable  inftance  of  this  appeared  in  the  cafe  of 
the  late  Col,  Byrd,  who  wasfent  to  the  Cherokee  nation  to  tranf- 
Z&.  fome  bufinefs  with  them.  It  happened  that  fome  of  our  dif- 
brderly  people  had  jufl  killed  one  or  two  of  that  nation.  It  was 
therefore  propofed  in  the  council  of  the  Cherokees,  that  Colonel 
Byrd  (hould  be  put  to  death,  in  levenge  for  the  lofs  of  their  coun- 
trymen. Among  them  was  a  chief,  called  Silouee,  w'ho,  on  fome 
former  occafion,  had  contra&ed  an  acquain^nce  and  friendihip 
with  Col.  Byrd.  He  came  to  him  evedMpInt  in  his  tent',  and 
told  him  not  to  be  afraid,  they  (hould  nc^ill  him.  After  many 
days  deliberation,  however^  the  determination  was,  contrary  to 
Silouee's  expe£Ution,  that  Byrd  (hould  be  put  to  death,  and  fome 
warriors  were  difpatched  as  executioners.  Silouee  attended  them ; 
9nd  whei)  they  entered  the  tent,  he  threw  himfelf  betweeii  them 
and  Byrd,  and  f'id  to  the  warriors,  **  This  man  is  my  friend : 
before  you  get  at  him,  you  muft  kill  me.'-  On  which  they  re- 
turned ;  and  the  council  refpefted  the  principle  fo  much  as  to  tth 
cede  from  their  determination. 

That  "  they  are  timorous  and  cowardly,"  is-  a  charafter  with 
which  there  is  little  reafonlo  charge  them,  when  we  recolle£l  the 

manner  in  yrhich  the  Iroquois  met  Monf.  — * ^  who  marched 

jjnto  their  country ;  in  which  the  old  men,  who  fcorned  to  fly,  ox 
to  furvive  the  capture  of  their  town,  brayed  death  like  the  old 
Romatis  in  the  time  of  the  Gauls, -and  in  which  they  loon  after 
revenged  themfelvey  by  fackihg  and  deftroying  Montreal.  In 
lhort|  the  Jndian  is  brave,  when  an  enterprife  dep«hds  upon 
bravery  ;«ducatiqn  with  him  making  the  point  of  honour  coniift 
in  the  deftruftion  of  an  enemy  bydratagem,  and  in  t^he  preferva- 
tion  of  his  own  perfon  free  from  injury :  or  perhaps  this  is  nature, 
while  it  is  education  which  teaches  us  to  honour  force  rather  than 
fineflfe.  He  will  defend  himfelf  ?gain(l  an  hoft  of  enemies,  al\vays 
chooltng  to  be  killed  rather  than  to  furrender,  though  it  be  to 
the  whites^  who  he  knows  will  treat  him  well.  In  other  fituar 
tions,  alfo,  he  meets  death  with  ijiore  deliberation,  and  endures- 
(tortures  with  a  firmnefs  unknowfi'  a)mo(l  to  religioi}^  en^huliafm 
•mon^  us, 


OF  AMERJCjf, 


>8S 


Much  lefs  are  they  to  be  charafterifed  as  a  people  of  no  viva- 
city, and  who  are  excited  to  aftion  or  motion  only  by  the  calU  of 
hunger  and  thirfl.  Their  dances  in  which  they  fo  much  delight, 
and  which  to  a  European  woi '.  ue  the  moll  i'evere  exercilie,  fully 
contradift  this;  not  to  mention  their  fatiguing  marches,  and  tho 
toil  they  voluntarily  and  cheerfully  undergo  in  their  military 
expeditions.  It  is  true,  that  when  at  home  they  do  not  employ 
themfelves  in  labour  or  the  culture  of  the  ibil :  but  this,  ag«in,  is 
the  eSc&  of  cufloms  and  manners  which  have  ailigned  that  to  the 
province  of  the  women.  But  it  is  faid,  "  they  are  averfe  to 
fociety  and  focial  life."  Can  any  thing  be  more  inapplicable  than 
this  to  a  people  who  always  live  in  towns  or  in  clans  ?  Or  can 
they  be  faid  to  have  no  repuUigue,  who  cohdud  all  their  affairs  in 
national  councils ;  who  pride  themlelves  in  their  national  charac- 
ter }  who  conlider  an  inl'ult  or  injury  don^^o  ah  individual  by  a 
ftranger  as  done  to  the  whole,  and  refent  it  accordingly  ? 

To  form  a  juA'^^imate  of  their  genius  and  mental  powers, 
Mr.  Jefferibh  oblerves,  more  fafts  are  wanting,  and  great  allow- 
ance is  to  be  made  for  thofe  circumftanees  of  their  fituation  which 
call  for  a  difplay  of  particular  talents  only.  This  done,  we  Qiall 
probabiy  find  that  the  Americans  are  formed,  in  mind  as  well 
as  in  body,  on  the  fame  model  with  the  homofapicns  Europaus, 
The  principles  of  their  fociety  forbidding  all  compulfion,  they 
are  to  be  led  to  duty  and  to  entorprife  by  perfonal  influence  and 
perfuafion.  Hence  eloquence  in  council,  bravery  and  addrefs  in 
war,  become  the  foundations  of  all  confequence  with  them. 
To  thefe  acquirements  all  their  faculties  are  direded.  Of  their 
bravery  and  addrefs  in  war  we  have  multiplied  proofs,  becaufe 
we  have  been  the  fubje£ls  on  which  they  were  exercifed.  Of 
their  eminence  in  oratory  we  have  fewer  examples,  becaufe  it  is 
difplayed  chiefly  in  their  own  councils.  Some,  hpwever,  we 
have  of  very  fu|>erior  luftre.  We  may  challenge  the  whole 
oratipns  of  Demoilhenes  and  Cicero,  and  of  any  more  eminent 
orator,  if  Europe  has  furnifhed  more  eminent,  to  produce  a  tin- 
gle paifage  fuperior  to  the  fpeech  of  Logan,  a  Mingo  chief,  to 
Lord  Dunmore^hen  governor  of  this  ftate.  The  ftory  is  as  fol- 
lows ;  of  which,  and  of  the  fpeech,  the  authenticy  is  unqueftion- 
able.  In  the  fpring  of  the  year  1774,  a  robbery  and  murder 
were  committed  on  an  inhabitant  of  the  frontiers  of  Virginia  by 
two  Indians  of  the  Shawanee  tribe.  The  neighbouring  whites, 
according  to  their  cuilom,  undertopk  to  puniih  this  outrage 
in  "a  fummary  way.  Colonel  Crefap,  a  man  infamous  for  the 
many  murders  he  had  committed  on  thole  much-injured  people, 
coUeded  a  party,  and  proceeded  down  the  Kanhaway  in  queft  of 
y.e^gtance.     Unfo;rtunatcly  a  canoe  of  women  and  children,  ydth 


M* 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


otu)  man  only,  was  fcen  conning  from  the  oppofite  (hore,  unarmed, 
tnd  unf(4rpe£ling  any  hoftile  attack  from  the  whites.  Crefap  and 
his  party  concealed  thcmfelves  on  the  bank  of  the  river  ;  and  the 
moment  the  canoe  reached  the  ihore,  Tingled  out  their  objefis, 
•nd  at  one  fir«  killed  every  pcrfoo  in  it.  This  happened  to 
he  the  family  of  LogMi,  %vho  had  long  been  diftinguifticd  as 
»  friend  of  the  whites.  Thii  unworthy  return  provoked 
Ms  vengftanc«4  He  accordingly  fignaliscd  hlmiclf  in  the  war 
which  cnfucd.  In  the  autumn  of  the  fame  year  a  decifive  batf 
lie  was  fought  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanhaway,  between 
the  cclleded  forces  of  the  Shawances,  Miqgoes,  and  Delawares, 
■nd  a  detachnieni  of  th«  Virginia  qailitia.  The  Indians  were 
defeated, .  tnd  fu«d  for  peace.  Logan,  however,  disdained  to 
he  iocn  among  (he  fupiplUsts  t  bu|,  le|l  the  fincerity  of  a  treaty 
Ihould  be  diftrufted  from  which  fo  dii^inguiflied  a  chief  abfeht- 
cd  himfelf,  he  lent  by  a  meilicnger  the  following  fpeech,  to  be 
delivered  tq  Lord  Dunaaore  i-***'  I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to 
^y  if  ever  he  entered  Logan's  cabin  hungry,  and  he  gave  him 
not  meat  {  il  CVfjr  he  pama  cold  aod  naked,  and  he  cloathed  1:  \n\ 
aifOt.  During  the  courif 'of  tlie  bft  long  and  bloody  war,  Logan 
remained  idlie  in  bi^  cabin,  an  advocate  for  p<ace.  Such  was 
my  love  for  the  whiter,  that  my  countrynfien  pointed  as  they 
paSedt  and  faid  Ltgan  is  thf  friend  cf  white  nun.  I  had  even 
tbougihx  to  have  lived  with  ypu,  but  for  the  injuries  of  one 
W9II.  CokAel  Crefap,  the  lafl  fpring,  in  cold  fa^ood,  and  un^ 
jirovokod,  murdcrfd  aU  thp  rej^tipai  of  Logan,  not  fparing  ever> 
*ky  women  and  children.  There  ru^s  not  a  drop  pf  my  blood  in 
tike  veio*  of  any  living  cloture.  This  (filled  on  me  for  re- 
venge, I  have  fought  it ;  }  ^v«  killed  matiy  •,  I  have  fully 
l^luitted  oay  vengeance.  For  my  country,  I  rejoice  at  the  beams 
of  peace  ;  hut  do  not  hubour  a  thought  that  mine  is  the  joy  of 
fear.  Logaa  nevcr^  felt  feur.  He  will  not  turn  on  his  heel  to 
fav«  his  life.  Who  is  there  to  Alouro  for  Logan  ? — ^-Not  one.'' 
To  the  preceding  iMcdeted  in  favour  of  the  American  cha- 
xa£ler,  may  be  added  the  fcdlowing  by  Dlr.  Benjamin  Franklin, 
The  Indian  mmn,  when  young,  are  hunters  and  warriors :  when 
old,  counfeUoFS ;  for  all  their  government  m  by  the  counCsl  or 
advice  of  the  fages.  Hence  they  generally  ftudy  oratory  {  the 
beft  fpeaiker  having  the  moft  influence.  The  Indian  women  till 
■the  ground,  drf  fs  the  food,  nurfe  and  bring  up  the  children,  and 
preferve  and  hand  down  to  pofterity  the  memory  of  public 
tranfaftions.  Thefe  employments  of  men  and  women  are  account- 
ed natural  and  honourable.  Having  few  artificial  wants,  they 
have  abundance  of  leifure  for  improvement  by  converfation. — ; 
Our  laborious  nunncr  of  Itfe,  compared  with  theirs,  they  efteem 


OF  AMERICA, 


<M 


to  be 


ftaviill  and  tnfe  %  and  the  learning  on  which  we  value  ourfclvea, 
they  regatd  as  frivolous  and  ufelel's. 

Having  frequent  occafions  to  hdid  public  councils,  they  have 
acquired  great  order  and  decency  in  conducing  them.  7'he  old 
men  fit  in  the  foremoft  ranks,  the  warriors  in  the  next,  and  the 
Women  and  children  in  the  hindmoft.  The  bufincfs  of  the  wo- 
men is  to  take  exaft  notice  of  what  paflea ;  imprint  it  in  their  me- 
mories, for  they  have  no  writing,  and  communicate  it  to  their 
children^  They  are  the  records  of  the  council,  and  they  prcfervo 
tradition  of  the  ftipulatiorts  in  treaties  a  hundred  years  back ; 
which,  when  we  compare  with  our  writings,  we  always  find  ex- 
^6t,  He  that  would  fpeak  rifes.  The  reft  obferve  a  profound  fi- 
lence<  When  he  has  finifhed,  and  fits  dowrt,  they  leave  him  five 
en*  fix  minutes  to  recoUeft,  that  if  he  has  omitted  any  thing  he  in- 
tended to  fay,  or  has  toy  thing  to  add,  he  may  rife  again  and  de- 
liver itt  To  interruji^t  another,  i^ven  in  common  converfation,  is 
reckoned  highly  indeeeht. 

The  politenefs  of  thefe  favages  tn  converfation  is,  indeed,  car- 
ried to  axcefs ;  fince  it  does  not  permit  them  to  contradi^  or  de- 
ny the  truth  of  what  is  aiferted  in  cheir  prefence.  -By  this  means 
they  indeed  void  difputes ;  hint  then  it  becomes  difficult  to  know 
their  minds,'  or  what  impreffion  yon  make  upon  them.  The 
miflionarito  who  have  attempted  tQ  convert  them  to  Chriftianity, 
all  complain  of  this  as  one  of  the  ^reateft  (Kfficulties  of  their  mif- 
fion.  The  Indians  h'6ar  with  patience  the  truths  of  the  gofjpel 
explained  to  them,  and  give  their  ufual  tokens  of  aflcnt  and  appro- 
bation but  this  by  no  means  implies  conviftion  ;  it  is  mere  civili- 
ty. ' 

When  any  of  them  come  into  our  tdwns,  our  people  are  apt  to 
crowd  round  them,  gaze  upon  th(;m,  and  incommode  them  where 
they  defire  to  be  private ;  this  they  efteem  great  rudenefs,  and  the 
efFeft  of  the  want  of  inftruftion  in  the  rules  of  civility  and  good 
manners.  "  We  have,"  fay  they,  **  as  much  curiofity  as  you  j  and 
when  you  c6me  into  our  towns,  we  wifh  for  opportunities  of 
looking  at  yon ;  but  for  this  purpofe  we  hide  ourlelves  behind 
buflies  where  yoti  are  to  pafs,  and  never  intrude  ourfelves  into 
your  copmany.'* 

Their  manner  of  entering  cine  another's  villages  has  likewife 
its  rules.  It  is  reckoned  uncivil  in  travelling  ftrangers  to  enter 
a  village  abruptly,  without  giving  notice  of  their  approach. 
Therefore,  as  foon  as  they  arrive  within  hearing,  they  ftop  and 
hollow,  remaining  there  till  invited  to  enter.  Two  old  men 
ufually  come  out  to  them  and  lead  them  in.  There  is  in  every 
village  a  Vacant  dwelling,  called  ihc  Jtrangcrs  houfe.  Here  they 
are  placed,  while  the  old  men  go  round  from  hut  to  hut,  acquaint- 


tg6 


GENERAL   DESCRIPTIOff 


ing  the  inhabitants  that  flrangcrt  arc  arrived,  who  are  probabf/ 
hungry  and  weary  ;  and  every  one  fends  them  what  he  can  fpara 
of  viftuals,  and  (kins  to  repofe  on.  When  the  ftrangers  are  re- 
freflied,  pipes  and  tobacco  are  brought ;  and  then,  but  not  before^ 
converfation' begins,  with  inquiries  who  they  are,  whither  bound, 
what  news,  &c.  and  it  ufually  ends  with  offers  of  fcrvicc — if  the 
ftrangers  have  occafion  for  guides,  or  any  ncccITaries  for  continu- 
ing -their  journey ;  and  nothing  is  exufted  for  the  entertainment. 
The  fame  hofpitality,  eftcemed  among  them  as  a  principal  vir- 
tue, is  praftifed  by  private  perfons ;  of  which  Conrad  Weifer,  the 
interpreter,  gave  Dr.  Franklin  the  foUowiug  inilance :  He  had 
been  naturalized  among  the  Six  Nations,  and  (poke  well  the  Mo- 
hawk language.  In  going  through  the  Indian  count«y  to  carry  a 
meflage  from  our  governor  to  the  council  at  Onondaga,  he  called 
at  the  habitation  of  Canaflfetcgo,  an  old  acquaintance,  who  embra- 
ced him,  fpread  furs  for  him  to  fit  on,  placed  before  him  fome 
boiled  beans  and  venifon,  and  mixed  fome  rum  and  water  for  his 
drink.  When  he  was  well  refreflied,  and  had  lit  his  pipe,  Canaf- 
fetego,  began  to  ^ onverfe  with  him :  aiked  how  he  had  fared  the 
many  years  fincc  they  had  feen  each  other,  whence  he  then  came, 
what  had  occafioned  the  journey,  &c.  Conrad  anfwered  all  his 
queilions ;  and  when  the  difcourfe  began  to  flag,  the  Indian,  to 
continue  it,  faid,  ^  Conrad,  you  have  lived  long  among  the  white 
"  people,  ajid  know  fomething  of  their  cuftoms ;  I  have  been 
*'  fometimes  at  Albany,  and  have  obferved,  that  once  in  feven 
"  days  they  (hut  up  their  (hops,  and  affemble  all  in  the  great 
"  houfe ;  tell  me^vhat  it  is  for  ? — What  do  they^do  there  ?"  "They 
*•  meet  there,"  fays  Conrad,  "  to  hear  and  Itnii good  things."  "  I 
*Mo  not  doubt  (fays  the  Indian)  that  they  tell  you  fo ;  they  have 
"told  me  the  fame :  but  I  doubt  the  truth  of  what  they  fay,  and 
"  I  will  tell  you  my  reafons.  I  went  lately  to  Albaay  to  fell  my 
"  fktns,  and  buy  blankets,  knives,  powder,  rum,  &c.  You  know 
"  I  generally  ufed  to  deal  with  Hans  Ilanfon ;  but  I  was  a  little 
"  inclined  this  time  to  try  fome  other  merchants.  However  I  cal- 
"  led  firfl  upon  Hans,  /and  afked  him  what  he  would  give  for  bea- 
"  ver.  He  faid  he  could  not  give  more  than  4s.  a  pound  ;  but 
"  (fays  he)  I  cannot  talk  on  bufinefs  now  ;  this  is  the  day  when 
",we  meet  together  to  learn  good  things^  and  I  am  going  to  the 
"  meeting.  So  I  thought  to  myfelf,  fince  I  cannot  do  any  bufi-, 
"  nefs  to  day,  I  may  as  well  go  to  the  meeting  too  ;  and  I  went 
"  with  him. — There  flood  up  a  man  in  black,  and  began  to  talk 
"  to  the  people  very  angrily.  I  did  not  underfland  what  he  faid ; 
"but  perceiving  that  he  looked  much  at  me  and  at  Hanfon,  I  ima- 
"  gincd  he  wtts  angry  at  feeing  me  there  t  fo  I  went  out,  fat  down 
"  near  the  houfe,  fbuck  fire,  and  lit  my   pipe,   waiting  till  the 


df  AMERICA, 


hi 


**  meeting  (hould  break  up.  I  thought  too,  that  the  man  had  mm* 
^*  tioned  fomething  of  beaver,  and  I  fufpefted  that  it  might  be  th^ 
"  fubjefl  of  their  meeting;  So  when  they  came  out,  I  acceftcd 
'*  my  merchant. — Well  Hans  (faya  I)  I  hope  you  have  agreed  to 
**give  more  than  4s.  a-pound?"  No  (faya  he^)  I  cftnnot  give  fo 
**  much  I  cantiot  giv«  more  than  3s.  6d."  I  then  fpoke  td  feveral 
*'  other  dealera,  but  they  all  fung  the  fame  foiig,  three  and  flx- 
"  pencej  three  tnd  flx-pencc;  Thia  made  it  dear  to  me  that  my 
'*  fufpicion  waa  right ;  and  that  whatever  they  pretended  oJF  meet^ 
"  ing  to  learn  gooJ  things^  the  real  purpofe  wasj  to  ^Bnfuk  bow  td 
''<  cheat  Indiana  in  the  price  of  beaveh  Cbnfider  but  •  little) 
"  Conrad,  and  you  muft  be  of  my  opinion;  If  they  met  fo  often 
*'  to  learn  good  tbmgtt  they  certainly  would  have  learned  fome  be-* 
**  fore  thia  time.  But  they  ar^  ftill  ignorant:  You  know  oui^ 
**  praftice.  If  a  White  man^  in  traVellirig  through  our  country^ 
"  entera  one  of  our  cabina^  we  all  tireat  him  as  I  treat  you }  we 
'*  dry  him  if  he  it  wetj  we  warm  him  if  he  is  cold,  and  give  him 
**  meat  and  dfink^  that  he  may  allay  hit  third  and  hunger ;  atl4 
"  we  fpread  foft  fur*  for  him  to  reft  and  fleep  dn :  we  demand 
"  nothing  in  return)  But  if  I  go  into  a  white  man's  houie  •£ 
"  Albany,  and  aflt  fdf  vifiuals  and  drink;  they  fay,  Where  is 
'*  your  money  ?  And  if  1  have  noh6j  they  fay,  get  tmt,  you  In- 
**  dian  dog;  You  fee  th^y  have  hot  yet  learned  (hdfe  little  g9r>4 
*'  thiiigt  that  We  need  ho  meeting  to  be  inftruAed  iil ;  becaufe  our 
"mothers  taught  them  to  us  wh<in  W^  Wel«  (children  f  and  there^ 
^  fore  it  is  impoi&ble  their  m^rtingl  (hould  be;  ah  they  fay,  foi* 
**  any  fuch  pvirpofe,  ot  have  any  fiich  efffCt ;  they  are-only  td 
**  Contrive  the  iliath^  tf  TndUAi  li  Mr/^  9/  tta^." 

The  next  queftion  that  occur!  is.  Whether  the  peculiarttir.i 
of  the  Amerieansj  or  the  difpatity  between  them  and  the  inha-i> 
bitants  of  Sut-opcj  afford  fufflcient  grounds  for  determining 
them,  al  fome  b^ve  do^e^  to  bd  a  racci  of  Hu^  radically  diffctent 
from  all  dthcH  ? 

In  thia  queftiofl;  to  aVoid  being  tedidu*.  We  ftiall  confine  our- 
felves  to  what  has  been  advanced  by  Lord  Kames;  who  is  of 
Opinion,  that  thei-e  are  many  different  fpecies  of  men,  as  well  as 
^f  Other  animals  ;.and  give^  an  hypothefis,  Whereby  he  pretejids  his 
opinion  may  be  maintained  in  a  confiftency*  with  Revelation.  "  If 
(fays  he)  the  only  rule  afforded  by  nature  to  clafTing  animals  can 
be  depended  on,  there  are  different  races  of  men  as  well  as  of  dogs : 
a  mafUff  differs  not  more  from  a  fpaniel,  than  a  white  man  from  a  ne^ 
gro,  ot  a  Laplander  from  a  Dane.  And,  if  we  have  any  faith  in  Pro- 
vidence, it  ought  to  be  ta.  Plants  were  treated  of  different  kinds,  to 
fit  them  for  different  climates ;  and  fo  were  brute  ani^nals.  Certaia 

S 


ft* 


C £ NER.AL  D tSC HIP Tt0}f 


itt^thaiaii  men  are  not  fitted  ei{uany  for  every  Idttnite.  HicMf 
it.'fcMlce  '•  cliffutd  but  ^what  ^'haturai  to  f<iine  then,  whore  thef 
|>f6lper3tMid^0UtHh  ]|  yktA  there  i>  not  a  t-limateittit  where  fornix 
meh'dcgenrratb*  Dettk  tidt  then  onadogyiekdiis to cundude,  that, 
iii  dure  ire- different  clinutes  6n  ttte^fince -x)f  thb  rglobe,  fo  thor^ 
ire  different  inices  df  iieii'  fitted  for  ttheiic  di fferent  cltmates  ? 

**  Mi  Bufibn^'lrbtartfae  rttk^  That  smmak  which  -eafn  ^ roeirate 
together^  and  Avhofe  progeny  cah  lalfo^rctinreatie,  are  nf  oneipecies; 
coRchittcs^  that  all -men  (arc  of  onfe  racedr  ipecies  *,  and  endeavours 
td  fap|K»tt>ti«tt  'fa1pouth^optnidn,dby^afmbi^  tfO 

food  'oi-  mHer  iicddcnta]  ctttfti,  taU  ^e  y8rictie»th8t  'dre  founi^ 
tinbng<th<tfc4  ^t  ia  heferioully-of  ^tnidh^  that  any  operation  6f 
chfante^*o^ttf  ttthft-ai^cjiiiilaim  tatffe^  girt  'atkrount  for  the  copper 
itobBr«nU'Jin6oth«foitiuhiVeH'al«ini>iig'the  j^tneticans;  the  pro. 
ininenoe  nf  th(e  :puden^  libtiVetfat  amefi^the  Hottdntot'WiMnen'} 
or  the hMtkni^^ nb'Id^ntiiHperilit  aHU}ngf tkrfeinak SarAelMles'? 
1-^It  is  In  Vatn.  to  aferifae  ^^he  dinpate'the'kyw  fiatiirc  vf  ihe  'Ef-^ 
4|«iinatn|«  the  finadhnefaof  thch-'feet^x^  Hie  tMnrgibtm  fise  of  their 
hcada<  It  is  :e]^lnfiy  in  vaih  to<iif^i>Mbe  tb  diirlate  ihe  low-  ftature 
«f  Che  Laplanders,  'or  their «gly  Vf fage*  The ^cli  colourbf  nes> 
groes^.thffir  Ufil,  .flatnofe,  cttl|>ed  wiooKy  4iaifV  a»d  fanlc  fmeH,  dif^ 
tinguifli  them  froin  e^rery  other  race  <of  snen*  The '  Abyfltniaasi  on  - 
4hi;,  contrary^  are  taU^and  well  nudr^  tliair  conipleifion  a  brown 
olive,  featarrs  wett .  proportioned)  eye^  lai^gci  ^nd  of  a  Iparkling 
black,  thin  lips,  a  nt^  rather  h%h  than  flat*  There  is  itt>  fucik 
difference  of  climate'between  Abyffinia  and  N<|gro*land  as  to  pro-' 
^ucethefe  ilriking di^ffan^ncea*- 

"Mor  flull  our  Aithor's  ingenipHS  hypothelis  concerning,  tite 
(cjctrendties  of  heat  and  ecAdi'purehaie  Idltl  impunity  with  x^fe& 
totl^e  laHow  coni|4eicionof  the  SiDnoiedes,  Laplanders,  and  Cfeeh- 
lattders«  The  Fin^anders^  and  norkkern  Korwc^^ians,  liv^  in  a  cli- 
mate not  Icfs  cold  than  diat  of  the. people  mentioned ;  dmd^yet  are 
fair  beyond  other  £uropeans.  I  fay  rnore^  thereare  ^hany  inftan- 
ces  of  races  of  people  preferVing  their  x)riginal  cdour,  in  climates 
very  different  from  their  ow^n ;  but  not  a  Angle  inftance  o/  the 
contrary  as  far  as  I  can  learn.  Hicre  have  been  four  conplcte 
generations  of  negroes  in  Pennfylvania,  without  any  vi&ble  change 
of  colour  ;  they  continue  jet  -black,  as  originally.  Thode  wlio  af- 
cribe  all  to  the  fun,  ought  to  conlkler  how  little  probable  it  is,  that 
the  colour  it  iinprcflcs  on  the  parents  ibould  be  communicated 
|0  their  infant  children,  who  neVcr  faw^  the  iun :  I  Akmld  be  -ai 
l^on  induced  to  believe  with  a  ^yermannaturalift,  whofe'name  bi** 
tfc^ped  me,  that  the  negro  colour  ia  living  to-ainaneient  euAom  in 
Africa,  of  dyeing  tfaeikin  blac;k.  Let  a  '£uropean,  for  years,  ex- 
poCe  hixnfelf  to  the  fun  in  a  hot  cMioaate,  till  he  be  quite  brown  ;  hi^ 


Chi 
in  ] 

wh 
tur 


(»' 


ai*  AMEBIC  A, 


'd^ 


cliUdrcn  will  ney^tUpl(f fsr  b«y«  the  Cwc  cojnpJF^ipji,  i^ifh  tJffjfc , 
if)  Europe.    Frpm  th<e  a^on  of  the  f^in,  is  i(  po(]^hl.C' <Q  expUdo*  , 
why  a  neigro,  like  a  £ui;opeaxi,  is  bora  with,  a  ru44)C  fl^if^  ^hjif^ 
turns  jet  b^ck  the  eighth  or  ninth  day  ?" 

Our  author  ncKt»  pcoceeds  to  di;a\tr  tom^  arj^^pi^ii^  £^  jt^e.c>.r, 
ift^ncre  of  diffei:ent  ra^qj  ojT  n^eij,  frpm  thu  VAi;iqu§  tf9app|:%^^c^; 
difijko^Mqns  of  d*#pr:c^t  nation* ;  which  he;  rr<;^o^  tq  hpj^ii^' 
dil^erc^nces,  as  vfelVlA  thofeof  colpus,  fl»^Hr9,!&c^>iij^h«(^juig(ttiiVi.: 
med, up  his>  ^4^c^,  he  coficludics  thus::  «  U pou funimj|tig  up thft 
wh(^e  particulars  mentioned: ahove,  woi^ld  one:he(»tate  &  moment: 
to  adopt  t|ie  fqllpvjring  opifiipn,  were  there  nOiCountorfaikincii^f ;; 
evidence,  viz.  "That  Cod  created  many  pairs  of  thehuman  cMfV- 
difFerinjj  from'^ach  othpr,  both  ea^ternally  .an4  u^4v-Qa%.;  iKtIiHe 
Btte^thoTe  pairs  for  different  climate^  an^  2^?4  fH^h  pt NS  ifl  Uii.> 
proper  climate  J  and  the  peculiarities  o^  thfl  o^|gi^4  p^,  vfflf^. 
prcl'ervcd  entire  in  thq^r,  dfrcei^4)U)M  i  whp*  having  n^  f^/l&i|MlS«> 
but  tl^cijr  mtural  tak'n^ts^  were  left  to  g^thi?r  kl^oyrj^dge  (s^m- «V?a 
pcricnce  J  ai^^,  in  particular,  were  l^ft  ($a<cl>  tribs^  »o^jfm  *.  kn- . 
g^a^p  for  itfelf ;  ^^  figfxs  yfcre  fu^iesit  f«r  t)i«  origtXMdli  paxes, 
w^ithouiany  languftgei  l^ut  whajb  nature  fuggeifts;  fn^tluita  Uoguagi^ 
was    formed    gradually  as  a  trih,<;    iiKriBafjrd  i%k  nunbciSy  and. 
in  4ifiBrBnt  occupjations,  to  mak^  fynefik  nei^tfbxy  i*\J^ut  ^ia 
©pinion,  hpweyer  plaufiWe,  we  ar«  i|pt  pjcpu^tsd  U>  adopt:  being 
taught  a  different  Icffpn  by  R?veUji9n,  viz,  T^a*  Qo^  created  but> 
a  ftoglc  pair  of  t\e  Ipman  fpepies,    Ti^pwi^  Wft  c^ickfif.  dpuht  the 
authority  of  ^<^  yet  hi*  .a<^;quja<  of  ^h«><;i:<»^ion  of  man  is  not  a 
little  puzzling,  afi^  f<pem^to^pntradi$  ?y«ry  cweof  the  fa^mcn. 
tioned  above.    According  to  that  a«IEount^  dtffierent  races  Of  men 
were  n«t  l^>rmed,  i^r  ww«  IO«n  formed  origin^y  for  difiercnt 
climates,     A)J  n»W  n^uft  h»ve  (^km  the^tme  language,  viz.  That 
of  oHx  firft  pareij^f ,    And  yfh»%  ^i  ^U  Upm*  rfw  woft  contradiaory 
tp  that«ccp^fft,.is,the  &yagp  ftat(p;  Adaim,**  M^k*  infor^us, 
w?s  ci^dj|ic4  %  hfa  l^ak«r  wUh  au  e^ctn^  4«gjr«e  of  knowledge ; 
and  hfi  cer^ioJy  ^?s  ai>  e^tccl^cut  precegfcgr  to  ^i«  chijdrco  »nd 
their  pro^ny,  ^mo^ii  whom  hp  lived  ms^i^y  gci^erfU^^^f .    >y hcwf 
then  the  de||enen[cy  of  al|  men  v.nto  the  f^y^gp  (l^te?  To  accQua( 
for  that  difmal  cataftrpphc,  nJa9kin4  mu^  ^aye  fyilfer/ed  fqjipe  ter- 
rible cqijyulf^on.     That  tf  rr^le  tjonynlfitin  i|j  V^yeslfjd  to  us  in^ 
the  hiftory  of  the  totycr  of  BJab^d,  contained  in  t^ieiMh  copter 
of  Qene/is,  Mfhich  is,  «That,  for  manv  centuyitw  *itcr  th^  d^MgCi, 
the  whole  earth  was  of  one  language,  and  of  one  (peech ;  that  they 
united  to  build  a  city  on  a  plain  in  the  Ijind  of  Shinar,  with  a  tow- 
er, whofe  top  might  reach  unto  heaven ;  that  the  Lord,  beholding 
the  people  to  be  one,  and  to  have  all  onts  language,  and  that  no- 
^hin|;  would  be  rettrained  from  thei?»  which  t^iey  imagined  to  do^ 
.......  ^  S  »'■  '•■ 


M 


'4^ 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


"M 


Foniifounided  their  language  that  they  might  not  underf^ond  one  ^nt 
othtr,  and  fcattcrcd  them  abroad  upon  the  face  of  all  the  earth/ 
Htte  light  breaks  forth  in  the  midft  of  darknefs.  By  ponfoundina 
the  language  of  men,  and  fcattering  them  abroad  upon  the  fafe  of 
all  the  eturth,  they  were  rendered  favages,  A^nd  to  harden  then^ 
for  thfetr  lieyr  habitations^  it  was  neceifafy  that  they  (hould  b^  di-. 
vidbd  into  dHBefent  j^inds,  fitted  for  different  climates.  Without 
an  immediate  change  of  qonftitution,  the  builders  of  Babel  could 
nptf  pbfltbly  have  {ubfifled  in  the  burning  region  of  Guinea,  nor 
in  the  frozen  region  of  Lapland;  houfes  not  being  prepared,  nor 
fipy  other  conv^|ii(en^e  tp  prote£l  them  againft  a  deftruClive  cli. 
mate.H.' 

Weinay  firft  remark,  on  his  Lord{hip*s  hypothefis,  that  it  isevi. 
dekltfy  incomplite  *,  for,  allowing  the  human  race  to  have  been  di- 
vided into  dijierent  fpecies  at  the  confufion  of  languages,  a^d  that 
each  (peciet  was  adapted  to  a  particular  climate ;  by  what  mean> 
4iirere  they  to  get  to  the  climates  proper  for  ^em,  or  how  were 
they  to  know  that  fuch  climates  exiAed  ?  How  was  an  American^ 
if'oi'  inftance,  whfp  languifliing  i^  m  improper  climate  at  Babel,  to^ 
cet  to  the  land  of  the  Amazons,  or  the  banks  of  the  Oroonoko,  in 
his  own  country  f  or  how  was  he  to  know  thefe  places  were  more 
proper  for  hi^i  than  others ?~:Tlf,  indeed,  we  take  the  fcripture 
phrafe,  MThe  hotdfidUerfd  them  tAroad  upon  the  face  of  aH  the 
earth,^'  in  a  certain  fenfe,  we  may  account  for  it,  If  we  fuppofe 
that  the  different  fpecies  were  immediately  carried  off  by  a  whirl- 
wind, or  other  fupiernatural  means,  to  their  proper  countries,  the 
difficulty  will  vanifh ;  but  if  this  ishi^  Lordihip*s  interpretation,, 
itis  certainly  a  very  lingular  one^ 

'  Before  entering  uppn  a  c6nfideraiion  of  the  particular  argu- 
ments ufed  by  our  author  lor  proving  the  diverfity  of  fpecies  in 
the  human  race|  it- will  be  proper  to  lay  down  the  following  ge- 
neral principlrS)  which  may  fervf  as  axioms^  (i.)'When  we  affert 
a  mtdtiplicity  of  fpiscief  in  the  human  race ;  we  bring  in  ft  fuper- 
IMtural  caufe  to  folve  a  natural  phenomenon  :  for  thefe  Qiiecies  are 
fUppofed  to  be  the  immediate  Work  of  the  Deity.  (2.)  No  prrfon 
has  a  right  to  call  any  thing  the  immediate  effeft  of  omnipotence, 
ynlels  by  exprefs  rdyelaiioh  from  the  Deity,  or  from  a  certainty 
^hat  no  natural  ^aufc  is  fufEcient  to  produce  the  effeft.  The  rea. 
fon  is  plain.'  The  Deity  is  inyifible,  and  fo  are  many  natural 
^aufes :  when  we  fee  an  effefl  therefore,  of  which  the  caufe  does 
not  manifeft  itfelf,  we  cannot  ^now  ^vhether  the  immediate  caufe 
is  the  Deity,  or  an  invifible  natural  powp^.  An  example  of  this 
we  liave  in  the  phenomena  of  thunder  and  earthquakes,  which 
Vere  often  afcribed  immediately  to  the  Deity,  but  are  now  dif- 
fpyqred  ^o  be  the  cffe^s  of  ele£li;icity.  '  (3.)  No  perfon  can  affert 


OF  AMERICA, 


Mi 


jaatural  caufes  to  be  itlfaificient  to  produce  fuch  and  fuch  efFefts, 
unlefs  he  perfeClly  knows  all  thefe  caufcs  and  the  limits  of  their 
power  in  all  ppfTiblc  cafes  j  and  thi$  no  man  has  ever'  kno\>m, 
or  can  know, 

By  keeping  iq'  view  thele  principles,  which  we  hope  arc 
felf-evident,  we  will  eafily  fee  Lord  Karnes's  arguments  to  con-r 
fift  entirely  in  z  petitio  prtncipii,'—\n  fubftatice  they  are  all  reduced 
to  this  fingle  fentence  :  "  Natural  philofophers  have  been  hitherto 
unfuccefsful  in  their  endeavours  to  account  for  the  difference* 
pbfervcd' among  mankind,  therefore  thefe  differences  cahnot  be 
accounted  for  from  natural  caufes."' 

His  Lord(h!p,  however,  tells  us  in  the  paff^gel  already  <|uoted, 
that  "  a  ^aftiff  differs  not  more  from  a  Kpaniel,  than  a  Laplander 
"  from  a  t)ane ;"  that  "  it  is  vain  to  afcribe  to  climate  the  low 
/lature  pf  the  Laplanders,  or  their  ugly  vifage."— Yet,  in  a  note  on 
the  word  Laplanders,  he  fubjoins,  that  "  hy  late  accounts  it  appears, 
that  the  Laplanders  are  only  degenerated  Tartars;  and  that  they ^ 
and  t^':  Hi^ngarians  originally  fprung  from  the  fame  breed  of  men, 
anci  tr<  r  ihe  fame  couptry." — ^The  Hungarians  are  generally 
)iandi  nv  i;  d  well  made,  like  Danes,  or  like  other  people.  The 
Laplanders,  he  te|ls  us,  differ  a:s  much  from  them  as  a  maftiff 
from  a  fpaniel,  Natural  caufes,  therefore,  accprditig  to  Lord 
Karnes  hitnfelf,  ihay'caufe  two  individuals  of  the  fatne  fpecies  of 
mankind  to  ^i^er  froip  ^aph  other  as  much  as  a  mafliff  does  from 
a  fpanielf 

While  we  a^e  treating  this  fubjeft  of  colour,  it  may  not  be 
amifs  to  obferve,  th^t  a  very  remarkable  difference  of  colour  may 
accidehtly  happen  to  individual^  of  the  fame  fpecies.  In  the 
idhmus  of  Darien,  a  (ingular  ri^ce  of  men  have  been  difcovered.— . 
They  are  of  low  ftature,  of  a  feeble-  make,  and  incapable  of  en-. 
during  fatigue.  Tbcir  colour  is  a  dead  milk  white  ;  not  refembling 
that  pf  fair  people  amon^  Europeans,  but  without  any  blufh  or 
fanguine  fpmp^exion.  Their  (kin  is  covered  with  a  fine  haliy 
down  of  a  chajky  white ;  the  hair  of  their  heads,  their  eye-brows, 
and  eye-lafhes,  are  of  the  fame  hue.  Their  eyes  are  of  a  fingular 
form,  and  fo  weak,  that  they  can  hardly  bear  the  light  of  the  fun ; 
but  th^y  fee  clearly  by  moon-light,  and  are  moft  aftive  and  gay 
in  the  night.  Among  thfe  negroes  of  Africa,  as  well  as  the 
natives  of  the  Indian  illands,  a  fmall  number  of  thefe  people  are 
produced.  They  arc  called  Albifuts  by  the  Portuguefe,  and  Kacler- 
taket^  by  the  Dutch. 

This  race  of  men  is  not  indeed  permanent ;  but  it  is  fufHcient 
to  fhdw,  that  mere  colour  is  by  no  means  the  chara£leri{lic  of  a 
certain  fpecies  of  mankind.  The  difference  of  colour  in  thefe 
individuals  1$  undoubtedly  owing  to  a  natural  caufe.    To  confti- 


'3g*?» 


1- 


"i'-'Vm 


^ 


t4? 


GENEHAl  D^ESChlPTION 


tutCi  t)ifp(,  ai^ettf  m^of  this  colour,  it  would,  only  be  iiecef- 
iffsy  tfa^t  thift  cauif,  which  at  prtfeat  is  merely  accidental,  (hould 
bcccMM  permanent^  and  we  cannot  know  but  it  may  be  fo  in  foQiB 
part,!  of  the  world.  ^ 

If  a.  difference  in,  colour  if  no  cHarafitetiftic  ^f  a  different  fpc^ 
cief  of  m^nVindr  niucb  leCi  can  ^  difference  ipi  ibture  be  thought 
,i^<f*4a-the  dputbern  Jisirta  of  America,  there  are.  (aid  to.  be  a  race 
^  9MBa  excesding  the^  coniinon  fi^c  i(i  hcaght  and  {Irength.  Thia 
«ccou9tt  )fpwever,i8  douibted  of  by  fwne:  but-  b«  th^t  9^  it  will,  it 
iioenain}  tjhat  4he  |^f((H)i9>u.}c  ^re  a^  much  under  the  eommon 
ftze,  as  the  Fitagonians  are  (aid  to  be  above  it.  Neverthelefs  we 
a^e  not  tpr  i|ii«)|iQCJ  that  either'  of  thcfe  are  fpecific  difFerences; 
feeing  the  I«apianders-fnd  Hungarians  are  both  of  the  fame  fpecies, 
and  yet  the  former  are  |^nerally  almoft  ^  foot  (horter  than  the 
Utter ;  and  iif  %  difference  Af  climate,  or  ot^er  accidental  caufes, 
can  make  the  pt^oplc  ol  om^  country  a  foot  (horter  than  the  com^- 
jtnon  ^e  of  niankiad^  undoubtedly  accidental  caufes  of  a  contrary 
nature  inay  nvke  ^o(e  of  aaothei:  country  a  foot  tj^Uer  than  other 

Though  the  fun  ha»nndoubte41y  ^fta>^ein,*heproduaio»  of 
tiate  fwarthy  colour  of  tboie  n^tionf  which  are  mo^  ej^pofed  to 
bis  influence ;  yet  the  msmner  of  living  to  which  people  are  ?$- 
cu(l»nied,\thcir  vifibHals,  their  employment,  &c^  mu^  Contribute 
very  much  to  a  did^rence  of  eonpl^xion.  There  are  fome  kind^ 
of  colouring  roots,  which,  if  mixed  with  the  food  of  certain  ani- 
Tp%\iy  wiU  tinge  even  their  bonei  of  a  yellow  colour.  It  cannot 
be  thougbt  any  great  def^ret  <^.  credulity  to  infer  from  this,  that 
if  theie.root»  were  mixed  wil^  the  tpod  of  a  white  in?n^  they 
nugjhti  without  a  miracle,  tiue  y»  p^  pt  a,  yellow  colour.  If  a 
man  ^d  wom^n  were  both  to  ^  ibod  or  tlhls  kind  for  a  length 
9f  time,  till  they  became.aa4t  9rtxtra£ei^df$4t'^^  i*  imppflfible, 
withput  the  intervention  pt  Divine  power,,  o^  Of  ^bme  extraordi- 
nary natural  c;iufe,  ^ut  their  children  muft  be  of  Uv;  fame  colour ; 
and  was  the  fame  kind  of  foQ4  to  be  continned  fof  feveral  genera, 
tions,  it  is  more  than  P>^^^1^  ^bat  this  cplpur  mi^ht  i»fift  ^h^ 
continued  ufe  of  any  ki|)^^  of  foo4  whatever. 

Of  this  indeed  we  ha^v?  no  ex»n|iles»  byt  we  have  ^n  evaqiple 
of  changps  much  mpTf  wonderf^).  it  is  f.Uowed  on  all  band^, 
that  it  i^  more  eafy  to  work  ^  change  up^  the  body  of  »  man> 
or  any  other  animal,  th^in  v|>o«  his  mind.  A  man  tha^  is  natural- 
ly choleric  may  indeed  learn  to  prevent  the  bad  efiEe^  of  his  paf- 
f?on  by  reafon,  but  the  paltion  Ufelf  will  remain  as  imniutable  as 
his  colour.  -But  to  reafon  in  a  manner  fimilar  to  Ix>r,d  Kvjaef  • 
though  a  man  (hould  be  naturally  {choleric,  or  fut^ej^  tp^ny  pther 
padlon,  iahy  (hould  his  children  be  fo  ?^This  way  of  rcf^oning^ 


t>f  AM£RJ€A. 


<<# 


hewever^lanftbte^  is  bytto  ttrean*  condufivc,  m  tivitt  «p^>etc  •frpm 
iJwfollowi'ing^paiGlge  in  Mr,  :For{ber'«  Vafjfage. 

June  gth.  "**  Thb  officers  who  could  not  yet  relUh  their  bit 
]lirovi(i«>ai  after  the  4«frefhraents  of  New  ZmutAt  had  ordered 
their  4:»kck  dc^^  mentioned  p*  135)  t^  be  kUM :  this  dgiy,(there' 
fore,  w«  ditied  for  iht  firft  timb  oa.  a  leg  of  it  roafted  ;  wliich 
isfted  fb  e^iSAy  ^^  mutton,  ihM  k  ivas  tbfd^tely  uadiftiaguiOu 
able.  In  our  (dd  xeiintrieS)  A^ere  animal  food  is  fo  much  ufedt 
and  vfieic  to  lie  carnivorous  imrhapa  lies  in  the  nature  of  mch,«ir 
is  indifpenfid>ly  nece&ry  to  the  .prdfcrvation  of  their  lidalth  and 
ftrength,  it  is  ftmnge  that  there  ihould  exift  a  Jewiik  avtr^n<to 
do|gs>'flefii,  whfen  hogs  the  mc^  uncleanly  of  all  animals,  are  «felen 
without  fcruple.  Nature  feems  exprefsly  to  hav6  intended  them 
lor  this  ttfe,  by  making  their  dff^pring  fo  very  numerous,  and 
liieir  inereafi:  fo  c^utdc  and  freqiient.  It  may  beobjefted,  that 
tklB'Bxalted  dwgiac  of  i»At«ft  which  we  t^ferve  in  our  do|gs,  in* 
i/lfke$  us  %«dth>|{i«at  unwillingMefe  to  kill  and  tat  them.  But  h  Is 
owing  to  the  time  we  fpend  on  %he  fcducpttion  of  dogs,  that  they 
acquire 'tfao{e'eminieUtt|uaiitie6  ^wfakh  attach  them  To  much  to  us. 
^e  natural  4|ttaiitiss  of  our  Aogi  may  receive  u  wonderful  im- 
provement}  'but'vducslticinrmttfti^ve  its  affiftance)  without  ^which 
Uie  human  mind  itielf,  though  capdbtetrf  an  innaenfe  expaniton, 
i'Cmains'  :in  a  very  contrafted  iftate.  In  N(^  JKculandi  and  (ac- 
cording to  Ibrmer  acctwnts  of  voyages)  in  «he  tropsoal  :ifles  df  the 
South.  Sea,  the  ^  dogs  sdre  the  moft  iftupid^  ^ll«ntmab  imaginaUc, 
and'do  nbt'fisem  to  fasve'the  lekft  advantage 'ihtpoint  of  iagacity 
overoui-  aHef,  which  Mt  eoDamoidy  thade  tiie  emUems  offiUi. 
nefs.  Inthcl'foirinercountipy  they'^aieftd  upionfiCh,  in  <he  lat- 
ter on  vegetibtei,  ttkd^beUft  ^ie(b  idiett  fluy  have  ferved  to  alter 
their  dtr{Maifiti«»ti.  Edtteitlan  tnay  l»et>hl^  Hkewife  graft  itew  in. 
ftihCb :  ^e  NtHr  45«8$and  ddgs  af«  fed  Oh  die  remains  df  their 
maftei->i<)fiei^ ;  tHfy'^it  Ihfe'boUte  of  x>ther  dogs ;  and  the  puppies 
iMcAiie  'ttue  MBiAimb^  froA  their  births  We  had  a  young  New 
2Si8iitind'p«ippy  dtaiMiird,  whith  had  ceitaihlyWd  tio  opportunity 
^  taiHMg  i^y  thing  but  the-ihlitfaer's  mitk  befctte  we  purcfhafed 
it :  ifiOM^fver,  it  •'eagerly  ideVoured«  pottion  <^  the  Hefli  and  bonos 
of  the  dog  on  which  we  dined  to-day ;  while  feveral  others  df  ihc 
European  ibreed  taken 'on  'boBrd  it  xtke  Cape,  turned  from  it 
without  touching  it. 

"  On  the  fourth  of  Au{|uft,  <a  young  bitcli,  of  the  terrier  breed, 
tidtfen  onbooi^dat  the  %!ape  of  Geied  Hiepe,  and  covered  by  a  fpan- 
iel,4»iidwightcen  yoUng'<Mieii,oneoJf  which  was  dead.  The  New 
aeaHuid  dojg  lasMMiMiect  «bo^  wUch  dsevoured  the  bones  6f  the 
*oa%d  ddg,  ti0w  lell  upon  the  dead  {>uppy,  and  eat  df  it  with 
a  ravenous  appetite.    This  is  a  proof  how  far  education  may  go 


«, 


V 


144 


CkNEkAL  t)£^CklPfidN 


,$n  producing  i/oA  prcfpatgating  new  inftin£l»  in  animals.  Europei^ii 
<iogs  are  never. fed  OYI  the  moat* 'of  theii-  own  f^ecies^-  but  rather 
fieejn  f b  ablior  itl  Th6  New  Zealand  dbgi,  m  all  liketihood,  are 
trained  un  from  their  earlieft  #ge' to  eat  the  i^emains'of  their  maf- 
ter's-meffts }  they  are  therefore  uft4  iofttA  upon  fi(h,  their  own 
fpecies;  and  perhaps  human;  flefti;  and!  what  was  only  owing  to 
habit  at  firfl,  raxsf  beoomc  kiiiinft  by  length  of  time.  This  was 
rrniarkable  in  our  cannibil  dog}  far  he  came  onboard  fo  young,* 
that  he  cbuhl  not  Juve  been  weaned  long  enough  to  have  acquired 
a  habit  of  devouring  his  own  fpecies,  and  much  lefr  of  eating  hu- 
man fleftt;  however,  one  of  our  feamen'  having  cut  his  finger,- 
held  it  out  to  the  dog/  who  fell  to  greeiaily,  licked  it,  and  then 
began  to  bite  it." 

Front  this  account  it  appeav»f  that .  eve*r  the  inrfltnfls-  of  animals' 
are  not  linchangeable  by  natural  caufes ;  and  if  thefe  caufes'are 
powerful  enough  to  chartge  the  difpcflitibn^  df  fucce<iding  genera<< 
tions,  much  more  may  We  fuppofe  thein  capable  of  making  aj^y  - 
poflible  alteration  in  the  e^ternid  ^^pearance/ 

We  ar«  not  hereneeeflTitat^dtb'Cohitnedurfely'estoobfervationls 
madi  on^  brute  animals.  The  Franks  are'  an  example  of  the  pro^ 
dufiiion  of  one  general  chandler,  formed  by  fome  natural  caufe 
from  a  mixture  of  many  dillBrent  nations^— iHiey  were  a  motly 
multitude,  confifUng  of  various  Gernnn  nations  dwelling  beyond 
the  Rhine ;  whoy  uniting  in  defence  of  their  common  liberty,  took 
thence  the  name  of  FraiJuj  t:he  vrord.  front  fignifying  in  theii' 
language,  as  it  itiltdoes  in  ours^^^ir.  Among  them  the  following 
nations  were  mentioned,  vis«:  the  Afisuarii^  Ghareav^i'  Brufteri,  Sa- 
lii,  Frifu,<.ChaUfi,,  AmlWarii,  andCatti,  We  oannpfr  iUppofe. one 
eharafifcr  to  belong  to  fo  many  differeitt  nations;  ftt  it  is  ccrraiit 
that  the  Franks  were  nationally  oharad;erized  as  treacherous ;  and 
fo  deeply  feems  tins  quality  to  have  beep  rocked  \xk  ^^cir  nature/ 
that  their  defcendants  have  npt  got  quite  free  of  it  in  1500  yi^s^ 
It  is  in  vain^then,  to  talk  of  diffefent  races  of  pen,  either  from'  - 
their  colour,  fize,  or  prevaiUngrdifpofitions,  f<^n(^we  liavf;  unde-: 
niable'  preofs  that  all  thefe  may  be  changed,  in  the-  mbi):  reoturkaM^ 
manner^  by  natural  caufes,  without  any  nuraculous  ija^ei^pd&lioh  of 
the  deity. 

Thb  f»R'ST  PS  op  l IK g  cp  AMftRieA.  The  next  qucftion^  theiny 
which  prefents  itfelf  is,  From  what  part  of  the  Old  World  Amc> 
rica  has  mofb' probably  been  peopled  ?' 

Difcoveries  long,  ago  mtfde'  inform  us,- that' an- iAtercburfo  bie-' 
Iween  the  Old  Continent  and  America  might  be  carried  on  with 
facility  from  the  north-weft  extremities  of  Europe  and^the  north- 
caft  boundaries  oT  Afia.    In  the  mi\(h  century  the  Norwegian* 


OF  AMERICA. 


>45 


'X 


clifeovered  Greenland,  and  planted  a  colony  |here»  The  com- 
munication with  that  country  was  renewed  in  the  lad  century 
hy  Moravian  miflionarles,  in  order  to  propagate  their  doftrine  iti 
that  bleak  and,  uncultivated  region.  By  ■  them  W  are  informed 
chat  the  norths weilk  coaft  of  Greeifland  is  feparated  from  America 
by  a  very  narrow  ilraiH'  that  9%  the  bottom  of  the  bay  it  it  high* 
ly  probable  that  they  are  united  {  that  the  Efquimaux  of  America 
perfe£Uy  refemble  the  Greenlanders  in  their  afpeft,  drefs,  and 
mode  of  living  {  and  that  a  ^^ravian  mtifionary,  well  acquainted 
with  the  language  f^*  d  md^  having  vifited  "'■"  ccuntry  of 
the  Efquimaux,  fouuw,  to  h..  itftofiifhment^  that  ...eyfpoke  the 
fame  language  with  the  Greenlanders,  and  were  in  ev^ry  refpefi: 
th^fame  people.  The  fame  fpecies  of  animals,  too,  are  found  in 
the  contiguous  regions.  The  bear,  the  wolf,  the  fox,  the  hare, 
the  deer,  the  roebuck,  the  elk,  frequent  the  fprefts  of  North 
America,  as  well  as  thofe  in  the  north  of  Europe* 

Other  difcoveries  have  proved,  that  if  the  two  continents  of 
Ada  and  America  be  fepirat(^d  at  all,  it  is  OfUy  by  a  narrow  ftrait. 
From  this  part  of  the  Old  Continent,  alfo,  inhabitants  may 
have  pafled  into  the  New  ;  and  the  rejfemblance  between  thii  In- 
dians of  America  and  the  eaftem  inhabitants  of  Alia,  would  in- 
duce us  to  conje&ure  that  they  have  a  common  origin.  This  is 
the  opinion  adc^ted  by  Dn  Robertfon  in  his  Hiftory  of  America, 
where  we  find  it  accompanied  with  the  following  narrative. 

"  While  thofe  immenfe  regions  which  ftretched  eaftward  from 
the  river  Oby  to  the  fea  of  Kamtfchatka  were  unknown,  or  im- 
perfe£lly  explored,  the  north-eail  extremities  of  pur  hemifphere 
were  fupppfed  to  be  fo  far  diftant  from  any  part  of  the  New 
World,  that  It  was  QOt  eafy  to  concave  how  any  communication 
fliould  have  been  carried  on  between  them.  But  the.Rufltans, 
having  fubjefted  the  weftem  part  of  Siberia  to  their  empire, 
gradually  extended  their  knowledge  of  that  Vad  countty,  by  ad< 
vancing  towards  the  eafl  into  unknown  provinces.  /Thefc  were 
difcoVered  by  hunters  in  their  excurfions  after  game,  or  by  fol' 
diers  employed  in  levying  the  taxes ;  and  the  court  of  Mofcotv 
efliniatcd  the  importance  of  thofe  countries  only  by  the  fmall 
addition  which  they  made  to  its  revenue.  At  length,  Peter  the 
Great  afcended  the  Rufllan  throne :  His  enlightened  comprchen- 
fiye  mind,  intent  upon  every  circumdance  that  could  aggrandize 
his  empire,  or  render  his  reign  illuflrious,  °  dil'ccrncd  confc- 
quenccs  of  thofe  dil'coverics,  which  had  elcaped  the  obfer\'ation 
of  his  ignorant  predeceflbrs.  He  perceived,  that,  in  proportion 
as  the  regions  of  Alia  extended  towards  the  eaft,  they  mufl  ap- 
prorlch  nearer  to  America ;  that  the  communication  between  the 

T 


i4^  '!,  GENSRHL  DESCItlPTIO^ 

two  tentinennf^  if^^di  had  long  been  fearched  for  in  vain,  Woullt 
frtkiMy  he  tovtnif.ixuthii  (Quarter;  and  that,  by  opening  thh 
intercourfe^  fonie.|4rt  d/  fhte  wealth  and  commerce  of  the  well- 
em  it'brld  night  Ce^made.to  flo\^  into  hi»  dominions  by  a  neW 
channel.  8u(^  aii'tibjeA  fuiled  a  genius  that  delighted  in  grand 
-fchenies;  Peter  drew  up'iriftruAions  with  his  own  'hand  for 
profetuting  this  dcfign,.  and  gave  orders  for  carrying  it  into 
e^ecution^ 

**  His  (ucccflfors-adopllcdl  his  idea,  and  p'Urfued  his  plan.  The 
dflScers  whom  the  Ruffian  court  employed  in  this  fervice,  had 
to  ftruggte  itfiih  fo  many  ^ftcuUies,  that  their  progrel^  wa« 
eiiitremdy  ■  fldw.  fihcduraged  by  feme  faint  traditions  aihoing 
'the  pi^opk  of  Siberia  con^erhing  a  fuccefsful  voyage  in  the  year 
164^  round  the  north-tfilt  prdttiohtory  of  Afta,  they  attempted 
(o  follow  the  &ne  courie.  Vcflfels  w'cre  'fitted  out,  with  tHih 
vjew,  at  different  times,  from  f he  risers  Lena  and  Kolyma ;  but 
in  a.frozeh  oceaii;  which  nature  Teems  not  to'have  dcftined  for 
navigation^  they  were  e:ltpofe4  to  many  :difafler8,  without  being; 
able  to  aCcbm{^llth  their  purpofe.  No  vcffel  'fitted  out  by  thtt 
Rufiian  court  cirer  doubled  thk»f6mlidabIiB  cape ;  we  are  indtibt- 
ed  for  what  is  known  6f  ikok  -nittreme  regtotis  of  Afia,  to  the^ 
difeoveries  made  in  ekcuriibtii  'by  Iznd.  Infill  thofe  provinces^ 
an  opinion' prevails,  that  coiiHtries  of  great  extent  and  fertility 
lie  at  no  confidierable  diftanee  from  their  own  coafts.  Thefe  thb' 
Rufliaiis  imagined  to  be  pan  of  America ;  and  feveral  circum^ 
ftances  coMurred  not  only  in  confirming  thdm  in  this  belief^ 
b&t  in  perfuading  them  that  foitie  portion  of  that  cqntinent  could 
not  be  very  remote.  Trees  of  Various 'liindji,  tihknown  in  thofe 
naked  regions  of  Afia,  are  driven  i^pbn  ithe  coiU'iiy  an  eafterly 
wind.  By  the  fame  wind  floating  ice  is  Wought  thither  iit  a  few 
days ;  flights  of  bii'ds  arrive  annually  from  the  fame  quarter ;  and  a 
tradition  obtains  among  the  inhabitants,  of  an  ihtercourfe  former- 
ly carried  on  with  fome  countrtes  fituated  to  the  eafl. 

"  After  weighing  all  thefe  particulars,  and  comparing  the  pofi- 
tipn  of  the  countries  in  Afia  which  they  had  difrovered,  with 
fuch  parts  in  the  noith-weft  of  America  as  were  already  known ; 
the  Rullian  court  formed  a  plan,  which  would  have  hsrdly  Occur- 
red to  any  nation  lefs  accuilomed  to  engage  in  arduous  under- 
takings and  to  contend  with  great  dIfHculties.  Orders  were  iflu- 
€d  to  build  two  veffels  at  Ochotz,  in  the  fca  of  Kamtl'chatka,  to 
fail  on  a  voyage  of  difcovcry.  Though  that  dreary  uncultivated 
region  furnifhed  nothing  that  could  be  of  ufe  in  conftrufting 
them  but  fome  larch-trees ;  though  not  only  the  iron,  the  cordage, 
the  fails,  and  all  the  iiumcvous  articles  rcqurfit6  for  their  equip- 
ment, but  the  provifions  for  viftualling  them,  wore  to  be  carried 


OF  AMERTCA. 


M7 


through  the  immenfc  dcfcrts  oC  Siberia,  Aomg,  riven  of  dificulf 
navigrtion,  and  roads  almoft  impaffablp,  the  nM^date  of  the  fove- 
reign,  arid  the  perfeverancc  of  the  people,  at  |S|ift.  furmounted  fv«. 
ry  objilacle.  Two  veflela  were  fini(hed4  and^under  the  command 
of  the  captain*  Behring  and  Tfchirikow»  iaile^from  Kamtfchatka 
in  q^eft  of  the  New  WorJd,  in  a  quarter  wkktit  it  had  never  been 
{approached.  They  ftiaped  their  courie  toward^  the  eaft ;  and 
though  a  iftorm  ioop  feparated  the  veffttb,  whifh  a«rer  rejoined, ' 
and  many  difafters  bcfel  them,  the,  expc^ionla  froi^  |he  voyage 
were  not  altogether  frudrated.  £ach  olthe  conjiteahdersdifcoi' 
vered  land,  whicU  to  them  appeared  Co  jM^jaari  of  the  Ataifericaii 
conMinejf^t ;  and,  according  to  their  obfehnrtiens,  itiecma  to  be  fi* 
jtuited  wijthiii  a  few  degrees  of  the  northi>^eft  coaft  of  Galiforniaj^ 
Each  (en)t  fome  of  his  people  afliore :  bat  ia0ke  place  the  inhabi- 
tants iled  as  the  Ruflians  approached^  in  Midilaeri. they  carried  off 
thofe  whd  landed,  and  d^ftf  oyed  thdir  boats.  The  violence  of  thp 
weathir,  and  the  di4<«&  of .  their  .cfew^  obliged  hofk  to  quit 
jthis  inh<)fpitahle  coafL  1^;  ^heir  rctiwm  tHef  touchbd  M  feye- 
ral  iilands,  which  ftreatch  in  » ibhaiii  fi-om  eail  to  weft  be- 
%ytttn  the  country  whidh  they  had  <4ifitovered'  and  the  coaft  of 
Afia.  They  had  fome  intercourfe  <^i|h  !the  pative^  who  fee^md 
%o  them  to  refemble  the  North  ^ineripin^  -Th^  presented  to 
the  Ruifians  the  ealuniet,  or  pipo  of  peace,  which  if  a  fyndkd  of 
friendihip  univerfaj  among  the  people  of  North  ^n^irica,  apd 
an  vfage  of  arbitrary  inftitutioq  peculiar  %o  ^hem." 

The  more  recent  and  ajccurate  difeoveries  of  the  ilhiftrioiis 
^avigaor  Cobkie,  and  his  fucceljfor  Ckrkc,  have  brought 'th6 
matter  ftill  nearer  to  ceVtaihty^  The  fea,  from  the  fouth  of 
Behring's  'Skniits  to  the  prefcent  of  iQe^  between  ,A0>  and  Ame<r 
rica,  xs  very  ihalloM^,  It^ieepens  fi^nn  thefe  ^rsits  (as  the  Bri- 
iiJh  feas  do  from  ^hofe.  6f  Dover)  (ill  foiindings  are  loft  in  the 
Pacific  Ocean ;  but  that  does  not  take  place,  but  to  the  fouth  of 
the  iiles.  fiett^eeh  them  and  the  ftraits  is  an  increafe  from  la 
to  ^4  fathom,  ft^cept  only  pff  St.  TThadideUs  Nofs,  where  there 
is  a  (rhanuel  of  greater  dep^h.  From  the  volcanic  difpofition, 
it  has  been  judged  probable,  not  only  that  there  was  a  fepara(ion 
of  the  continents  at  the  Straits  of  Behring,  but  that  the  whole 
fpace  from  the  ifles  to  that  fmall  opening  had  once  l^en  occupied 
by  land ;  and  that  the  fury  of  the  waterly  element,  a6luatcd  by 
that  of  fire,^  had  in  moil  remote  times,  fubvertcd  and  overwhelmed 
M^c  traft,  and  left  the  iflands  monumental  fragments. 

Without  adopting  all  the  fancies  of  BuiFon,  there  can  be  no 
doubt,  as  the  Abbe  Clavigero  obferves,  that  our  planet  has  been 

T2 


>4* 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


w 


fubjeA;  to  great  viciflitudet  ftnce  the  deluge.  Ancient  and 
modiern  Hifturies  confirm  the  truth  which  Ovid  has  fung  in  the 
nanw  of  l^thagoraC} 

^tdeo  ego  quottjufirat  quondam  foUdiJima  telluSj '% 
Efe/ntum  ;  vidiJaRas  ex  aquore  terras,' 


>H- 


\Ai'  prefcnt  they  pibugh  thofe  lands  over  which' flitps  formerly 
(tUieo^  and.  now  they  WH  over  lands  which  were  formerly  culti- 
vatedt  c|rth<|aakes  ^ad^lWallowed  fomc  lands,  and  fubterraneous 
firea  have  thilawn  ujpt  dlh||f :  the  rivers  have  formed  new  foil 
wtthrtheir  ittiuVj^  feitretreatlng  from  tl^e  (hores  has  lengthen- 
ed the  land  i^i^^«Mi  ^t^liyy.-  and  advancing  in  others  has  dimi- 
niihed  it|  ]$  ^RiJI|^c^v^l^^  ti^ritoriea  which  were  formerly 
tinitedl)  and  fd»u|wiJBpa#.  ftraits  and  gulphs.     We  have  examples 
of  all  thefe  tevo|i^nt*in  the  pail  century.     Sicily  was  united 
to  the  continent' <tf' Naples,  as  £ubea,  now  the  Black   Sea,  to 
Boetia^  ■    Diodortrs,  Strafaio,  and  other  ancient  authors,  fay  the  fame 
thing  of  Spain  aiiil  Africa,  and  affirm,  that  by  a  violent  eruption 
of  the  ocean  upon  tibe  bud  between  the  mountains  Abyla  and 
Cdlpe,  that  conununication  was  buoken,  and  the  Mediterranean 
Sea  was  formed.     Among  the  people  of  Ceylon  there  is  a  tradi- 
tion  that  a  iimilar  eri|ption  of  the  ieaJeparated  their  ifland  from 
the  peninful^  of  India.     The  fame  thing  is  believed  by  thofe  of 
Malabar  with  refpeft  to  the  ifles  of  Maldivia,  and  with  the  Ma» 
layan*  with  refpe£k  to  Sumatra.     It  ^  certain,  fays  the  Count  de 
^BufFon,  that  in  Ceylon  the  earth  haslo(l:30  or  40  leagues,  which 
the  fea  has  taken  from  it ;   on  the  conirary^  IFongres,  a  place 
of  the  low  countries,  has  gained  30  leagues  of  land  Arom,  the  fea. 
The  nothern  part  of  Egypt  owes  its  exiftence  to  inundations  of 
the  Nile.     The  earth  which  this  river  has  brought  from  the  in- 
land countries  oiF  Africa,  and  depofited  in  its  inundations,  has 
formed  a  Xoil.  of  more  than  25  cubits  of  depth.     In  like  manner, 
adds  the  above  author,  the  province  of  the  Yellow. River  in  Chi- 
na, and  that  of  liouifiana,  have  only  been  formed  of  the  mud  of 
rivers.     Pliny,Scncca,  Diodorus,  and  Strabo,  report  innumerable 
examples  of  fimilar  revolutions,  which  we  omit,  that  our  differ^ 
tation  m?y  not  becoipe  too  prolix ;  as  alfo  many  modern  revolu- 
tions, which  are  relate4  in  the  theory  oJ5,thc  earth  of  the  Count 
dc  Buffon  and  other  authors.     In  South  America,  all  thofe  who 
have  obferved  with  philofophic  eyes  the  pcninfula  of  Yucatan,  do 
not  doubt  that  that  country  has  once  been  the  bed  of  the  fea ; 
9nd,  on  the  contrary,  in  the  channel  of  Bahama  many  indications 
{hew  the  ifland  of  Cuba  to  have  been  once  united  to  the  conti- 
nent of  Florida.     In  the  ftrait  which  feparates  America  from  Afia 


OF  AMERICA. 


»49 


nuny  iflands  are  found,  which  probably  were  the  mountains  he- 
longing  to  that  tra£l  of  land  which^  we  fuppofe  to  have  been  fwaU 
lowed  up  by  earthquakes ;  which  ia  made  more  probable  by  the 
multitude  of  volcanoes  which  we  kitow'of  in  the  peninfula  of 
Kamtfchtfka.     It  is  imagined,  however,  that  the  (Irtking  of  that 
land,'and  the  feparation  of  the  two  continents,  has  been^occafioned 
by  thofe  gref t  aftd  extraordinary  earthquakes  inentione4  in  |he 
hiftories  of  the  Am9ricans,  whiqh  formed  aii  era  almoit  M  nwmo-.. 
rable  as  that  of  the  deluge.     The  hiftories  \if  Dlie  Tol^c^*  'ft w  fuch 
earthquakes  in  the  year  I  Tecpatl ;  but  «•  we  knoMt  nost  <!»,  wKar 
century  thu  belonged,  we  can  foi0i^;>m>  conjeftyf*.  of  tbft'^mii  ^ 
that  great  calamity  happened.     If  a  gireat  eaah|Ufc]u9i  flionld  over- 
whelm tlie  ifthmus  pf  Suez,  and  the«f,4l(ouU|^«ii^      (lime,  time 
as  great  a  fcarcity  of  hilloriana  asthci#kifcr»jMMM|^  the 

deluge,  it  would  be  doubted,  in  300  er  fbc^tJiirMfter^  whether 
Afta  had  ever  been  united  by  thar  jtim'  to^^frica ;  and  many 
would  firmly  deny  it.  ,  C"  ^  '  ," 

Whether  that  great  event,  the  feparation  of  the  continents, 
took  place  before  or  after  the  population*^  of  America,  is  as  im- 
pofRble  as  it  is  of  little  moment  for  tit  to  know ;  but  we  are  in- 
debted to  the  above-mentioned  navigators  for  fettling  the  long 
difpute  about  the  point  from  which  it  was  eflfe^d.  Their  ob- 
servations prove,  that  iri  one  place  the  diftance  between  conti- 
nent and  continent  is  only  39  miles,  not  (as  the  author  of  the 
Recherches  Philofophiquts  fur  lesAmricains  would  have  it)  800 
leagues.  This  narrow  ftrait  has  alio  in  the  middle  two  iflands, 
which  would  greatly  faciliute  the  migration  of  the  Afiatics  into 
the  New  World,  fuppofing  that  it  took  place  in  canoes  after  the 
xTonvulfion  which  rent  the  two  continents  afunder.  Befides^  it 
may  be  added,  that  thefe  ftraits  are,  even  in  the  fummer,  often 
filled  with  ice ;  in  winter  often  frozen.  In  either  cafe  mankind 
might  find  an  eafy  pafiage  ;  in  the  laft,  the  way  was  extremely 
ready  for  quadrupeds'  to  crofs  and  (lock  the  continent  of  Ame- 
rica. But  where,  from  the  vaft  expanfe  of  the  north-eaftem 
world,  to^  fix  on  the  firft  tribes  who  contributed  to  people  the 
New  Continent,  now  inhabited  almoft  from  end  to  end,  is  a 
matter  that  baffles  human  reafon.  The  learned  may  make  bold 
and  ingenious  conje£iurcs,  but  plain  good  fenfe  cannot  always 
accede  to  them. 

As  mankind  increafed  in  numbers,  they  naturally  protruded 
one  another  forward.  Wars  might  be  another  caufe  of  migra- 
tions. There  appears  no  reafon  why  the  Afiatic  north  might 
not  be  an  pjkinia  virorum,  as  well  as  the  European.  The  over- 
teeming  country,  to  the  eaft  of  the  .Riphcean  mountains,  muft 
find  it  neceifary  to  difcharge  ;ts  inhabitajits :  the  firft  great  wave 


•** 


CENKRAl   DESCRIPTION 


of  people  was  forced  furwtrd  by  the  next  to  it,  mora  tumid 
and  more  powerful  thaq  iifelf :  fucceflive  and  new  impulfet  con-i 
tinually  arriving,  (hort  r^H  was  given  to  that  which  i'pread  over 
a  more  eaftern  tra£l ;  diiVi|rbed  again  and  ag'iin,  it  covered  frefli 
regions}  at  lengthy  reaching  the  fartheO  limits  of  (he  Q14 
World,  found  a  new  one,  with  ample  fpave  to  occupy  unmolelf' 
ed  for  ages  {  till  Colunfbus  curfed  then^  by  4  difcovery,  which 
brou^t  again  new  fins  ^nd  new  death*  to  both  worldf, 

**Ths  inhabitants  oftHe  New  World  (Mr^  Pennant  ebferve*,) 
,  <do  not  conftft  of  the  oQtpring  of  a  fingle  natioft  {  di^erent  pco* 
pie,  at  feveral  periods^  arrived  there ;  and  i%  if  impoQible  to  fiiyi 
that  any  one  ii  now  to  b«  found  on  the  Ofigupal  (pot  of  its  colo- 
nization. It  ii  iiilpefiiblle,  with  the  lighti  >vhii;h  w^  h>ve  fo  re- 
cently receirpjy  tattdmtt  that  America  could  r^peiye  itii  inhabitants 
(at  leaft  the  bulk  of  tliem)  from  any  other  place  than  eaftern  Afu. 
A  few  proofs  may  b«  added,  taken  from  puAnm*  or  dreilet  com-r 
mon  to  the  inhabitants  of  both  worlds ;  fqme  h»v«  becsiji  long  exr 
;tin^  in  the  0)d,  otherl  remain  in  both  in  full  force, 

"  The  cuftom  )if  Ccalping  was  a  barbarifm.in  ufe  with  the  Scy- 
thians, who.  carried  about  them  at  all  times  this  lavage  mark  of 
triumph ;  they  cut  a  ciit^  round  the  neck,  and  dripped  off  the 
ikin  as  they  would  that  of  an  ox.  A  little  image  foMn,d  ainon{[ 
the  Calmucs,  of  a  Tartarian  Oeity,  mounted  on  a  horfe,  and  ^tting^ 
on  a  human  ikin,  with  (icalps,  pendent  from  the  bread,  fully  illuf. 
trates  the  cuftom  of  the  Scythnn  progenitors,  as  deiciribcd  by 
ihcj  Greek  hiftorian.  This  ufage,  as  the  £ul-opean>  know  by 
horrid  experience,  is  continued  to  this  day  in  America^  The  fe- 
rocity of  the  Scythians  to  their  prifonera  extended  to  the  re- 
mqteft  part  of  Afia.  The  Kamtfchatkans,  even  at  the  time  of 
their  difcovery  by  the  RuiBans,  put  their  prifoner^  to  death  by 
the  mod  lingering  and  excruciating  inventions ;  a  praAice  in  full 
force  to  this  very  day  among  the  aboriginal  Americans.  A  race 
of  the  Scythians  were  diled  Anthropophagi^  ttom  their  feeding  on 
human  flefh.  The  people  of  Nootka  Sound  dill  make  a  repad 
on  their  fellow  creatures :  but  what  is  more  wonderful,  the  fa- 
vage  allies  of  the  firitiih  army  have  been  known  to  throw  the 
mangled  limbs  of  the  French  prifoners  into  the  horrible  cauldron^ 
and  devour  them  with  the  fame  relifli  as  thofe  of  a  quadruped. 

"  The  Scythians  were  faid,  for  a  certain  time,' annually  to  tranf^ 
form  themfelves  into  wolves,  and  again  to  rcfume  the  human 
fliape.  The  new  difcovered  Americans  about  Koofka  Sound)  ai^ 
this  time  difguife  themfelves  in  drelTes  made  of  the  (kins  of  wolvet^ 
and  other  wild  beads,  and  wear  even  the  heads  fitted  4o  their 
own.  Thefe  habits  they  ufe  in  the  chace,  to  -circumvent  the  ani. 
mals  of  the  field.  But  would  not  ignorance  or  fuperdition  afcribe 


■i^' 


Pt  AMEkiCA, 


«5i 


lo  i  fupewil||>hl  iNlpinrpoff  thefk  temponry  txpedients  to  de. 
ceive  the  bruto  ^Mdiiti  ? 

*<  In  their  nurchet,  the  Kuntfchatlliht  never  went  abrcaft, 
but  followed  One  another  in  the  fame  thQ.  The  fame  cuilom  i» 
exaftly  obferVed  by^the  Americanlb  : 

<*  "Hie  Tungilfi,  the  mod. numerous  nation  refident  in  Siberia^ 
prick  their  facea  with  fmall  punAurea,  With  a  needle,  in  Varioue 
Ihapea  *,  then  rob  into  them  charcoal,  fo  that  the  marka  become 
indelible*  Tbia  cuftom  ia  dill  obferved  in  feveral  parta  of  Ame- 
rica. The  Indiapi^iin  the  back  of  Hudfon'a  Bay,  to  this  day^ 
perform  tbi  operktHM  exaftly  in  the  iame  manner,  and  punfture 
the  Ikin  into  varioua  figures  ;  as  the  natives  of  New  Zealand  do 
«|t  prefent,  i&li  ss  the  ancient  Britons  did  with  thr  icrb  glaftum^ 
Or  woadt  and  th^  Virginians,  on  the  firft  difcovery  of  that 
country  by  the  Englifh. 

**  The  Tunguii  ufe  canoes  made  of  birch-bark,  di^lended  ;->  .'«r 
ribs  of  wood^  and  nicely  fcwed  togcthton  The  Canadian,  and 
huny  other. American  oationa,  ufe  no  bther  fort  of  boata^  The 
paddles  of  the  Tungufi  are  bread  at  each  end }  thoie  of  the  ^  ?.«- 
pie  near  Cook's  river^  and  of  OonaUfthaj  are  of  the  fame  f  )nn. 

**  In  burying  of  the  dead^  many  of  the  American  nations,  place 
the  corpfe  at  full  length,  after  preparing  it  according  to  their 
cuftoms  ;  others  place  it  in  a  fitting  pofture,  and  lay  by  it  the 
moft  valuable  doathing,  wampum,  and  other  nutters^  The  Tar- 
tars did  the  fame  i  and  both  people  igree  in  covering. the  whole 
with  earth,  fo  as  to  form  a  tunmlus^  barrow,  or  carnedd. 

"  Some  of  the  American  nations  hang  their  de^  in  trees^ 
Certain  of  the  Tungufii  obferve  a  fimilar  cullomn 

"  We  can  draw  fome  analogy  from  drefs :  conveniefncy  in  that 
article  muft  have  been  Confulted^on  both  cont^  cn^s,  and  origi- 
nally the  materials  muft  have  been  the  fame,  lu:  ikins  of  birds 
and'beafts.  It  is  Angular,  that  the  Conic  bonnet  of  the  Chinefe 
(hould  be  found  among  the  people  of  Nro^ka.  I  cannot  give 
into  the  notion,  that  the  Chineie  contributed  to  the  population 
of  the  New  World ;  but  we  can  readily  admit,  that  a  {hipwrcck 
might  furniih  thofe  Americans  with  a  pattern  for  that  part 
of  the  drefs. 

"  In  refpefl  to  the  features  and  form  of  the  human  body,  aU 
moft  every  tribe  found  along  the  weftern  coaft  has  fome  i'tmili- 
tude  to  the  Tartar  nations,  and  ftill  retain  the  little  eyes,  I'mall 
AofM,  high  cheeks,  and  broad  faces.  They  vary  in  fize,  from, 
the  lufty  Calmucs  to  the  little  Nogaians.  The  internal  Ameri- 
cans, fuch  as  the  Five  Indian  nations,  vyrho  are  tall  of  body,  ro- 
buft  in  make,  ^nd  of  oblong  faces,  ^re  derived  from  a  variety 
among  the  Tarurs  themfelves,     The  fine  race  of  Tfchutiki  fecm 


■.-■  /■i.^n?^- 


.I'D.- 
»    if 


151  \    eENErAj.J)£SCRi 

•    -■  '    ■■  ■  -'^^ji  .*>  '  '^ 

to  be  the  ftock  fro^  vff^  IHofe  An^i 

Tfchutiki,  again,  from  that  fine  race  pf . 
or  inhabitants  of  Kabarda.  ^ 

"  But  about  Prince. WiUiam'9  Sound  beg^s  a  race  chiefly 
diftinguiflied  by  their  drefii,  j^eir  catioesy  ^Mdthvir  in(|,ruinent» 
of  the  chace,  from  the  tribes  to  the  foMth  oT  th<em.  Here  com- 
mences the  Eiquimaux  people,  or  the  nee  known  by  that  name 
in  the  high  latitudes  of  the  eaftern  fide  of  t^,  dHttinent.  They 
may  be  divided  into  two  varieties.  At  thli'lfflf^^i^r  iU,,uf  the 
largefl  fize.  As  they  advance  rorthw«rd  ll|tojji|icjrjil(fe  in  height, 
till  they  dwindle  into  the  dwarfiih  trtei^|^D||p|!upy  fope  of 
the  coafts  of  the  Icy  Sea,  and  the  maritiim*fr^^|^f  Hjadfoii1|,Blfyff 
of  Greenland,  and  Terra  de  Labrador.     The  fitniqi|!9fcl!stiefe  map 


places  fome  iflands  feemingly  within  the  JKi«i^$:  df  J^ehring,  on 
which  is  beftowdd  the  title  of  Ya  Zue^.St  the  Kingdom  of  the 
Dwarfs.  Does  not  this  in  fome  manner  authenticate  the  cha|-t, 
and  give  us  reafoh  to  fuppofe  that  America  was  not  unknown  to 
the  Japanefe ;  and  that  they  had  (as  is  mentioned  by  Kaempfev 
and  Charlevoix)  \made  voyages  of  dilcoveryy  and  according  to  the 
lafl,  afiually  wintered  on  the  continent?  That  they  might  have 
met  with  the  Efquimaux  is  very  probable ;  Whom,  in  coqoparifon 
of  themfelves,  they  mightjuftly  diflinguifli  by  the  name  of  «(aMtr/>.r 
The  reafon  of  their  low  ftature  is  Very  obvious }  thefe  dwell  ia^ 
a  moil  fevcre  climate,  amid'ft  penury  of  food ;  the  former  in  one 
much  more  favouraUe,  abundant  in  proviiions ;  citcumftances 
that  tend  to  prevent  the  degeneracy  of  the  human  frame,  At 
the  ifland  of  Ounalafcha,  a  diale£l  of  the  Efquimaux  is  in  ufe, 
which  was  continued  aloiag  the  whole  coafl  from  thence  north' 
ward." 

The  continent  which  flocked  America  with  the  human  race 
poured  in  the  brute  creation  throu^  the  fame  paflage.  Very 
few  quadrupeds  continued  in  the  peninfula  of  Kamtfchatka  '^ 
Mr.  Pennant  enumerates  only  25  which  are  inhabitants  of  land  ^ 
all  ih?  reft  pcrfifted  in,  their  migration,  and  fixed  their  refidence 
in  the  New  World.  Seventeen  of  the  Kamtfchatkan  quadrupeds 
are  found  in  America :  others  are  common  oilly  to  Siberia  or 
Tartary,  having,  for  unknown  caufcs,  entirely  evacuated  Kamt- 
fchatka, and  divided  themfelves  between  America  and  tl>c  parts 
of  Afia  above  cited.  Multitudes  again  have  defcrted  the  Old 
World  even  to  an  individual,  and  fixed  their  feats  at  diftances  moft 
remote  from  the  fpot  from  which  they  took  their  departure ;  from 
mount  Ararat,  the  reding  place  of  the  ark,  in  a  central  part  of  the 
Old  World,  and  excellently  adapted  for  the  difperfton  of  the  animal 
creation  to  alt  its  parts.  We  need  not  be  flartled  (fays  Mr.  Pen- 
nant) at  the  vaft  journeys  many  of  the  quadrupeds  took  to  arrive 


■  i^^ 


fc?' 


#-.-:.^ 


tic 


^--v^  '■■..'■■^•^» 


>53 

ma 
of  wandering 
^juve  been  con- 
r^ip^  of  travelling 
0r^sinipas  ?— To  endea- 
riscerjEainly  a  trouble  worthy 
i  not  to  attempt  it  would  bo 


MiM 


f  wiyii  dif  Goa  to  man.'* 


|;IW#i' 

o^folly  ib  d^ 


f  points  beyond  the  human  ability  td 
ndedlable :  the  fa6ls  ate  indifputabl^ 
We  boncealiedi     In  ftlch  cafes,  faith 
']|i|tliefi     It  would  containly  be  the  height 
Being  ^ho  broke  open  the  great  fountains 
of  the  deep  lA  dwft  tlf^  4«1"^^  to  compel  the 

difpei-fion  of  ntaiikifid  td  people  the  globe,  direfted  the  confufioit 
of  lahguagii— spowert  itifcrior  iii  their  nature  to  thcife.  After 
thefe  wondrous  proofs  of  Omnipotence,  it  will  be  abfurd  to  deny 
the  poflibility  of  infufing  inftin8:  into  th^  brute  creation.  Deui 
i^  enhind  ^nitorum  i  "  God  himfelf  is  th^  foul  of  brutes  :*'  His  plea- 
fure  muft  have  determined  their  will,  and  direfted  feVeral  fpecies^ 
and  even  thdl  w^ole  genera^  by  impulfe  irrefiflible,  io  moyeby 
flbw  prdgrellidh  to  their  deflin<fd  regions^  But  for  that,  the  Lama 
and  th^  Pacos  might  ftill  have  inhabited  the  heights  of  Armenia 
ahdfome  m0r6  neighbouring  Alps,  inftead  of  labouring  to  gain 
the  diilaift  Peruvian  Andes ;  the  Whole  genus  of  armadillos,  flow 
bf  footi  Would  never  havd  quitted  the  torrid  zone  of  the  Old 
World  for  that  of  the  New  ;  and  the  whole  tribe  of  monkeys 
would  haVjd  gamboled  together  in  the  forefls  of  India,  inllead  of 
dividing  their  refidence  between  the  (hades  of  Indoflah  and  the 
deep  forefts  of  the  Brafils;  Lions  and  tigers  might  have  infefted 
the  hot  parts  of  the  New  World,  as  the  firft  do  the  defarts  of 
Africa,  and  the  Lafl  the  provinces  of  Afia  ;  or  the  panthcrine  ani- 
mals of  South  America  might  have  remained  additional  {courges 
with  the.  favage  beafts  of  thofe  ancient  continents.  The  Old 
World  would  have  been  overftocked  with  animals  ;  the  New  re- 
mained ah  unanimated  wade!  or  both  have  Contained  an  equal 
portion  of  every  beaft  of  the  earthy  Let  it  not  be  objefted,  that 
apimals  bred  in  a  fouthern  climate,  after  the  defcent  of  theiir  parents 
from  the  ark,  would  be  unable  to  bear  the  frofl  and  fnow  of  the 
rigorous  north,  before  they  reached  Soiith  America,  the  place  of 
thier  final  defliination.  It  muft  be  confidered,  that  the  migration 
muft  hzifc  been  th^  work  of  ages  }  that  in  the  courfe  pf  their  pro- 

U 


*^4 

?'*' 

anc 

north  to  foutl 
PartMbf  thii 
niuUitudes  of 'tHi^| 
beneath  the  Iiii4;  m  the  hiifi 
thkt  lions  or  tigei^  t^er  tnigfa 
of  the  firft  are  found  in  thdia  atic 
numbers  only  in  Africa.   The  tiger  d 
Tartary,  in  lat.  ^6.  50!  but  neVer  has  i 

In  fine,  the  conjeflures  of  the  |c 
of  the  Old  and  New,  are  now, 
yigatorsj  loil  in  conviftion ;  and] 
tiieres,  the  real  place:  of  migration  is  uncc 
Some  (from  a  pailage  in  ?lato}  ^ve^  e^t^ 
trork  the  (traits  of  Gibraltar  to  the  cc 
ri^,  an  ifland  equal  in  flze  to.thci  cpntmc 

<$ver  which  had  pafled,  as  oyer  a  bridge^  |  «,)*,<  -.*v.  ...  .^ 
animals ;  woot-K^dect  negroes,  and  lions  anil  ttg^f  iukipM;  of  which- 
ever ^xifted  in  the  NfeW  vCorld.  A  ^jghty  fica  acofe,  ari4  i^n  bntf 
diay  and  night  ehgulphed  this  ftupendous.tra6|^  anCi  with  i|  every  n 
being  which'ha4  not  competed  its  migration  into  America.  Thti 
Vrhole  negro  race^  and  altnoft  every  quadruped,  now  inHabitantH 
olP  Africa,  pefifli^  in  this  critical,  day.'  Hve  only  are  to  be 
found  at  prefent  in  America ;  and  of  thefe  only  one^  tine  bear  in 
South  America :  Kot  a  fingle  cuftom,  common  to  the  natives  of 
Africa  and  America,  to  evince  a  conftnon  origin*  'Of  the  quadpu-' 
p^s,  the  bear,  (tag,  wolt,  i^ox,  and^weefcl,  ate  the  only  animals 
which  we  can  pronounce  with  certainty  to  be  found  on  each  con<« 
tineiit.  The  ftag|  fojc,  and  weefcl,  have  made  alfo  no  farther 
progrefs  in  Africa  than  the  north ;  but  on  the  fame  continent  the 
wolf  is  fpread  over  every  part^  yet  is  unknown  in  South  America, 
as  are  the  fox  and  vv^eefel.  In  A^^^  ^^^  South  America  the  bear 
is  very  local,  being  met  with  only  in  t'le  north  of  the  firft,  and 
on  the  Andes  in  the  lad.  Some  caufe  unknown  arrefted  its  pro- 
grefs in  Africa,  and  impelled  the  migration  of  a  few  into  the  Chi- 
lian Alps,  ai^d  induced  them  to  leave  unoccupied  the  vail  tra£l 
from  North  America,  to  the  lofty  Cordilleras. 

AUufions  have  often  been  made  to  fome  remains  on  the  conti- 
nent  of  America,  of  a  more  polilhed  and  cultivated  people,  %vhen 
compared  with  the  tribes  which  poffeffed  it  on  its  firft  difcovery  by 
Europeans.  Mr.  Barton,  in  his  Ohfervattons  onfonu^partt  of  Natural 
Hlftory,  Part  I.  has  collected  the  fcattered  hints  of  Kalm,  Carver,  and 
fome  others,  and  has  added  a  plan  of  a  regular  work,  which  has 


••> 


contu 
when 
5ryby 
Natural 
r,  and 
I  has 


*W^.    'i,  ^l^f 


!>55 


M, 


>  *j 


'i«,^«^ 


Frii;ijUilRi4n 
-iwalls,  lixgp. 
whh  the 
le  plac^  the 
L  plainly  feen ;  in 
|n|>foughed.  ,     .    ;.. 
IP^  kinds :  they  are  artificial  tu- 
5r  the  dead  ;•  or  they  arc  of  a  great- 
Btendinl  the  adjacent  country ;  and- 
fciaily  ccmftru^ed,  or  adva.ntage  is  ta- 
5i  to  raife  the^n  .iinto  a  fortification. 

the  Mufkij^um,  are  ftti»ted 
)n  of  that  river  with  the  Ohio 
T^tU-'  They  confift  of  a  number  of  walls 
Ijitclies,  &c.  aitogcthor  occupying  a  fpaCe; 
r  in  length,  and  from  about  150  to  25' 
%vn^.as  it  has  been  ca^ed*  is  a  large  level, ' 
Piji^l^lfsj^in^rly  in  thr,  form  cf  a  fquare,  the  fides  of 
%yKich  aini^|i|ni^i^^  parches  in  Icngtii,     Thefe  wr.Ils  are,  iri 

geiieral,  lifeout 'if>  feci;  in  height  above  the  level  on  which  they 
il^nd,  and  about^;%o  feet  in  diameter  at  the  bafe,  but  at  the  top 
they  ajreniuchn^rrovyer  ;  they  are  at  prefent  overgrown  with  ve- 
getables of  4ifferent  kinds,  and,  an^ong  others,  with,  trees  of  feve-   ^ 
ral  iFcct  diameter.     The  chafms,  or  opting  in  the  walls,  were  pro- 
bably it^tended  for  gate- ways ;  they  arp  three  in  number  at  eath 
(ide,  befides  the  fmaller  openings  in  the  angles^     Within  the  walls 
there  are  three  elevations,  each  about  fix  feet  in  hieight,  with  regit, 
lar  afcents  to  them :  thefe  elevat  ions  confiderably  reiemble  Tome  of  jhe 
eminence^  already  mentioned,  which  have  been  difcovered  near  the 
river  Miffiflippi.     This  author's  opii^ion  is,  Tliat  the  To|ticas,  or 
fome  other  Mexican  nation,  weye  the  people  to  whom  the  mounts 
and  fortifications,  which  he  has  dcfcribcd,  o\^e  their  exiftence ; 
and  that  jhofe  people  were  probably  the  defcendants  of  the  Danes. 
The  fonqer  part  of  this  conjeflure  is  thought  probable,  from  the 
iimilarity  of  the  Mei^ican  mounts  and  fortifications  defcribed  by 
the  Abbe  Clavigero,  and  other  authors,  to  ^hofe  defcribed  by  our 
author ;  and  from  the  tradition  of  the  Mexicans,  tlut  they  came 
from  the  north-weft  ;  for,  if  we  can  rely  on  the  teftimony  of  late 
travellers,  fortifications  fimilar  to  thofe  mentioned  by  Mr.  Bsh'ton  ' 
have  been  difcovered  as  far  to  the  north  as  Lake  Pepin  ;  and  >ve 
find  them,  as  we  approach  to  the  fouth,  even  as  low  as  the  coafts 
of  Florida.     The  fecond  part  of  our  author's  conje£^ure  appears 
not  fo  well  fupportcd. 

U   2 


\. 


«^6 


!«*»■■ 


tals,lii(ii^i<il^| 


^m,'^^:  * 


h9V4 

^  tbl# 


^.fc^ 


htv«  ^01 


the  other  parCt 

ties  and  higbi^ 

fupplied '  Eurbpe 

metals,  that  they  ati  ^i 

gold  an4  filver  of  Europe  i)i 

price  fet  upon  them  before  the  m£t\ 

It  alfo  produces  diamonds,  pearls, 
valuable  ftones,  which,  by  bding  b^ouj 
tributed  likewife  to  lower  their  vali$ 
chiefly  the  production  of  Spanilh  Am^ 
number^of  other  commodities,  w^ichj 
much  greater  ufe }  and  many  of  them 
vcalth  of  the  Britifli  empire  in  thispa^ 
are  the  plentiful  fupples  of  cochineal,  iiii 
brazi},  fufti^,  pimento,  lignum  v^ac,  ritxj 
chocolate  nut,  fqgar,  cotton,  tobacco, 
lams  of  Tolu,  Peril,'  and  Chili,  that 
the  Jefuit^s  bark,  mcchoacan,  faffafra^'fariafiai 
rinds,  hides,  fi^rs,  ambe  rgreafe,  and  agreat  variel 
and  plants ;  to  which,  before  the  Difcovery  of 
cither  ftrangers,  or  forced  to  buy  at  an  extravagaHi 
and  Africa,  through  the  hands  of  the  Venetians  and  Genoefp 
then  engrofled  the  trade  of  the  eaftern  world. 

On  this  continent  there  grows  alfo  a  variety  of  excellent 
as  pine-app)es,  pconegranates,  citrons,  lemons,  oranges,  malicafdn' 
cherries,  pears,  apples,  figs,  girapes,  great  nun^rs  of  culinary 
medicinal,  and  other  herbs,  roots,  and  plants,  with  many  exotic 
pTodu£bions  which  ^re  nourilh^d  in  as  great  perfe£lion  as  in  theii[ 
lijitive  foil, 


we 


'  A 


»^"* 


■*ir- 


Having  given  a  fummary  account  of  America  in  general ;  of  itsi 
firil  difcovery  by  Ck>lumbus,  ks  extent,  rivers,  mount|ins,  &c,  of 
the  Aborigines,  and  of  the  firft  peopling  this  continel^t,  .we  (hall 
next  turn  our  attention  to  the  Difcovery  and  Settlement  of  I^okth 
America, 


SUMMAR 


pUNT  OF  THE  FIl^ST 
AND  SETTLEMENTS 


O  F 


AMERICA. 


fX>    IK    CHRONOLOGICAL    ORDZR, 


>fitai 
Ic.  of 
Iftiall 


fi^fcovered  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VII, 
jtfts  and  Sciences  had  made  very  confiderable 
m  ;nMK'gMl^  Many  of  the  firft  adventurers  were  men  of 
and  le:Mn£  and  were  careful  to  preferve  authentic  re- 
p>fgc|uch  ,of^eir  proceedings  as  would  be  interefting  to  poiL 
rhefe   records   afford  ample   documents  for  American 
Perhaps  no  people  on  the  globe  can  trace  the  hiflory . 
Pl^^rigin  and  progrfefs  with  fo  much  precifion  as  the  inha- 
Sf^of  North  Amedca  ;  particularly  that  part  of  them  who 
inhabit  the  territory  of  the  United  States. 

The  fame  which  Columbus  had  acquired  by  his  firft  difcoveries 

or  this  weftem  continent,  fpread  through  £urope  and  in- 

1496     fpi^ed  many  with  the  fpirit  of  enterprize.    A.<  early  as  1496, 

four  years  only  after  the  f\rft  difcovery  of  America,  John 

Cabot,  a  Venetian,  obtained  a  commifllon  from  Henry  VII..  to 

dilcover  unknown  lands  and  annex  them  to  the  crown. 

In  the  fpi  ing  he  failed  from  England  with  two  {hips,  carrying 
with  him  his  three  fons.  In  this  voyage,  which  was  intended  for 
China,  he  fell  in  with  the  north  fi4e  of  Terra  Labrador,  and 
coafted  northerly  as  far  as  the  67th  4jegr6e  of  latitude. 

*497*"-^Thc;^next  year  he  made  a  I'econd  voyage  to  America 
with  his  fon  Sebaftian,  who  afterwards  proceeded  in  the  difcoveries 
which  his  father  had  begun.  On  the  24th  of  June  he  difcovered 
Bonayida,  on  the  north-eafl  fide  of  Newfoundland.  Before  his 
return  he  trayerfed  the  coaft  from  Davis's  Straits  to  Cape  Florida. 
1502.— -Sebaftian  Cabot  was  this  year  at  Newfoundland;  and 
on  his  return  carried  three  of  the  natives  of  that  ifland  to  Henry 
V|I, 


^M,:-M 


-  ,  \  ^ 

ijl  DISCOVERIES  AND.'^^m^' 

^t3.-^In  the  fpring  of  1513,  John  Ponce^'Mp^rinn,, 
Rico  northerly;  difcovered  the  conti|M|)it  in  30®  SHSbrttt  ^ 
He  landed  ittf  April,  a^iyToh  ili4ie|<  thipi|ijj||itry^|round  wro 
ed  with  verdure,  and  in  full  bloom,    lli^  (fliNifnflance  iill 
him  to  cbU  the  cbuiftiy  .P$rl^  1^^  J|^^;^|j^^ 
common  name  for  North  and  South  Am«cici^,  '  ^  J^Cn. 

1516— In  1^16,  Sir  Sebaftiaif  Gabot  apd      ' 
plored  the  coaft  as  far  as  Brazil  in  South  A| 

This  Vaft  extent  of  cotint^,  the  coaft 
ed,'  r^fmalned""  unclaimed"  and  unfettted  by^'i 
(except  by  the  Spaniards  in  South  A^neriu) 
from  the  time' of  its  difcovery", 

1524.— <It  w^s  not  tiU  the  year  1^24  that 
coveries  on -the  American  coaf|.     Stimulated  by  J        ^ 
neighbours,  Francis  I.  who  pofMed  aT5Te»r>nd  aiQ:^^ 
John  VerrS2tano,  a  Florentine,  to  America  foj^  the  "pi 
making  difcoveries.    He  trayerfed  the  CQfii^J|^  l^Jtudaf^'S^ 
^(Qt?  north.     In  a  fecond  voyage,  fome  tiji^^|i|t^i^e  1^  lo^." 

'  1525— ^TlTe  n^xt  year  Stephen  Qomez,  the  |rfl  Sp«iiiar(i,,wha 
came  upon  the  American  coaft  for  difcov^ry,  fa||[^di  from  Qi^ttJj^ 
Spiitn,>  to  Cuba  and  Florida^  thence  north  wa^ci  to  CapeRaao,44% 
latitude  46''  north,  in  fcarch  of  a  north-weft  {^(ra^e  to  the  ^fl|%« 
MIndies.  v-  -^.J^;':'.- 

»584"*-|"i  ^^^  fpring  of  1534,  by  the  direaion  of  Fral£ee9  I.  ii 
fl^t  was  ^ted  out  at  St,  Male's  in  France,  with  defign  tojifekA 
difcoveries  in  Atnerica.  The  command  of  this  fleet  was  given  to 
Jshriei  Cartier.  He  'arrived  at  Newfoundland  i^  May  of  this  year^ 
Thence  he  failed  northerly  ;  and  on  the  day  of  the  feftival  of  St, 
Lawrence,  he  found  himfelf' in  about  latitude  48^*  30' north  itt 
the  midft  of  a  broad  gulf,  which  he  named  St.  Lawrence.  He 
gave' the  fame  naipe  to  the  river  which  emtics  into  it.  In  thia^ 
voyage,  he  failed  as  far  north  as  latitude  51**,  expefling  in  vain 
to  find  a  palTag^  to  China. 

1535.— The  next  year  he  failed  up  the  river  St;  Lawrence  30P 
leagues  to  the  gr.^at  and  fwift  FaJl.  He  called  the  country  New 
France  ;  built  a  fort  in  which  he  fpent  the  Winter,  and  returne(| 
in  the  following  fpring  to  France.  ^  » 

154s. — In  1542,  Francis  la  Roche,  Lord  of  Robewell,  was  fcnt 
to  Canada,  by  the  French  king,  with  three  ftiips  and  200  men^ 
Women  and  children*  They  wintered  here  in  a  fort  which  they 
had  built,  and  returned  in  the  fpring.  About  the  year  1550,  a 
large  humber  of  adventurers  failed  for  Canadaj  but  were  never 
after  heard  of.  In  1598,  the  king  of  France  commiffibned  the 
Marquis  de  la  Roche  to  conquer  Canada,  and  other  countries  not 
pofieflied  by  any  Chriftian  prince.     We  do  not  leajrn  however, 


faiBiiiiiiM  ■  I  nmmamtmuaiai 


w 


Of  itOkTH  AhA^RtCA, 


Wi'r^'. «; -I,','  (.. 


U  "^^^  )^er  »ttempt^4  to  eitecute  ^U  conpuJ^M^ 

itv  t^y'  fui^^Vttempts  wert  inadlc  to  fctdc  Ca     * "  ^ 
fQtiiiy. 

»535-— On  the  i^th  of  May,  15^  Fejr^iQand  df  p*^^j 

mien,  befides  feaix^en)  failed  frpm  Cuba,  having  fdr  jbil^ 

ic  conqucft  jpF  Florida.^  On  the  gdth  pf  May*  he  arrivcji 

t,o  Stbto,  from  \yiience  he  travelled  northward  459  league*  frpiti 

the  Tea.     Here  he  difcovered  a  riVer  a  quarter  of  a  mile 

154&    wide  and  ^9  fathbms  deep,    on  the  b^nH  of  which  he  died 

t^H    and  was  buried.  May  jlj^a,  aged  42  year».     Alverdo  hi* 

fuece^o^  buik  Ipftn  brigaptines,  and  the  year  foUowilig 

i»Bihar1fed  vpon  the  riVer*      In   17  ^y    he  proceeded  down 

^e  riVer  40O  le?gH?^>  wh?re  he  judged  it  to  be  15  Icggues  wide. 

^(^  tiie  Jafj^ene|s  of  the  rjvjr  at  thdt  place  of  his  epharkation, 

^^  mcluded  its  four^e  inufl  haiH:  been  9t  leaft  4Qd  leagues  aboVG» 

10  th||  the  whole  len|;t%  of  ^e  river  in  his  opiniQn  m^ft  have 

b'ften  moc9  tlmi  '^^  tf^pttes.    A9  hei  pafTed  down  the  |t.iver,  he 

ioui^d  it  opeiiied  by;  lytrp;  ^^h*  into  the  gulph  of  Mexico.    The(i» 

ujrc^mftanfes  led  ^  tQ  CQiitc^^4^,  th^l  thii^  rivef,  fo  ea<^y  difcover-  > 

-«a,  w^  the  one  which  we  now  call  the  A^^^^^ 

yan,'6,  i549.  ITbis  year  JCing  IJenry  VU.  granted  a  peailon 
for  li(ie  to  Sebaftian  Cabot,  in  copfider:^tioix  of  the  import^Qt  fi:r- 
Viti^'he  had  rend^re^^to  the  Ifling^otm  by  hU  4i(eoVejri(;s  in  Anxe* 
rica.'/     ,'    '     ■'      '     -  '  '  "  "..  >    '-jH',..        •    ■ 

1562.— 'The  admiral  pf  France,  Ch^ttillpn,  earl^  in  this  yeaf 
f<^nt  out  a  fleet  under  the  connmiand  of  John  R^ihAlt*  Hp  arrived 
9t  Cape  F^rancis  on  the  coafl  of  Florida,  near  wliich,  qq.  the  £rft 
of  May,  he  difcovered  and  entered,  a  riv«|r  whiiqh  he  c^ed  M^y 
river.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  river  is  the  fiinie  which  we 
now  cairSt>  Mary's,  %yhich  forms  a  part  of  the  fouthem  bounda- 
ry of  the  United  States.  As  he  coafted  northward  he  difcov«:vd. 
eight  other  rivers,  one  of  which  he  called  Port  Royal,  and  failed 
up  it  fji^veral  leagues.  On  one  pf  th^  rivers  he  built  a  fort  and 
called  it  Cbarks,  in  which  he  leftt  4  colpny  under  the^  direftion  of 
Captain  Albert.  The  feverity.pf  AJibert's  mcftfures  excited:  a  mu^ 
tiny,  in  which,  to  the  ruin  of  the  cdipnyj  he  was.fljiin.  Two, 
years  after,  Chatillon  fent  Rene  Laudonier,  with  thrieo  (hips^  to. 
Florida.  In  June  he  arrived  at  the  ^xytv  M^y^  on  which  he  built 
a  fort,  and,  in  hono^  to  his  King,  Charlje^s  IX»  he  called  it. 
Carolinff, 

In  Augu(l,  this  year,  Capt.  Ribalt  arrived  at'  Florida  the  fecond. 
time,  with  a  fleet  of  fey  en  veflels  to  recruit  the  colony,  whichi. 
two  years  before,  he, had*  Uff  UodtCr  thf  .dijrcftiaiv.of  the  .unfortu- 
nate Capt.,  AlKfrt. 


r**" 


.  <*—• 


^*iJ 


AN^i£rfLt 


mber  foUowii^g,  Pedro'l^ehndeSy'^with  fi..  wr-w^ 
|Li1>kIt  mp  ttib  riv^  otk^hiclt  W1^  fefUeiL  iii^ 
ig  kiin  in  tiua^bers,  criiel|v  nuflacred*  him  ana  Hi 
'■M§Uri0J^i  having  i&  (his  \<^ay  (^ken  poffefli 
biiilt  thifol^  forts,  and  left  0em  ga^rifdned  will 
s.    ^udoniei-'ind'^  his  colony  dif  Majt^fU^er,  T«reiv- 
6f  the  fatoW  Ribalt^  took  ihtalAife  Mid  efc^apcd 


1561^.— A  fleet  of  three  llA^as  (hiV|aii'  font  (torn  txtncif  t# 

l^lorlda,  under  the  command'^bKlMniJbique  de  Gourges;    The  oIm 

jcft  of  thisex;tediti9n  was  to  dif^flfefsthe  Spahiardsof  fhit  plan  9!^ 

FldridaWhichth«>yhadcruegy^dunj»ttifi^^    '•eliedth^ef 

15^8    years  feiefore.    tic  artitfed  on  the  cdaft  of  Honda;  Apr^' 

.'156$,  and  foori  aftef  rrtade  a  fucfcefiiful  attack  upoii  ti||f, 

Ibrts.    llie  reccMt  Cruelty  of  Mdlndes-and  his  coqnpany  e«cit 

fevengc  va^  tfte  bread  of  Courges,  aifd  toi^eid  tklk  unjuttifiat>l|^rin. 

'    dple  c^  i»i;aIiation.    He  took  thd  f oits  (. .  put  xAbtL  olthe  Spatilanb 

to  the  hi/qrdti  and  havingl{urn)ed  and  demolifked  all  their  for- 

ttefles,  rc!lu«Alil(|tp  Fjrancie.    Curing  thi^  fi^ty  years  next  after  thi» 

,  event,  the  Frencltenteiiprizf^d  no  feitlemehtsiii. America^     ^ 

157C — Captaiprrobifhef  Wa[sfent  this  year  to  find  out  a  nor^h* 
«reft  paflage  to  the  Eaft^ndies.  •  the  firft  landi  W^icH  he  mad|^ 
^he  coaft  w^a  Cape,  which,  Jri  honour  to  the  Queen,  he  i^ledi 
^ueem  EBzt^k^^Ftreiand.  In  coafting  northerly  he  discovered  thitf 
ftraits  which  bear  his  name^  He  pfofecuted  his  ^rch  for  a  pll^; , 
fl^  into  the  wefternoceab  fill  he  Was  prevented  iby  the  icrf,  ai^T 
^beif"  returned  to  England. 

}tl^'-^^^  *5?9»i  ^*r  Humphrey  Gilbert  obtained  i  patent  from 
queen  Elizabeth,  for  Isqids  not  yet  poflcfledby  any  Chriuian  prince, 
provided  be  wouM  take  poflelfion  Within  fix^ears.  With 
»58'3.  this  enccfeiragement  lie  foiled  for  America,  on  the  firft  of 
Auguft"  15.83,  anchored  ih  Conception  Bay.  Afterward 
he  difcoVeted  and  took  poffbflion  of  St.  John's  Hafbour,  and  the 
country  fouth.  N>In  purfuing  his  difcoveries  he  loft  one  of  his  Ihipsr 
on  the  flioals  of  Sablon,  and  on  his  return  home,  a  ftbrm  overtook 
him,  in  which  he  was  unfortunately  loft,  and  the  intended  fcttle- 
ment  was  prevented. 

1584.— This  year  two  patdn^s  were  granted  by  queen  Elizabeth, 
one  to  Adrian  Gilbert,  (Feb.  4)  the  other  to  Sii'  Walter  Raleigh,, 
for  IShds  not  pofteifed  by  any  Chriftian  prince.  By  the  difeftlori 
of  Sir  Walter,  two^fliips  were  fitted  and  fent  out,  under  the  com- 
niand  of  Philip  Amidas,  ind  Arthur  Barlow.  In  July  they 
arrived  on  thecoaft,  and  anchored  in  a  harbour  leVfen  leagues  weft 
of  the  Roanoke.  On  the  13th  of  July,  they,  in  t  formal  matinef,, 
took  poffeflion  of  the.  country,  and,  in  honour  of  their  virgin 


f  .- 


if  mkTH  AiMktCi 


V- 


|ueen  Elizabeth^  they  c^led  it  Vir^nia,     Till 
Country  was  Jctiown  by  the  general  nioie  of  Ho] ' 
W0V I R  G I N I A  b^kcame'  the  cpmmon  name^  for  all  Noi(tH 
^ ,    158^.T-Thfe  next  year.  Sir  Walt*  Raleigh 

GreenvilLc  tQ  America,  Vtth  feven  fliipi.     He  ar^iv]|g^^^BC|||^  - 
con  HarbourUn  June;     Having  i^ati^ned  a  colony  of^ 
a  hundi«^  P^Pl?  ^^  Roanoke,  under  i^he  dire£iion.ofi^|««J^j|^ 
Lane,  he  coafted  noiieih-eailerly  as  fai^as  Chefapeek  Baj|^*and  tie* 
turned  to  £iigland.     >•■  m  ir,'  ,■ 

The  colony  undet  Capt.  Latieikiwtjdiired  extreme  hardikips,  and 
muft  have  periflied,  had  not  Sir  Francis  Drake  fortunately  re- 
turned to  Virginitji  and  carried  thein  to  England,  .^fter  having 
inade  fever^l  iconquefts  foir  the  queen  ki  the. Witfl  Indies  and 
bthcr  places; 

A  fortnight  after,  Sir  Rithafd  Gteenville  ahived  with  new' 
irecrults ;  snd^  althouglf  lie  did  not  find  the  colopy  which  he  had 
$efore  left,  ik^d  knew  not  but  they  had  periibedi  -hit  had  the 
hiflbnefs  to  leave  $b  men  at  the  famc|  place,     l^      »  ^ 

ig87<^>^The  year  following,  Sir  Walter  TetitaQOtI|e»  cottpafty 
io  Virginiai^  under  Governor  Whiter  with  a  charter  and  twelve 
feiBftants;  In  July  he  artived  at  Reanoke.  ^Not  one  of  the  lie- 
con.d  company  remait^ed;  He  determined,  however,  to  rifque  a 
^rd  colony.  Accordingly  he  left  115  people  at  t^e  old  fettle-. 
iiji^Dt,  and  returned  to  England^  ,^'- 

,,  This  year  (Aug.  i^)  Mahteo  W^  baptized  in  Virginia.  He 
^as  the  firft  native  Indian  who  received  that  ordinance  ixv  thai 
part  of  America.  On  the  48th  of  Auguil,  Mrs.  Dare  was  deU- 
yered  of  a  daughter,  whom  flie  called  Virginia.  She  was  tjie 
firft  Englifh  child  that  was  born  in  North  America., ' 

1590. — 'In  the  year  1590,  GoVernor  White  came  over  to 
Virginia  with  fuppHes  and  recruits  for  his  cdfony ;  but,  to  his 
great  grief,  not  a  man  was.  to  be  founds  Thcy^  had  all  miferably 
famiflied  with  hunger,  or  were  maflTaCred  by  th^  Indians. 

i6o2.-> — In  the  fpring  of  this  year,  Bartholomew  Gbfnold, 
with  32  perfons,  made  a  voyage  to  North  Virginia j  and  difco-^ 
veered  and  gave  name^  to  Cape  Cod,  Martha VVineyard,  and 
Elizabeth  Iflands,  and  to  Dover  Cliff.  Elizabeth  Ifland  was  the 
place  which  they  fixed  for  their  firft  fc;'J:ment.  But  the  courage 
of  thofe  who  were  to  haVe  tarried,  failing,  they  all  went  on 
board  and  returned  to  England.  All  the  attempts  to  fettle  this 
continent  which  were  made  by  the  Dutch,  French  and  Englifh, 
from  its  difcovery  to  the  prefent  time,  a  period  of  1 1  o  years, 
proved  ineffeftual.  The  Spaniards  only,  of  .all  the  European 
nations,  had  been  fuccefsful.     There  is  no  account  of  there  hav- 

.    W  ^  .      ' .      . 


»■'» 


Jfi^iSCOVERlEi  Ahib  S£TTlEMEUT$ 

6i^  European  family,  at  this  time,  in  all  the  ytiV^exterti 
dufiktiilll'Hm  Florida  to  Greenland. 

■Martin  Pritig  and  Witlianl  fi^own  ifetn  thig  year  fent 
ihef  Raleigh,  with  two  fmail  veflels,  to  make  difcove- 
rieiVJlflVolth  Virginia.  They  came  ikpon  the  coaft,  which  was 
brolnif' with  a  ntuhitutle  of  iflands,  in  latitude  43*  30^  north. 
They  coafted  foUthward  td  Cape  Cod  Ba^j  thene^  round  the 
Cape  into  a  commodious  haHsour  in  latitude  ^t*  25^  where  they 
went  afhore  ahd  tarried  feven  weeks,  during  which  time  they 
loaded  one  of  their  vefleis  tvith  fafl&fraSj  and  returned  to  £ng^ 
Iand<  • 

Bartholomew  Gilbert,  itt  a  Voyagte  to  South  Virginia,  in 
fearch  of  the  third  colony  \thich  had  bednleft  ihertf  by  OoVernOr 
White  in  15^7,  haying  touched' at  feve/al  of  the  Weft-Indiif 
Iflands,  landed  near  Chefapeck  Bay,  where,  in  a  (kirmiib  with 
the  Indians,  ho  and  fdur  of  his  men  wen!  unfortunately  flain^ 
The  reft,  without  any  fiittller  fearch  fot*  the  cdony,  returned  to 
Ei^gland. 

France,  being  at  this  time*  in  a  ftate  of  tranquility  In  cqnfe* 
qaence  of  the  edift  of  Mania  in  Ibvour  of  the  Proteflants,  paAed 
by  K  mry  IV*  (April  1598)  and  of  the  peace  f/fhh  Philip  king  of 
Spain  and  Portugal,  was  indui^d  to  purfue  her  difcoveriet  int 
Ameriea.  Accordingly  the  king  (igned  a  patent  in  favour  of 
De  Monst  (1603)  ^^  ^^^  '^^  country  from  the  40th  to  the  46th 
degrees  of  north  latitude  under  the  name  of  Acadia, 
1604  '^^^  next  year  Dc  Mons  ranged  the  cOaft  from  St.  Law- 
rence to  Cape  Sable,  and  fo  rojund  to  Cape  Cod, 

i605.-*-»In  May  1605,  George's  I  Hand  and  Pcntecoft  Harbour 
wore  difcovered  by  Capt.  Ceorge  "Weymcuth.  In  May  he  ctt-* 
tered  a  large  river  in  latitude  430  ii^  (variation  11*  15'  wed) 
which  Mr.  Prince,  in  his  Chronology,  fuppofes  mud  have  been 
Sagadahok  ;  but  from  the  latitude,  it  was  more  probably  the 
Pifcataqua.  Capt.  Weymouth  carried  with  htm  tu  England  five 
•f  the  natives. 

1606.— In  the  Springof  this  year,  James  I.  by  patent,  divided 
Virginia  into  two  colonies^  The  fouthtrn  included  all  lands  be- 
tween the  34th  and  41ft  degrees  of  north  latitude.  This  was 
flyled  ihe^rfi  Colony ^  ttnder  the  name  of  South  Virginia,  and  was 
granted  to  the'  London  Company.  The  norjhern^  called  the  fe- 
cond  colony,  and  known  by  the  general  name  of  North  Virginia, 
included  all  lands  between  Che  38th  and  45th  degrees'  north  lati- 
tude, and  was  granted  to  the  Plymouth  Compny.  Each  of 
thefe  colonies  had  a  council  of  thirteen  men  to  govern  them. 
To  prevent  difputes  about  territory,  the  colonies  were  prohibited 
to  plant  within  an  hundred  mi^ei  of  each  other.     There  appears 


/'':^\ 


or  NORTH  AU$JtICJ. 


««« 


|0  be  an  inconfiftency  in  thefe  gi-ant«|  a*  the  linds  lying  between 
the  3Bth  and  41(1  degrees,  are  (overrd  by  both  patents. 

Both  the  Lqpp^on  and  Plymouth  c«»npanies  enterpri^ced  £ettl«- 
ments  within  the  limits  of  their  rei^f^ive  grants.  With  vhat 
Cuccefswill  now  be  mentionedt 

Mr,  Pierey*  brother  of  the  Earl  of  Northumberland,  in  the 

i'ervice  of  tl^e  London  Company,  wpnt  over  with  a  colony  to 

Virginia,  and  difcpvered  Powhatan,  |iow  James  River.     In   the 

mcaira  time  the  Plymouth  Company  font  Capt.  Henry  Challons  in 

a  veflel  of  fifty-Ave  tons  to  plant  a  cc^lony  in  North  Virginia;  but 

in  his  vpyage  he  was  taken  by  a  Spaniih  fleet  an    carried  to  Spain, 

1607.— The  London  Company  this  fpring,  fentCapt.  Chrifto- 

April  a6.  pher  Newport  with  three  veflels  to  South  Virginia. 

Qn  the  26th  of  April  he  entered  Chefiipeek  Bay,  and  landed, 

and  foon  after  gave  to  the  mofl  (buthem  pointy  the 

J4ay  1 9.    name  of  CaffC  Jfenry,  which  it  (lill  retains,     Having 

elefted  Mr.  Edward  Wingfield,  prefident  fof  the  year, 

they  next  day  landed  all  their  men,  an4  began  a  iettle- 

ment  on  James  river,  at  a  p^ace  which  they  called  James- 

Jfune  2S.  Town.     This  is  the  firfl  town  that  wa?  fettled  by  the 

Engliih  in  Norlh  Ameriea.     The  June  following  Capt, 

Newport  failed  for  England,  leaving  with  the  prcftdent  Pn«  hun* 

dred  and  four  perfons. 

'Ai$g%fi  22.~^In  Augud died  Captain  Bartholomew  Gofnold^  the 
hril  projedor  of  the  i'ettlcment,  an^  one  of  the  council,  The  fol» 
lowing  winter  Jara?S'Town  was  burnt. 

During  this  time  the  Plymputb  company  fitted  out  two  (hips 
under  the  pommand  of  Admiral  Rawiey  Gilbert,  They  failed 
for  Nortji  Virginia  on  the  gifl  pf  May,  with  one  hundred  plantr 
crs,  and  Capt.  George  Popham  for  the  1  prefident.  They  arrived 
in  Augufl,  and  fettled  about  nine  or  ten  leagues  to  the  fouthward 
of  the  mouth  of  Sagadahok  river.  A  great  part  of  the  cglony, 
however,  difheartened  by  the  feverity  of  the  winter,  returned  to 
England  in  December,  leaving  their  prefident,  Capt.  Popham, 
with  only  forty-five  men. 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  this  year  that  the  famous  Mr.  Robinfon, 
with  part  of  his  congregation,  who  afterwards  fettled  at  Plymouth 
In  New-England,  removed  from  the  North  of  England  to  HoU 
laud,  to  avoid,  the  cruelties  of  pcrfecution,  and  for  the  fak,e  of 
enjoying  '*  purity  of  worfhip  and  liberty  of  confciencc." 

This  year  a  fmall  company  of  merchants  at  Dieppe  and  St,  Ma- 
le's, founded  Quebec,  or  rathi  1  the  colony  which  they  fent,  built 
a  few  huts  there,  which  did  not  take  the  fornvof  a  town  until  (he 
feign  of  Lewis  XIV, 


1.64        J>tSCOV'ERJES\  AND  SETTLEMKr  ':% 

i 

i6o8.^The  Sagadahok  polony  fuffered  incredibit  '  aniiiiip^ 
after  the  departure  of  their  friends  in  December,  ^n  the  depth 
of  winter,  which  was  extrenjiely  cold,  their  (lore-hdufe  caught  fiic 
and  was  confumed,  with  moll  of  (heir  proviftons  and  lodgings. 
Their  misforf  unps  ^ere  incrcafedt  Toon  after,  by  the  death  of  their 
prefident.     Ra\yley  Gilbert  was  appointed  to  fucceed  him. 

Lord  Chief  Juftice  Popham  made  every  exertion  to  keep  this 
colony  alive  by  repeatedly  fonding  them  fupplics.  But  the  cir- 
cumftance  of  his  death,  whic|h  happened  this  year,  together  with 
that  of  prefident  Gilbert's^  being  called  to  England  to  fettle  his 
affairs,  broke  up  the  colony,  and  they  all  returned  with  him  to 
England.  \ 

The  unfavourable  reports  which  thefe  firft  unfortunate  adven- 
turers propagated  refpe&ing  the  country,  prevented  any  furthe^ 
attempts  to  fettle  North  Virginia  for  feveral  years  after. 

1 609.— ^The  London  company,  laft  year,  fent  Capt.  Nelfon j 
with  two  fiiips,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  perfons,  to  James- 
Town;  and  this  year  Capt.  John  Smith,  afterwards  prefident,  ar- 
rived  on  the  coaft  of  South  Virginia,  and  by  failing  up  a  number 
of  the  rivers,  difcovered  the  interior  country.  |n  September, 
Capt.  Newport  arrived  with  feventy  perfons,  which  increafed  the 
Folbny  to  two  hundred  fouls. ' 

Mr.  Robinfon  and  his  congregation  who  had  fettled  at  Amfter- 
dam,  removed  this  year  to  Leydcn,  where  they  remained  more 
than  eleven  years,  till  a  part  of  them  came  over  to  New-England; 

The  council  for  South  Virginia  having  refigned  their  old  com- 
fniflTion,  rec|ue{led  and  obtained  a  new  one ;  in  confequence  of 
which  they  appointed  Sir  Thomas  Weft,  Lord  de  la  War,  general 
of  the  coj(ony;  Sir  Thomas  Gates,  his  lieutenant;  Sir  George 
Somers,  admiral ;  Sir  Thomas  Dale,  high  marflial ;  Sir  Ferdinand 
Wainman,  general  of  the  horfe,  and  Capt.  Newport,  vice  admiral. 

Jfune  8. — In  June,  Sir  T.  Gates,  admiral  Newport,  and  Sir 
George  Somers,  with  feven  ihips  and  a  ketch  and  pinnace,  having 
five  hundred  fouls  on  board,  men,  women,  and  children, 
Jfufy  24.  failed  from  Falmouth  for  South  Virginia,  In  crofling 
the  Bahama  Gulph,  on  the  24th  of  July,  the  fleet  was 
overtaken  by  a  violent  ftorm  and  feparated.  Four  days  after  Sir 
George  Somers  ran  his  veifel  afKore  on  one '  of  the  Bermuda 
Iflands,  which,  from  this  cirpumftance,  have  been  called  the  So- 
mer  Iflands.  The  people  on  board,  one  hundred  and  fifty  in 
number,  all  got  fafe  on  (hore,  and  there  remained  until  the  fol- 
lawing  May.  The  remainder  of  the  fleet  arrived  at  Virginia  in 
Auguft.  The  colony  was  now  increafed  to  five  hundred  men. 
Capt.  Smith,  then  prefident,  a  little  before  the  arrival  of  the  fleets 

d  been  very  badly  burnt  by  means  of  fome  powder,  which  had 


OF  NORTH  America, 


♦«5 


fCctdcntaUy  caught  fire.  This  unfortunate  circumftance,  together 
with  the  oppofition  he  met  with  from  thofe  who  had  lately  arri- 
ved, induced  him  to  leave  the  colony  and  return  to  England, 
which  he  accordingly  did  on  the  lad  of  September.  Francis  Weft, 
his  fucceflbr  in  office,  foon  followed  Kim,  and  George  Piercy  was 
elefled  preftdent. 

1610.-— The  year  following^  the  South  Virginia  or  London 
company  fealed  a  patent  to  Lord  De  la  War,  conftituting  him 
Governor  and  Captain  General  of  South  Virginia.  He  foon  af- 
ter embarked  for  America  with  Capt.  Argal  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  in  three  ihips. 

The  unfortunate  people,  who,  the  year  before,  had  been  Chip- 
wrecked  on  the  Bermudas  Iflands,  had  employed  themfelves  du- 
ring the  winter  and  Ipring,  under  the  direAion  of  Sir  Thomas 
Gates,  Sir  George  Somers,  and  admiral  Newport,  in  building  a 
fldop  to  tranfport  themfelves  to  the  continent.  They  embarked 
for  Virginia  on  the  19th  of  May^  with  about  one  hundred  and  fif- 
ty perfons  on  board,  leaving  two  of  their  men  behind  who  chofe 
to  ftay,  and  landed  at  James-Town  on  the  23d  of  the  fame  month. 
Finding  the  colony,  which  at  the  time  of  Capt.  Smith's  departure, 
confided  of  five  hundred  fouls,  now  reduced  to  fixty,  and  thofe 
few  in  a  diftrefled  and  wretched  fituation,  they  with  one  voice 
refolved  to  return  to  England ;  and  for  this  purpofe,  on  the  7th 
of  June,  the  whole  colony  repaired  on  board  their  velfels,  broke 
up  their  (ettlement,  and  failed  down  the  river  on  their  way  to 
their  native  country. ' 

Fortunately,  Lord  De  la  War,  who  had  embarked  for  James. 
Town  the  March  before,  met  them  .the  day  after  they  failed,  and 
perl'uaded  them  to  return  with  him  to  James-Town,  where  they 
arrived  and  landed  the  lOth  of  June.  The  government  of  the 
colony  of  right  devolved  upon  Lord  De  la  War.  From  this  time' 
we  may  date  the  efFe£lual  fettlement  of  Virginia.  Its  hiftoiy, 
from  this  period,  will  be  given  in  its  proper  place. 

As  early  as  the  year  i6o8,  or  1609,  Henry  Hudfon,  an  En- 
gli(hman,  under  a  commiiTion  from  the  King  his  mafter,  difcover- 
ed  Long  Ifland,  New-York,  and  the  river  which  ftill  bears  his 
name,  and  afterwards  fold  the  country,  or  rather  his  right,  to  the 
Dutch.  Their  writers,  however,  contend  that  Hudfon  was  fent 
out  by  the  Eaft-India  company  in  1 609,  to  difcOver  a  north-weft 
paffage  to  China ;  and  that  having  firft  difcovered  Delaware  Bay, 
he  came  and  penetrated  Hudfon's  river  as  far  as  latitude  43*.  It 
is  laid  however  that  there  was  a  fale,  and  that  the  Englifti  objeft- 
ed  to  it,  though  for  fome  time  they  negleftsd  to  oppofc  the  Dutch 
fettlement  of  the  country. 


t56        DISCOVEkim  AND  SETTLEMENTS 

i6ip,-^In  i6tOi  Hudfon  failed  again  to  this  country,  then 
called  by  the  Dutch  Naw  Netherlands^  and  four  years  after,  the 
St»tq!r|pencral  granted  a  patent  to  fundry  merchants  for  an  ex- 
clufivc  trade  on  the  North  river,  who  the  fame  year, 
1^614  (1614)  built  a  fort  on  the  weft  fide  near  Albany,  From 
this  time  we  may  date  the  fettlement  of  Now-^York,  the 
hiftory  of  which  will  be  atinexcd  to  a  defcription  of  the  State. 

Conception  Bay,  on  the  Ifland  of  Newfoundland,  was  fettled 
io  the  year  1 6 1  q,  by  about  forty  planters  under  governor  Johii 
puy,  to  whom  King  James  had  given  a  patent  of  incorporation. 

Champlain,  a  Frenchman,  had  begun  a  fettlement  at  Quebec, 
l^gS,  St  Ct-oix,  Mount  Manfel,  and  Port  Royal  were  fettled 
about  the  fame  time.  Thefe  fettlements  remained  undifturbed  till 
1613,  wheij  the  Virginians,  hearing  that  the  French  had  fettled, 
If/ithin  their  limits,  fent  Captain  A -gal  to  diflodge  them.  For 
thia  purp^fe  he  failed  to  Sagadahok,  took  their  forts  at  Mount 
Manfel,  St.  Croix,  and  Port  Roynl,  with  their  veflfels,  ordnance, 
cattle,  and  provifions,  and  carried  theoj  to  James-Town  in  Vir-. 
f^rn^,     Qufbet  was  left  in  poffelFion  of  the  French, 

1 6 1 4.-— This  year  Capt,  John  Smithy  with  two  fhips  and  forty- 
five  men  and  boys,  made  a  voyage  to  North  Virginia,  to  naake  qxi 
periments  upon  a  gold  and  copper  min^,  ^is  orders  were,  to 
fiih  and  trade  with  the  natives,  if  he  fliould  fjkil  in  his  expefia-* 
tiofikS  with  regard  to  the  mine.  To  facilitate  this  bufinefs,  he 
$ook  with  him  Tantum^  an  |ndian>  perhaps  one  that  Capt.  Wey-i 
mouth  carried  to  England  in  1605.  In  April  he  reached  the 
Ijlafid  Monahigan  in  latitude  43^  30'.  Here  Capt.  Smith  was 
dire£)»d  to  ftay  and  keep  pofleflion,  with  ten  men,  Jbr  the  pur^ 
poAe  of  making  a  trial  of  the  whaling  bufmefs,  but  being  difap- 
pointed  in  this  he  built  feven  boatSi  in  which  thirty-feven  men 
ipade  a  very  fuccelsful  fi&ing  voyage.  In  the  mean  time  the  cap- 
tain himfelf,  with  eight  men  only,  in  a  fmall  boat,  coafted  from 
Penobfcot  to  Sagadahok,  Acocifco,  PalTataquack,  Tragabizanda, 
now  called  Cape  Ann,  thence  to  Acomak,  where  he  Ikirmifhed 
with  fome  Indians ;  thence  to  Cape  Cod  where  he  fet  his  Indian, 
Tantum,  a^ore  and  left  him,  and  returned  to  Monahigan.  In 
this  voyage  he  found  two  French  Ihips  in  the  Bay  of  Maffachu- 
felts,  who  had  come  there  fix  weeks  before,  and  during  that 
time,  had  been  trading  very  advantageoufly  with  the  Indians,  It 
was  conje£lured  that  there  was,  at  this  time,  three  thoufand  In- 
dians upon  the  Maifachufetts  iHands, 

In  July,  Capt.  Smith  embarked  for  England  in  one  of  the  vef- 
iels,  leaving  the  other  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Thomas 
Hunt,  to  equip  for  a  voyage  to  Spain.  After  Capt.  Smith's  de- 
parture, Hunt  perfidioully  allured  twenty  Indians  (one  of  whom 


OT  NORtit  AMERICA. 


l($f 


'^t&SquantOf  afterwards  fo  ferviceablc  to  the  Engliih)  to  come  cftt 
board  his  fliip  at  Petuxit^  and  fcven  more  at  Naufit,  and  carried 
them  to  the  Ifland  of  Malaga,  Where  he  fold  them  for  twenty 
pounds  each,  to  be  flaves  for  lifft  This  condu61:,  which  fijces  an 
indelible  ftigma  upon  the  charafter  of  Hunt,  excited  in  the  br<£a(li 
of  the  Indians  fuel:  an  inveterate  hatred  of  the  Englifh,  as  that, 
for  many  years  after,  all  commercial  intercourfe  with  them  was 
rendered  exceedingly  dangerous. 

Capt.  Smith  arrived  at  London  the  laft  of  Augufl:,  whelfe  he 
drew  a  map  of  the  country,  and  called  it  New-England,     From 
this  time  Nbrth-Virginia  affumed  the  name  of  Neu-Engtand,  and 
the  name  Virginia  was  confined  fo  the  fouthern  colony. 

Between  the  years  1614  and  1620,  feveral  attempts  were  ma<l^ 
by  the  Plymouth  Company  to  fettle  New-England,  but  by  various 
means  they  were  all  rendered  inelFeflual.  During  this  time  how- 
ever, an  advantageous  trade  Was  carried  on  with  the  natives. 

1617.-^111  the  year  1617,  Mr.  Robinfon  and  his  congregation 
influenced  by  feveral  weighty  reafohs,  meditated  a    removal   to 
^  America.     Various   difficulties  intervened  to  prevent 

1620.       the  fuccefs  of  their  defigns,  until  the  year  1620,  when 
a  part  of   Mr.  Robinfon*s  congregation  came  over  and 
fettled  at  Plymouth.     At  this  time  commenced  the   fettlement  of 
New-England* 

The  particulars  relating  to  the  firft  emigrations  to  this  northern^ 
part  of  America;  theprogrefs  of  its  fettlement,  &c.  will  be  given 
ih  the  hiflory  of  New-England,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 
In  order  to  preferve  the  chronological  order  in  which  the  fe-> 
veral  colonies,  not  grown  into  independent  ftates,  were  firft  fet- 
tled, it  will  be  necefTary  that  I  fhould  jufl    mention, 
that  the    next  year  after   the  fettlement  of  Plymouth, 
Captain  John  Mafon,  obtained  of  the  Plymouth  council 
a  grant  of  a  part  of   the  prefeift  ftate  of  New-Hamp- 
fhire.     Two  years  after,  under  the   authority  of  this 
grant,  a  fmali  colony  fixed  down  near  the  mouth  of  Pif- 
cataqua  river.     From  this  period  we  may  date  the  fettlement   of 
New-Hampfhire.  ^ 

1627. — In  1627,  a  colony  of  Swedes  and  Fins  came  over  and 
landed  at  Cape  Henlopen ;  and  afterwards  purchafed  of  the  Indi- 
ans th:  land  from  Cape  Henlopen  to  the  Falls  of  Delaware  on 
both  firiies  the  river,  which  they  called  New  Swedeland  Stream, 
On  thisi  river  they  I  ^ilt  feveral  forts,  and  made  fettlemcnts. 

i6s8.  On  the  19th of  March,  1628,  the  council  for  New-Eng- 
land fold  to  $ir  Henry  Rofwell,  and  five  others,  a  large  traft  of 
land,  lying  round  Maftachufetts  Bay.  The  June  following,  Capt. 
John  Endicot,  with  his  wife  and  company,  came  over  and  fettled 


lt>21 


1^23 


^68     Discoveries  AND  SETTLEMENTS 

ki  Naumkeag,  now  called  Salem.  This  vsras  the  firft  fettlemen|^ 
which  was  made  in  MaiTachufetts  Bay.  Plymouth,  indeed,  whiclx 
is  now  included  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Maflachufetts,  was  fet* 
tied  eight  years  before,  but  at  this  time  it  was  a  feparate  colony, 
under  a  diftinft  government,  and  continued  fo  until  the  fecond 
charter  of  MaiTachufetts  was  granted  by  William  and  Mary  in 
1691 ;  by  which  Plymouth,  the  Pr'ovinte  of  Maine  and  Sagadahok 
were  annexed  to  Maflachufetts^ 

J^une  13,  1633.-— In  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Firft,  Lord  Bal- 
timore, a  Roman  Catholic,  applied  for  and  obtained  a  grant  of  a 
tra£b  of  land  upon  Chefapeek  Bay,  about  one  hundred  and  forty 
miles  long,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  broad.  Soon  after  this,' 
in  confequence  of  the  rigour  of  the  laws  of  England  a^inft  the 
Roman  Catholics,  Lord  Baltimore,;  with  a  number  of  his  perfecu-' 
ted  brethren,  came  over  and  fettled  it,  and  in  honour  of  queen 
Henrietta  Maria,  they  called  it  Maryland.        • 

The  firft  grant  of  Conne£licut  was  made  by  Robert,  Earl  of 
Warwick,  prelident  of  the  council  of  Plymouth,  t6  Lord< 
1631      Say  and  Seal,  to  Lord  Brook  and  others,  in  the  year  1631. 
In  confequente  of  feveral  fmaller  grants  made  afierwards 
by  the  patentees  to  particular  peffons,  Mr.  Penwick  made 
a  fettlement  at  tlie  mouth  of  Connediicut  river,  and  caUed 
^635     it    Say  brook.     Four  years  after  9  number  of   people  from 
Maflachufetts  Bay  came   and  began  fettlements  at  Hart- 
ford, Wcthersfield,  and  Windfor,  on  Connefticut  river.     Thus- 
commenced  the  Englifh  fettlement  of  Connecticut. 

Rhode  Ifland  was  firft  fettled  in  confequctice  of  religious  per* 
fecution.  Mr.  Roger  Williams,  who  was  among  thofe  who  ear- 
ly came  over  to  Maflachufetts,  not  agreeing  with  fome  of  his 
brethren  in  fenti'mcnt,  was  very  unjuftifiably  baniflied  the 
1 635  colony,  and  went  with  twelve  others,  his  adherents,  and 
fettled  at  Providence  in  1635.  From  this  beginning  arofe 
the  colony,  now  ftate  of  Rhode-Iiland. 

1664.— On  the  20th  of  March,  1664,  Charles  the  Second 
granted  to  the  Duke  of  York,  what  is  now  called  New-Jerfey, 
then  a  part  of  a  large  traft'  of  country  by  the  name  of  New  Ne- 
therland.  Some  parts  of  New-Jerfey  were  fettled  by  the  Dutch 
as  early  as  about  1615. 

1662. — In  the  year  1662,  Charles  the  Second  granted  to  Ed- 
ward Earl  of  Clarendon,  and  feven  others,  almoft  the  whole  ter- 
ritory of  the  three  Southern  ftates.  North  and  South  Ca- 
1664  rolinas  and  Georgia.  Two  years.after  he  granted  a  fecond 
charter,  enlarging  their  boundaifies.  Thr  proprietors,  by 
virtue  of  authority  veftad  in  them  by  their  charter,  engaged  Mi*. 
Locke  to  frame  a  fyftem  of  laws  for  the  government  of  their  in- 


OP  AM  £  RICA. 


i6s' 


tended  colony.  Notwithft^nding  thefe  preparations;  n(7 
1669  efFe£fcual  fettlement  was  made  until  the  year  1669,  (though  one 
was  attempted  iii  k667)  when. Governor  Sayle  came  ovct* 
With  a  colony,  and  fixed  on  a  neck  of  land  between  Alhley  and 
'Cdop<:r  Rivers.  Thus  commenced  the  fettlement  of  Carolina, 
Which  then  included  the  whole  territory  between  the  29th  and 
^6th  36'  degrees,  north  latitude,  together  with  the  Bahama  Iflands, 
lying  between  latitude  22"  and  27*"  north. 

1681. — iThe'  Royal  charteir  for  Pehiifylvania  waS  granted  to  "W  il- 
liam  Penn  on  the  4th  of  March,  168 1»  The  firft  colony 
t68a  came  over  the  next  year,  and  fettled  under  the  proprietor, 
William  Penn,  who  a£ied  as  governor  from  Oftober  168a 
to  Auguft  1684,  The  firft  afTembly  in  the  province  of  Pennfyl- 
vania  was  held  at  Chefter,  onAhc  4th  of  December,  1682;  Thus 
William  Penn,  a  Quaker,  juftly  celebrated  as  a  great  and  good  man, 
had  the  honour  of  laying  the  foundation  of  the  prefent  populou  i 
and  very  flourilhing  State  of  Pennfylvania; 

The  proprietory  government  in  Carolina,  was  attended  with  fo 
inany  inconveniences^  and  occafioned  fuch  violent  dilTentions 
among  the  fettlers^  that  the  Parliament  of  Great-Britain  was  indu- 
iced  to  take  the  province  iinder  their  immediate  care;  The  pro- 
prietors (except  Lord  Granville)  accepted  of  j^.22,500  fterling, 
from  the  crown  for  the  property  and  jurifdi£tion.  This 
1 729  agreement'was  ratified  by  aft  of  Parliament  'n  1 729.  A  claufe 
in  this  aft  referved  to  Lord  Granville  hxs  eighth  fhare  of 
the  property,  and  atrears  of  quit-rents,  wli»ch  tosjv'riued  legally 
veftedin  his  family  till  the  revolution  in  1776,  i.iud  Gianville'S 
fhare  made  A  part  of  the  prefent  ftate  of  North  Carblini.  About 
the  year  1729^  the  extenfive  territory  belonging  to  the  pre  ,>r»etors, 
was  divided  into  North  and  South  Carolina;  f'ley  remained  fepa- 
rate  royal  gOvetnnients  until  th6y  became  independent  ftatet. 

Fdr  ih'6  rdief  of  poor  indigent  people  of  Great-Britain  and  Ire- 
land, and  for  the  fecurity  of  Carolina,  a  projcft  was  formed  for 
planting  a  colony  between  the  rivers  Savannah  and  Alataqiaha. 
Accordingly  application  being  made  to  king  Geor^;e  the 
1 732  Second)  he  iflucd  letters  patentj  bearing  date  June  9th,  1  ;32, 
for  legally  carrying  into  execution  the  benevolent  plan.  In 
honor  of  the  king,  who  greatly  encouraged  the  p^n,  they  cuilcd 
the  new  province  Georgia,  '''wenty-one  truftees  were  appointed 
ia  Conduft' the  affairs  relating  to  the  fettlement  of  the  province. 
The  November  following,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  perfons, 
one  of  whom  was  General  Oglethorpe,  embarked  for  Georgia, 
where  they  arrived,  and  landed  at  Yamacraw.  In  exploring  the 
country,  they  fou»d  an  elevated  pleafant  fpot  of  ground  on  ihts 

Vol.1.  Z  ' 


17b         DiSdOVERIES  ANH  SETTLEMEl^fS 

bftnk  of  a  navigable  rivcfj  upon  which  they  marked  out  a  towh^ 
and  froMi  the  Indian  name  of  the  river  which  pafled  by  it,  called 
it  Savannah.  From  this  period  xve  may  date  the  fettlement  oi 
Georgia. 

The  country''  now  called  Kentucky,  was  well  known  id  the  In<i 
dian  traders  many  years  before  its  fettlement.  They  gave  a  def- 
cription  of  it  to  Lewis  Evans,  who  publiihed  his  tirft  mtlp 
1 75a  of  it  as  early  as  the  year  1 752.  James  Macbride,  with  fome 
1754  others,  explored  this  country  in  1754.  Ool.  Daniel  Boon 
vifited  it  in  i-jSg; 

fjj^. — iFour  years  after  Col.  Boon  and  his  family j  with  ifiv« 
other  families,  who  were  joined  by  forty  men  from  PoWle's  valley, 
began  the  fettlement  of  Kentucky*^  which  is  now  one  of  the  moft 
growing  colonies,  perhaps^  in  the  world,  and  was  ere£):ed  into  an 
independent  ftate,by  an  aft  of 'Congrefs,  Decdmber  6th,  1*796,  and 
received  into  the  Union,  June  ift,  1792. 

The  traft  of  country  called  Vermont,  before  the  late  t^ar,  was 
•claimed  by  both  NeW-"^ 'Ork  and  New-Hampfhire.  When  hoftilities 
commenced  between  Great-Britain  and  her  Colonies,  the  inhabi- 
tants confidering-themfelves  as  in  a  ftatc  erf  nature,  as  to  civil  go- 
vernmeritj  and  not  "virithin  any  legal  jurifdiftian,  affociated  and 
formed  for  themfelves  a  conftitution  of  government.  Under  thte 
conftitution^  they  have  ever  fmce  continued  to  exercifc  all  the 
■powers  of  an  independent  ftate.  Vermont  was  not  admitted  into 
union  with  the  other  ftates  till  March  4,  1791,  y^t  we  may  venture 
to  date  her  political  exiftence  as  a  feparate  government. 
1777  from  the  year  1777,  becaufe,  fince  that  time,  Vermont  hr.s 
to  all  intents  and  purpofes,  been  a  fovereign  and  indepen- 
dent State,  The  firft  fettlement  in  this  ftate  was  made  at  Benning- 
ton as  early  as  about  1 764. 

The  esltenfive  traft  of  country  lying  north-weft  of  the  Ohio 
.River,  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  was  ercfted  into  a 
feparate  temporary  government  by  an  Ordinance  of  Congrefs 
1 737     pafled  the  13th  of  July,  1787. 

Thus  we  have  given  a  fummary  view  of  the  firft  difcoverieS  and 
progreflive  fettlement  of  North  America  in  their  chronological 
order.  The  following  recapitulation  will  comprehend  the  whole 
in  one  view.  - 

•  This  fettlement  was  made  in  violation  of  the  Treaty,  in  1768,  at  Fort  Staawix, 
which  exprefaly  ftipulates,  that  this  iraft  of  country  fhould  be  reCerved  for  the 
weftern  nations  to  hunt  upon,  until  they  and  the  crown  of  England  fhould  other- 
wife  agree.  This  has  been  one  great  caufc  of  tlic  enmity  of  ihofe  Indian  nati«ns 
to  the  Virginians. 


if aiMs  of  places. 

Quebec, 
Virginia, 
Newfoiindland, 
New-York      "1 
New-Jerfey,  / 

Plymouth, 


OF  AMERICA. 

Whenfdtkd. 


»7» 


By  whom. 


t6o8 

June  lo,  1640 

June,  1610 

about  1614 


New-Hampfliire, 

Delaware,  T 

Pcnnfylvania    / 
Mafl'achufett's  Bay,, 

Maryland, 

Conne£licut, 

Rhode-Ifiand 

New-Jerfey, 

South  Carolina,     . 
Pcnnfylvania, 


( 
{ 


1620 

1623 

1627 
)628 

>633 
1635 
1635 


1664  < 


i66g 
1682 


North-Carolina,  about  1-728 


Georgia, 
Kentucky, 

Vermont, 


1732 

1773 


Territory  N.  W. 
of  Ohio  river. 


N.  W.-l 
river,     j 


about  1764 


^787 


By  the  French.  • 
By  Lord  De  la  War. 
By  Governor  John  Guy. 

By  the  Dutch. 

By  part  of  Mr.  Robinfon's  con- 
gregation. 
By  a  fmall  Englifh  colony  neat 
the  mouth  of  Pifcataqqa  f  iycv. 

By  the  Swedes  and  Fins, 

By  Capf.  John  Endicot  &  comp, 
'  By  Lord  Baltimore,  with  a  por 
lony  of  Roman  Catholics.' 
By  Mr,  Fenwick,  at  Saybrook, 
near  the  mouth  of  Conne^licut 
^  river. 

■  By  Mr.  Roger  Williams  ani 
his  perfecuted  brethren. 
Granted  to  the  Duke  of  York 
by  Charles  IL  and  made  « 
diftinfi:  government,  and  fet- 
tled fome  time  before  this  by 
the  Englifh. 
By  Governor  Sayle,  ,    ^, 

r  By  William  Penn,  with  a  coi- 
\   lony  of  Quakers. 
"Eretted  in  a  feparate  eoyern- 
«     ment,  fettled  before  by   the 
[   Englift. 

By  General  Oglethorpe, 
By  Col,  Daniel  Boon, 

By  emigrants  from  ConneSI^ 
cut  and  other  parts  of  New 
England.  ' 

r  By  the  Ohio  and  other  compa- 
\   nics. 


The  above  dates  are  from  the  periods,  when  the  firft  permanent 
fett^emcnts  were  made. 


Z  a 


NORTH   AMERICA, 


BpUNDARIE^  AND  fiXJENT, 


N, 


OKTH  America  comprehends  all  that  part  of  the  wefteri^ 
continent  which  lies  north  of  the  Ifthmus  of  Darien,  exten^infil 
porth  and  fouth  from  a)}out  the  loth  degree  nprth  latitude  to  the; 
north  pole ;  and  eaft  and  weft  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Patcilio 
Ocean,  between  the  45th  and  165th  degrees  weft  longitude  from 
London.  Beyond  the  70th  degree  N.  Lat.  few  dilcovcries  have 
been  made.  In  July  1779,  Capt.  Cook  proceeded  as  far  as  lat. 
iji°f  when  he  c?me  to  a  folidbqdy  of  ice  extending  fion^^  ^on-^ 
tinent  to  continent. 

Bays,  Sounds,  Straits,  and  Islands. — Of  thefe  (except 
thole  in  the  Uiited  States,  %vhich  \yc  ftiall  defcribe  under  thj^t 
^ead)  we  know  little  more  than  their  names.  Baffin's  Bay,  lying 
betwieen  the  70th  and  80th  degrees  N^  Lat.  is  the  largeft  and  moft 
nothern,  that  has  yet  been  difcovered  in  North  America.  It 
opens  into  the  Atlantic  ocean  through  Baffin's  and  Davis's  Straits, 
between  Cape  Chidley,  on  the  Labrador  coaft,  and  Cape  Fare- 
ivell.  It  communicates  with  Hudfon's  Bay  to  the  fouth,  through 
a  clufter  of  idands.  In  this  capacious  bay  or  gulph  is  James  lil- 
and,  the  fouth  point  of  which  is  called  Cape  Bedford ;  and  the 
fmaller  iilands  of  Waygate  and  Di(ko.  Davis's  Straits  feparate 
Greenland  from  the  American  continent,  and  arc  between  Cape 
WaHijigham,  on  James  Ifland,  and  South  Bay  in  Greenland,  where 
they  are  about  60  leagues  b^oad,  and  extend  from  the  67th  to  the 
71(1^  degrees  of  latirudij  «bove  Diiko  ifland.  The  moft  fouthern 
point  of  Greenland  •    called  Cape  Farewell. 

Hudfon's  Bay  took  its  name  fro:,.  Henry  Hudfon,  who  difco- 
yered  it  in  16 ip.  it  lies  between  51  and  69  degrees  of  north  la- 
titude. The  eaftern  boundaiy  of  the  Bay  is  Terra  dc  Labrador  » 
the  northern  part  has  -u  ftraight  coaft,  facing  the  bay,  guarded  with 
a  line  of  ifles  innumerable,  A  vaft  i>ay,  called  the  ^rchiwinnipy. 
Sea,  lieis  within  it,  and  opens  into  Hudfon's  Bay,  \y  means  of 
gulph  Hazard,  thiough  which  the  Beluga  whales  pafs  in  great 
numbers.  The  entrance  of  the  oay,  from  the  Atlantic  ocean,  af- 
ter leaving,  to^  the  north.  Cape  Farewell  and  Davis's  Straits,  i^ 
between  Reiblution  iiles  on  the  north,  and  Button's  ifles,  on  the, 
JLabrador  coaft,  to  the  fouth,  forming  the  eaftern  extremity  o^ 
Hudibn's  Straits, 


NORTH  A  At  f:  RICA, 


'73 


The  coafts  are  very  high,  rocky  and  rugged  at  top;  in  fpme 
places  precipitous,  but  fomctimes  exhibit  extenfive  beaches.  The 
Sflands  of  Saliibury,  Nottingham,  ajid  Diggcs  are  very  lofty  and 
paked.  The  depth  of  water  in  ^he  |i>^,d<lle  of  ^he  bay  is  140  fa- 
thoms. From  Cape  Churchill  to  the  foMith  $pd  of  the  bay  are  re? 
gular  foundings ;  near  the  (hore,  ihallow,  yf'iph  muddy  or  fandy 
bottom.  •  To  the  northward  of  Churchill,  the  foundings  are  irrer 
gular,  the  bottom  rocky,  and  }n  f'ome  part^  the  rocks  appear  jbqyc 
the  furface  at  low  water^ 

James's  Bay  lies  at  the  bottom,  or  mod  fouthern  part  of  Hudr 
Ion's  Bay,  with  which  it  communicates,  and  divides  New  Britain 
from  South  Wales.  To  the  northwestward  of  Hudlon's  Bay  is  ai| 
extenfive  chain  of  lakes,  among  which  is  Lake  Menichlich,  lat.  61 S 
long,  las'*  W.  North  of  this  is  Lake  Dpbount,  to  the  northward  of 
which  lies  the  extenfive  country  of  the  northern  Indians.  Weft 
of  thefe  lakes,  between  the  latitudes  of  6q  and  $6  decrees,  after 
pafling  a  large  duller  of  unnamed  lakes,  lies  the  lal^e  qi*  fea  Ara- 
thapel'cow,  whofe  fouthern  fhores  are  inhabited  by  the  Arathapef- 
cow  Indians..  North  of  this,  and  near  the  Ar&ic  circle,  is  Lake 
Edlande,  around  which  live  the  Dog  ribbed  Indians.  Further 
north  is  BufFaloe  lake,  near  which  is  Copper  Mine  river,  in  lat* 
72*  N.  and  long,  i  »9**  W.  of  Greenwich.  The  Copper  Mine  In- 
dians Inhabit  this  country. 

Between  Copper  Mihe  river,  which,  according  to  Mr.  Heme, 
empties  into  the  Northern  fea,  where  the  tide  rifes  i2~or  14  feet, 
and  which  in  its  whole  courfe  is  encumbered  with  fhoals  and  falls, 
and  the  north-wefl  coaft  of  America,  is  an  extenfive  traft  of  unex- 
plored country.  As  you  dclcend  from  north  to  fouth  on  the  weft- 
cm  coaft  of  America,  juft  louth  of  the  Arftic  circle,  ybu  come  to 
Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  oppofite  Eaft  Cape  on  the  eaftern  continent); 
and  here  the  two  continents  approach  neareft  to  each  other.  Pro- 
ceeding fouth  ward  you  pafs  Norton  Sound,  Cape  Stephen's,  Shoal- 
nefs,  Briftol  Bay,  Prince  William's  Sound,  Cook's  River,  Admi- 
ralty Bay,  and  Port  Mulgrave,  Nootka  Sound,  &c.  From  Nootka 
Sound  proceeding  fouth,  you  pafs  the  unexplored  country  of  New 
Albion,  thence  to  California,  and  NeW  Mexico, 


DIVI. 


DIVISIONS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


A  H  E  vaft  traft  of  country,  bounded  weft  by  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
fouth  and  eaft  by  Califqrnia,  ^New  Mexico,  and  Louifiana — rtho 
United  States,  Canada  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  extending  at 
far  north  as  the  country  is  habitable  (a  few  fcattered  Englifh, 
Prench,  and  fome  other  European  fettlements  excepted)  is  inhabits 
ed  wholly  by  various  nations  and  tribes  of  Indians.  Thelndians 
alfo  pofTefs  large  tra£ts  of  country  within  the  SpaniOi,  American, 
and  Britifh  dominions.  Tlioie  parts  of  North  America  not  inha- 
bited by  Indians,  belong,  if  jve  include  Greenland,  to  Denmark, 
Great-Britain,  the  American  States,  and  Spain,  Spain  claims  Eaft 
and  Weft  Florida,  and  all  weft  of  the  Mifliffippi,  and  fouth  of  the 
northern  boundaries  of  Louifiana,  New  Mexico  and  California, 
Great  Britain  claims  all  the  country  inhabited  by  Europeans,  lying^ 
north  and  eaft  of  the  United  States,  except  Greenland,  which  beV 
Ibngs  to  Denmark,  The  remaining  part  is  the,  territory  of  ^hc 
Fifteen  United  States.  The  particular  Provinces  an4  §tates,  are 
exhibited  in  the  following  table : 

'  TABLE, 


Mfttng'        Cntnlries,  Prmnces, 
iaf,t$  ^  ami  Utlts, 

"""Vermont 
Nevr«HampAiire 
MafTachufetts         > 
Diftrid  of  Maine  $ 
Rhode  Ifland 
Conneflicut  ^ 
N<ytf-York 
New-Jerfey 
PenoiylvmHi 
Delaware 
Maryland 
Vir^nia 
Kentucky 
North  Carolina 
South  Carolina 
Georgia 

Territory  S.  of  Ohio 
^Territory  N.  W.  of  Ohio 

New  Britain  unknown 

Upper  Canada  10,000 

Lower  Canada  >  130,000 

Cape  Breton  I.  \  a,000 
New-Brunfwick 
Itfova-Scotia 


-I 


|1 

I 


I 


*1 

3      St.  John's  Ifland  in  1783 
M      Newfoundland  Ifland 


Nuwier  of 

JitMtUHts.  CkUf  Towns. 

Windfor,  Rutland 

Portfmouth,  Concord 

Bofton,  Salem,  Newbury  P«ft 

Portland,  Hallowell 

Newport,  Providence 

New-Haven,  Hartford 

New- York,  Albany 

Trenton,  Burlington,  Brunfwick 

Philadelphia,  t^ncafter 

Dover,  Wilt'iin^on,  Newcaftle 

Annapolis,  Baltimore 

Richmond,  ^erfl>wrgh,  NorfoUi^ 

Lexington 

Newbem,  Edenton,  Halifai( 

Charleflon,  Columbia- 
Savannah,  Augufla 

Abingdon 

Marietta 


Kingfton,  Detroit,  Niaj 
Quebec,  Montreal 
Sidney,  Louifburgh 
Fredericktown 
Halifax 
Charlottetown 
Placentia,  St,  John's 


85.539 

387.787 
96,540 
68,825 

•37.946 
340,  lao 

»84,i39 
434.373 
59,094 
319,728 
747,610 

73.677 
393.75» 
•49.073 

82,548 

[35.691 


.35.000 
5.000 

7,000 


o 


>•  J 


5< 

g  \  Greenland 

f 

i 


f^Eaft  Florida 
S   1  Weft  Florida 
«  j  Louifiana 


I 


New  Mexico 
California 
^Mexico,  or  New-Spaiu 


fO,ooo     New  Herrnhut 

Auguftine 
Penfacola 
New  Orleans 
St.  Fee 
St.  Juan 
Mexico 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


SITUATION  AND  EXTENT. 


Nfilea. 

n'"*2^u  *!^°)  Between 
Breadth  1^40/ 


Degrees^ 
'3i»  and  i6^  North  Latituae. 

nd  04*  W.  Long,  from  Philad. 
.  96^  W.  Long,  from  London. 


Uegreesi 
r3i»and46*>  Nortl 
{    8"  E.andaL4«W. 
I64«and96«  W.  L 


BOU  NDARIZ  S. 


B 


'  o  u  N  o  £  o  north  and  eaft  by  Biitifh  America,  or  the  provin^ 
ees  of  Upper  and  Lower  Caruda,  and  New  Brunfwit'<  ;  fouthcaft, 
by  the  Atlantic  Ocean  ;  fouth,  by  eaft  and  weft  Flori  «  ;  weft,  by 
the  river  Mifliffippi. 

In  the  treaty  of  peace,  concluded  in  :783,  the  limits  of  the  Amcr 
tican  United  States  are  more  particularly  defined  in  the  words  fo^. 
lowing :  "  And  that  all  difputes  which  might  arife  in  future  on  the 
fubjc8:  of  the  boundaries  of  the  faid  United  States  may  be  pre- 
vented, it  is  hereby  agreed  and  declared,  that  the  following  are 
and  {hall  be  tbeir  boundaries,  viz.  From  the  north-weft  angle  of 
Kova-Scotia,  vi2.  That  angle  'whi<^  is  formed  by  a  line  drawn  due 
north  from  the  fource  of  St.  Croix  B.iver  to  the  Highlands,  along 
the  faid  Highlands,  which  divide  thofc  rivers  that  empty  thcm- 
fielves  into  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  from  thofe  which  fall  into  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  to  the  north-wefternmoit  head  of  Conne^icut 
thence  down  along  the  middle  of  that  river  to  the  forty- 


nver 


fifth  degree  of  north  latitude  ;  -from  thence  by  a  line  due  weft  on 
the  faid  latitude,  until  it  fttikes  the  river  Iroquois  or  'Cateraquy  •; 
thence  along  the  middle  of  the  faid  river  into  Lake  Ontario, 
through  the  middle  of  the  faid  Lake,  until  it  ftrik^s  the  communi- 
cation by  water  between  that  Larke  and  Lake  Erie  ;  thence  along 
the  middle  of  the  faid  communication  into  I^ake  Erie,  through  the 
middle  of  the  faid  lake,  until  it  arrives  at  the  water  communication 
betSveen  that  iake  and  Lake  Huron  ;  thence  through  the  middk: 
of  the  faid  ila^ke  to  the  water  communication  between  that  lake  and 
Lake  Superior;  thence  through  Lake  Superior  northward  of  thp 
Ifles  Royal  and  philipeaux  to  the  Long  Lake  ;  thence  through  the 
middle  of  the  iaid  JLong  Lake,  and  the  water  comrnvnication  be- 
tween it  and  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  to  the  faid  Lake,  of  the 
Woods ;  thence  through  the  iaid  lake  to  the  moft  northwcftcrn 
point  thereof,  and  frran  thence,  on  a  due  weft  courfe,  to  the  iRi- 
ver  Mifliffippi ;  thence:by.a>line  to  be  drawn  along  the  middle  of 
the  faid  River  Mifliffippi,  until  it  ffiall  interfeft  the  northernmoft 
part  of  the  thirty-firft  degree  of  north  latitude.  South,  by  a  line 
to  be  drawn  due  eaft  from  the  determination  of  the  IJjje  laft  men- 
tioned, in  ehe  latitude  of  thirty-oue  degrees  north  of  the  equator. 


1)6 


(GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


I    ",' 


to  the  middle  of  the  River  Apalachicola,  or  Catahouche  ;  thenco 
Uong  the  middle  thereof  to  its  junflion  with  the  Flint  River  ; 
tlience  (Irait  to  the  head  of  St.  Mary's  River  ;  and  thence  down 
along  the  middle  of  St.  Mary's  River  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean ;  eaft, 
by  a  line  to  be  dfawn  rlong  the  middle  of  the  River  ''k.  Croix, 
from  its  mouth  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  to  its  fourcc  ;  and  from  its 
fource  dire£lly  north,  to  the  afofcfatd  Highlands,  which  r^ivide  the 
rivers  thac  fdl  Into  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  from  thofc  which  fall  into 
the  River  St.  Lawrence,  comprehending  all  iilands  ^"ithin  twenty 
leagues  of  iny  part  of  the  ihores  of  the  United  States,  and  lying 
between  lines  to  be  drawn  due  eaft  from  the  p6ihtj  where  the 
alfotefaid  boundaries  between  Nova-Scotia  on  the  one  part,  and 
Eail-Florida  on  the  other,  (hall  refpe£Uvely  touch  the  Bay  of  Fun.' 
dy  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  excepting  fuch  iflands  as  now  are,  or 
heretofore  have  been,  within  the  limits  of  tlie  feid  province  of 
NoVa-Scotia. 

The  following  :nlculations  were  made  from  aEiual  meafurement  of  the 
bejtmaps  by  Thomas  HvtChiks,  geograp/ur  to  the  United  States^ 

p     The  territory  of  &.  United  States,  contains  by  computational 
tiiiUion  of  fquare  mile^,       which  arc  640,000,000  of  acter 

Deautl  for  water 


Acres  of  land  in  fhe  United  States, 


51,000,000 
589,000,000 


That  part  of  the  United  States  comprehended  between  the  weffe 
boundary  line  of  Pennfylvania  on  the  eaft,  the  boundary  line  be" 
tween  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  extending  'from  the 
river  St.  Croix  to  the  north-weft  extremity  of  the  Lake  of  the' 
Woods  on  the  north,  the  river  Mifliflippi,  to  thie  mouth  of  the 
Ohio,  on  the  weft,  and  the  river  Ohio,  on  the  fouth,  to  the  afore-< 
mentioned  bounds  of  Pennfylvania,  contains  by  computatioir 
about  four  hundred  and  eleven  thoufand  fquarc  miles,  in  which 
9in  &63,o49,ooo  acres 

Dedufl:  for  watet  43,040,000 

To  be  difpofed  of  by  order  of  Congrefs  \  ^  ^^  ««  ,;ri.-c 

when  purchafed  of  the  Indians,  /  2«9.0«>o»«>^  °f  »""• 

The  whole  of  this  immenfe  extent  of  unappropriated  weftern 
territory,  containing  as  above  ftated,  220,000,000  of  acres,  and  fe- 
veral  large  trails  fouth  of  the  Ohio*,  have  been  by  the  cefllon 

*  Ceded  by  North  C>iroIina,  South  CaroUaa  and  Georgia,  with  certain  referva- 
tion  for  the  Indians  ajK.'.  other  purpofes,  as  wiH  be  mentioned  hereafter. 


"OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


»77 


uche ;  thenco 
Flint  River  J 
thence  down 
:  Ocean ;  eaft, 
cr  St.  Croix, 
;  and  from  its 
ich  fHvidc  the 
vhich  fall  into 
"tthin  twenty 
ites,  and  lyin^- 
\ti  wljere  the 
one  part,  and 
le  Bay  of  Fun- 
as  now  are,  or 
id  province  of 


furement  of  the 
'.e  United  States^ 

computation  i 
>,ooo  of  iCtCS 

»,ooo 

3,000 

ween  the  weft 
ndary  line  be- 
ling'from  the 
ie  Lake  of  the 

loutk  of  the 
I,  ta  the  aforcJ 
computatioir 
tiles,  in  which 

)00  acres 


\,6oic*  of  acres,- 

Iriated  wieftern 
j  acres,  and  fe- 
|y  the  ceflioa 

certain  referva* 

Ireaftcr, 


of  Tome  of  the  original  thirteen  dates,  and  by  the  trcity  of  pease, 
transferred  to  the  federal  government,  and  are  pledged  as  a  fund 
for  finking  the  debt  of  the  United  States.  Of  this  territory  tho 
Indiid.-s  now  polFcfs  a  very  large  proportioti.  Mr*  JelFcrfon,  ia 
his  report  to  Congrcfs,  Nov.  8,  1791,  dcfcribes  the  boundary 
line  between  us  and  ilic  Indians,  as  follows:  "Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Cayahogana,  which  falls  into  the  fouthernmofl  part 
of  Lake  Erie,  and  running  up  the  riVer  to  the  portage,  between 
that  and  the  Tufcaroro  or  N.  E.  branch  of  Mufkingum :  then 
down  the  faid  branch  to  the  forks,  at  the  c ro (Ting  place  abovo 
Fort  Lawrence;  then  weftwardly,  towar  '  the  portage  of  tho 
Great  Miami,  to  the  main  branch  6f  thai  :,  then  down  the 

Miami,  to  the  fork  of  that  river,  next  beU  old  fort,  which 

was  taken  by  the  French  in  1752  ;  thence  uue  wed  tu  the  river 
De  la  Panfe,  a  branch  of  the  Wabafh,  and  down  that  river  to  tho 
Wabafh.  So  far  the  line  is  precifely  determined,  and  cleared  of 
the  claims  of  the  Indians^  The  tra£l  comprehending  the  whole 
country  within  the  above defcribed  line,  the  Wabalh,  the  Ohio,  and 
the  wedern  limits  of  Pennfylvania,  contains  about  55)000  fquare 
miles.  How  far  on  the  weftern  fide  of  the  Wabafh,  the  fouthern 
boundary  of  the  Indians  has  been  defined,  we  know  not.  It  is 
only  underdood,  in  general,  that  their  title  to  the  lower  country, 
between  that  river  ahd  the  Illinois,  was  formerly  cxtinguifhed  by 
the  French,  while  in  their  pofTelFion. 


EJimate  of  the  number  of  acres  of  watery  north  and  Xoefiatard  of  the 
river  OhiOf  within  the  territory  of  the  United  Stafes,  ' 


In  Lake  Superior, 
Lake  of  the  Woods         -  , 
Lake  Rain,  &c.  - 

R.ed  Lake,    »     -         - 
Lake  Michigan, 
Bay  Puan,         -         ^         - 
Lake  Huron, 

Lake  St.  Clair,  -         - 

Lake  Erie,  wedern  part, 
Sundry  fmall  lakes  and  rivers, 


Acres. 
2»»952,78o 
»>»33»8oo 
165,200 

10,368,000 

1,216,000 

5,009,920 

89,500 

2,252,890 

301,000 

43,040,00© 


A    A 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


IQ       1^121    125 


1.1 


m         ^" 

■^  1^   12.2 
[£   1^    12.0 


|l.25  |U    |L6 


Hiolograiiiic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STMIT 

WEBSTIR.N.Y.  MSSO 

(716)  •72-4503 


4^ 


\ 


i^s 


GEtfERAL  DESCRIPTION 


EJliiHate  of  tki-  'number  of  acres  of  water  within  the  Thirteen  United 

States,  ' 


In  the  Ukes  as  before  mentioned 

In  Lake  Erie,  wej^wardof  t^ryline 

extending  f|:om  the  nolth-weft  corner 

of  i'ennfylvania,  due  north,   to  tlie 

boundary  between  t|b  Britiih  terri- 


43,040,000 


tory  and  the  United  l^tates, 

410,000 

In  Lak«  Ontario,       , 

- 

2,390,000 

Lake  C^amplain, 
Chefapeck  bay. 

500,000 
'i»7»o,6oo 

Albemarle  bay. 

m                     m 

330,000 

Delaward  bay. 

*                      ^ 

630,000 

All  the    rivers  Withiii 

the  thirteen 

ftattis,  including  the  Ohio, 

2,000,000 

'  ^J  7,960,000 

,  fotal     51,000,000 

LAKES  AND  RIVERS. 

It  may  in  truth  be  faid,  that  no  part  of  the  vrorld  is  fo  well 
watered  with  fprings,  rivulets,  rivers  and  lakes,  as  the  territory 
of  the  United  States.  By  means  of  thefe  various  /Ireams  and  col- 
le£lions  of  water,  the  whole  country  is  chequered  intoiflands  and 
peninfuks.  The  United  States,  and  indeed  all  psrts  of  North 
America,  feem  to  have  been  formed  by  nature  Cor  the  mbft  inti- 
mate union.  The  facilities  of  navigation  render  the  communica- 
tion between  the  ports  of  Georgia  and  N^w-Hampfhire,  far  more 
expeditious  and  pra£l:icable,  than  between  thofe  of  Provence  and 
Picardy  in  France ;  Cornwall  and  Caithnefs,  in  Great-Eritain ; 
or  Gallicia  and  Catalonia,  in  Spain.  The  canals  propofed  be- 
tween Sufquehannah,  and  Delaware,  between  PaCquetank  and 
Elizabeth  rivers,  in  Virginia,  and  between  the  Schuylkill  and 
Sufquehannah,  will  open  a  communication  from  the  Carolinas  to 
the  wcHcrn  countries  of  Pennfylvania  and  New- York.  The  im- 
•provements  of  the  Potomak,  will  give  a  paflage  from  the^outhern 
States,  to  the  wef^ern  parts  of  Virginia,  Maryland,  Pennfylvania, 
■and  even  to  the  lakes.  From  Detroit,  to  Alexandria,  on  the  Po- 
tomak, fix  hundred  and  feven  miles,  are  but  two  carrying  places, 
wliich  together  do  not  exceed  the  diftance  of  forty  miles.  The 
canals  of  Delaware  and  Chefapeek  will  open  the  communication 
from  South-Carolina  to  Ncw-Jerfey,  Delaware, 'the  mod  popu* 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


»7$f 


lous  par!B  of  Pennfylvania,  and  the  midland  coufitries  of  New« 
York.  Were  thefe  and  the  propofed  canat  between  Aihley  ahd 
Coopers  river  in  South  Carolina,  the  canals  in  tlw  northern  parts 
of  the  (Ute  of  New- York,  and  thofe  of  Maifachufetts.and  New 
Hampfhire  all  opened.  North  America  would  thereby  be  convert-, 
ed  into  a  clufter  of  large  and  fertile  iflands^  eommunicatipg  witk 
each  other  with  cafe  and  little  expence,  anjfl  in  many  infUnces 
without  the  uncertainty  or  danger  of  fhMkas^ 

There  is  nothing  in  other  parts  of  the  globe  which  refembles 
the  prodigious  chain  of  lakes  in  this  part  of  the  World.     They 
may  properly  be  termed  inland  feas  of  JFrefli  %«rtter;  and  even., 
thofe  of  the  fecond  or  third  clal's  in  magnitude,  are  of  larger  cir* 
cuit  than  the  greateft  lake  in  the  eaftern  continent.     Some  of  the 
moft  northern  lakes  belonging  to  the  United  States,  have  never 
been  furveyed,  or  even  viiited  by  the  white  people ;  of  courfe  we 
have  no  defcription  of  them  which  cain  be  relied  on  as  accurate^. 
Others  have  been  pattially  furveyed,  and  their  relative  fttuatioii. 
determined.x-^'The  bed  account  of  them  which  we  have  been  able 
to  procure  is  as  follows : 

Ths  Lakb  or  thi  Woodi,  the  moft  northern  in  the  United 
States,  is  io  called  from  the  large  quantities  of  wood  growing  on 
its  banks;  fuch  as  oaks,  pines,, firs,  fpruce,  i&Ct  This  lake  lies, 
nearly  eaft  of  the  fouthend  of  i,ake  Winnepeck,  and  is  fuppofed 
to  be  the  fource  or  condu£ior  of  one  branch  of  the  river  3our- 
bon,  if  there  be  fuch  a  river.  Its  length  from  eaft  to  weft  if  faid 
to  be  about  feventy  miles,  and  in  Tome  places  it  is  forty  miles 
wide.  The  Killiftinoe  Indians  encamp  on  its  borders  to  fifh 
and  hunt.  This  lake  is  the  communication  between  the  Lakes 
Winnepeck  and  Bourbon,  and  Lake  Superior. 

RaiWy  oa  Long  Lake  lies  eaft  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods, 
apd  is  faid  to  be  nearly  an  hundred  miles  long,  and  in  no  part 
more  than  twenty  miles  wide, 

Eaftward  of  this  lake,  lie  feveral  fmall  ones,  which  extend  in  a 
ftring  to  the  great  (larrying  place,  and  from  thence  into  Lake  Su* 
perior^  Between  thefe  little  lakes  are  fcveral  carrying  places, 
which  r^der  the  trade  to  the  north-weft. difficult,  and  exceeding- 
ly tedious,^  as  it  takes  two  years  to  make  one  voyage  from  MichiU 
limakkinak  to  thefe  parts. 

Lai^b  SurERioa,  formerly  termed  the  Upper  Lake,  from  its 
northern  fituation,  is  fo  called  from  its  magnitude,  it  being  the- 
largeft  on  the  continent.  It  may  juftty  be  termed  the  Cafpian  of 
America,  and  is  fuppofed  to  be  the  largeft  body  of  frefli  water  on 
the  globe.  According  to  the  French  charts  it  is  fifteen  hundred 
miles  in  circumference.     A  great  part  of  the  coaft  il  bounded  by 

A  A    2 


i8o 


CENBRAL  DESCRIPTION 


rocks  and  uneven  ground.  The  water  is  pure  and  tranfparent, 
and  appears,  generally,  throughout  the  lake,  to  lie  upon  a  bed  of 
huge  rocks.  It  has  been  remarked,  in  regard  to  the  waters  of 
this  lake,  with  how  much  truth  \  pretend  not  to  fay,  that  al- 
though their  furface,  during  the  heat  of  fummer,  is  impregnated 
with  no.fmall  degree  of  warmth,  yet  qn  letting  down  a  cup  to 
the  depth  of  about  a  fathpm,  the  water  drawn  from  thence  is  cool 
and  refrefhingf       .      *  ? 

^The  fituation  pf  this  lake,  from  the  mofl  accurate  obfervation^ 
which  have  yet  been  made,  lies  betueen  forty-fix  and  fifty  de- 
gree$  of  north  latitude,  and  between  nine  and  eighteen  degrees  of 
weft  longitude,  from  the  meridian  of  Phila.'^lphia. 

There  are  many  iflands  in  this  lake,  two  of  them  have  each 
land  enough  if  proper  for  cultivation,  to  form  aconfideraW-^  pro- 
vince efpecially  Ifle  Royal,  which  is  not  lefs  than  an  hundred 
miles  long,  and  in  many  places  forty  broad.  The  natives  I'uppofo 
thefe  iflands  are  the  refidence  of  the  Great  Spirit. 

Two.  very  large  rivers  empty  themfelves  into  this  lake,  on  the 
I  north  and  northreaft  fide  i  one  is  called  the  Nipegon,  which  leads 
to  a  tribe  of  the  Chipeways,  who  inhabit  the  borders  of  a  lake  of 
the  fame  nattie,  and  the  other  is  the  Michipicooton  river,  the 
fource  of  which  is  towards  James's  Bay,  from  whence  there  is  but 
a  ftiort  portage  to  another  river,  which  empties  itfelf  into  that 
bay.  .1 

Not  far  from  the  Nipegon  is  a  fmall  river,  that  juft  before  it 
enters  the  lake,  has  a  perpendicular  fall  from  thfe  top  of  a  moun- 
tain, of  more  than  one  hundred  feet.  It  is  very  narrow,  and  ap- 
pears at  a  diftance  like  a  white  garter  fufpended  in  the  air. 
There  are  upwards  of  thirty  other  riyers,  'which  $mpty  them- 
felves into  this  lake,  fome  of  )vhich  are  of  a  confiderable  fize. 
On  the  fouth  fide  of  it  is  a  remarkable  point  or  cape  of  abqut 
fixty  miles  in  length,  called  Point  Chegompgan.  About  a  hun^ 
dred 'miles  wefl  of  this  cape,  a  confiderable  river  falls  into  the 
lake,  the  head  of  which  is  compoled  of  a  great  afTemblage  of  fmall 
i^reams.  This  riVer  is  remarkable  for  the  abundance  of  virgin 
copper  that  is  found  on  and  near  its  banks.  Many  fmall  iflands, 
particularly  on  the  eaflern  fliores,  abound  with  copper  ore,  lyiilg 
in  beds,  with  the  appearance  of  copperas.  This  metal  might  be 
^fily  nude  a  very  advantageous  article  of  commerce.  This  hike 
abounds  with  fifli,  particularly  trotti  and  flurgeon ;  the  former 
weigh  froin  twelve  to  fifty  pounds,  and  are  caught  almoft  any  lea- 
fon  in  the  year  in  great  plenty.  Storms  afFe£l  this  lake  as  much 
as  they  do  the  Atlantic  Ocean  ;  the  waves  run  as  high,  and  tne 
navigation  is  equally  dangerous.  It  difcharges  its  waters  from 
the  Ibuth-eaft  coiner  through  the  Straits  of  St,  Marie,  which  are 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


iBi 


them- 

(ize. 

abqut 

hun- 

ito  the 
fmall 


ormer 
ly  lea- 
much 
id  the 
i  from 
ch  are 


jibout  forty  miles  long.  Near  the  upper  end  jof  thefe  (Iraits  is  a' 
rapid,  which  though  it  is  impolhblc  for  canoes  to  alcend,  yet,- 
when  condu£led  by  fareiul  pilots,  may  be  defceuded  without 
danger.  •  -  '. 

"^hough  Lake  Superior  is  fupplied  by  near,  forty  rivers,  knany 
pf  which  are  large,  yet  it  does  not  appear  that  one  tenth  p^rt  of 
the  waters  which  are  conveyed  into  it  by  thefe  rivers,  is  difcharg- 
ed  by  the  above*mentioned  ilrait,  ^^w^'iifuperabun dance  of 
water  can  b^  difpofed  of  only  by  evaponttioat.  The  entrance  into 
this  lake  from  the  ilf-aits  of  St.  Marie,  a|F6rd$  pne  pf  the  moll 
pllafing  prol'peAs  in  the  worH*  On  th<e>teft  may  be  Icen  n»ny 
beaintl/ul  little  iflahds,  that  extend  a  coofiderable  yray  before  you ; 
and  on  the  right  an  agreeable  fuccelfioiv  of  finall  points  of  land, 
that  proje£l  a  little  way  into  the  waller,  aind  contribute  with  the 
iflands,  to  render  this  delightful  bafoo  ca^m,  »nd  fecure  from  thofe 
tempeftuous  winds,  by  which  the  adjotqitig  lake  i%  frequently 
troubled.  V 

Lake  Huron,  into  which  you  enter  through  the  f^i-aits  of  St. 
Marie  is  next  in  magnitude  to^  Lake  Superior.  It  lies  between 
43^  3a  and  46®  go'  of  north  latitude,  and  between  fix  and  eight 
degrees  weft  longilude.  Its  circumference  is  about  one  thoufand 
jQiles.  Oi^  the^north  fide  of  this  lake  is  an  ifland  one  hundred 
miles  in  lenj^th,  and  no  more  than  eight  miles  broad.  It  is  cai? 
led  Monataulin,  fignifying  a  pl?.ce  of  fpifits,  and  is  cohfidered  as 
facred  by  the  Indians.  On  the  fouthweft  part  of  this  lake  is  Sa- 
l^anaum  Bay,  about  eighty  miles  in  length,  and  about  eighteen  or 

f  That  fuch  a  fupfrabundance  of  water  fliould  be  dirpofed  of  by^Vaporation  is 
no  fingular  Circuniftance.  There  are  fome  feas  in  which  there  is'a  pretty  juft  ba- 
lance between  the  Waters  received  from  rivers,  brooks,  &c.  and  the  wafle  by  e\'a- 
poration.  Qif  this  the  Cafpian  Sea,  in  Afui  affords  an  inftance ;  which,  though 
'it  receives  feveral  large  rivers,  has  no  outlet.  There  aie  others,  to  fpeak  in  bor- 
rowed language,  whofe  expence  exceeds. their  incomt ;  and  thefe  would  faon  be- 
come bankrupt,  were  it  not  for  the  fupplies  which  they  conflantly  receive  front 
'latrget  colleftions  of  water,  with  which  they  are  connefled  ;  fuch  are  the  Black 
aod  Mediterranean  Seas ;  into  the  former  of  which  there  is  a  conf^ant -current  (Vom 
the  Mediterranean,  through  the  Bofphorus  of  Thrace ;  and  in(l>  the  latter  from  the 
Atlantic,  through  the  Straits  of  Gibi;ahar.  Others  again  derive  more  from  their 
tribuUry  ilreams  than  they  lofe  by  evaporation.  Thefe  give  fife  to  large  rivers. 
Of  'this  kind  are  the  Dambea-  in  Africa,  the  Winipifeogee  in  New-Hamplhire, 
Lake  Superior,  and  other  waters  in  North  America ;  and  the  quantity  they 
difcharge,  is  only  the  difference  between  the  influx  and  the  evaporation.  It 
is  obfervable,  that  on  the  (bores  the;  evaporation  it  much  greater  than  at  a  diftance 
from  them  on  the  ocean.  The  remarkable  clufter  of  lakes  in  the  middle  of  N«»^th 
America,  of  which  Lake  Superior  is  one,  was  doubtlefs  dcfigned  by  a  divine  Pro- 
vidence, to  furnifh  the  interior.parts  of  the  country  with  that  fupply  of  vapours, 
without  which,  like  the  interior  parts  of  Africa,  they  muft  have  been  a  meredefert. 
It  may  be  thought  e(]ually  furprizing  that  there  (hould  be  any  water  at  all  dif- 
charged  from  them,  ai  that  the  quantity  Ihould  bear  fo  fnull  »proportio.i  to  what 
they  receive 


a 


i9a 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


I 


^ 


twenty  miles  broad.     Thuitder  Bay  fo  called  from  the  thunder 
that  is  frequently  heard  there^  Ues  aboUfe  h(^f  way  between  Saga 


■.J'&w 


naum  fiay  and  the  north-weft  comeif  '<kl 
nine  miles  acrofs  either  way* '  ^e  i^l^  ar^ 
Superior.     At  the  north-w«ft:«iRanierV 
Lak^  Michigan  by  the  ftrai(s  W^li^| 

Many  of  the  ChipihiMylndfai^  live 
particularly  near  SigiplJilB  Bay.     On  its 
quantities  of  fand  chcniiNfc 

Michigan  Lakx;  nfes  between  latitude  4)ii*fiof^anH 
ttofth;  and  between   ri*  and  13®  weft  l6n^*f rare' Phi 


It  i«-  kboift- 


iW»l 


^jlraufili^is  lake ; 


'^A 


Its  computed  length  is  ■8o«iiules'fnM»W\ptK  to  fouth;  HM 

from  fixty  to  feventy  niUffi;  <^t.isnavigaU  fliippingi 

burth<fn;  and  at  the  nOEth-^dMirn  part 

Huron,  by  a  ftrait ^^il|illE9i  ww;  on  the,  fo 

ftjmds  fort  Michillimaktciiiak,  w^icK  is  the  ] 

this  lake  are  feveral  kitids  of  iBfl),  particularly 

lent  quality,  Weighing  fron^  tW«R^  to  fixty  poi 

have  been  taken  ^^n  the  Straits  ^  ll^htUiiM^ki 

pounds.    Weftward  of  this  lakeave^rge 

to  theMifl^flippi.  It  recehire»«nttniiKrx}f  r 

eaft,  among  which  ik  the  dN^r^i^^jftilrepK, 

Iflands;  it  fprings  from  a  numberiof  .fmall 

north-weft  of  the  Miami  village,  and  runs; 

fouth-eaft  part  of  the  lake.     On  the  north  ^d<^  i>f  tillft  rtVer  it 

fort  St.  Jofeph,  from  which  there  is  a  road,  bearing  lii^b^fteiii):, 

to  Detroit.     The  Powteviratamie  Indian^,  who  have  ibc^*^  two  ■ 

hundred  fighting  men,  inhabit  this  river  oppbfite  fort  S|.  Jdfeph, 

Between  Lake  Michigan  .on  the  weft,  and  L(akcs  fiiuron«'^St. 
Clair,  and-the  weft  end  of  Erie  on  tht^ea^,  is  a  fine  trail  of  coun- 
try, peninfulated,  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  length, 
and  froiiione  hundred  and  fifty  to  twohuiijdredinbre^h.  The  . 
banks  of  the  lakes,  for  a  few  miles  inland^  are  £indy  and  barren, 
producing  a  few  pines,  ftirub  oaks^  and  cedars.'  Back  of  this,  from 
cither  lake,  the  timber  is  heavy  and  good,  and  the  foil  luxurunt. 

Lake  St.  Claik,  lies  about  half  way  between  LakeHuro%, 
and  Lake  Erie,  iind  is  about  ninely  'miles  in  circumference.  It 
receives  the  waters  of*,  the  thrcfB  great  takes,  Supenor,^^ Michigan 
and  Huron,  and  difcharges  them  throughlthe  rivJ^oV  jlrait,  called  ^ 
Detroit,  into  Lake  Erie.  This  lake  is  of  an  ova^  form,  and  navi- 
gable for  large  veflels.  ,  The  fort  of  Petroit  is  fituated  on  the 
weftern  bank  of  the  river  of  the  fame  name,  about  nine  miles  be- 
low lake  St.  Clair.  The  fettlements  are  extended  on  both  fides 
of  the  Arait  or  river  for  many  miles*  towards  Lake  Erie,  and  fome 
few  above  the  fort. 


'.wvw  it' 
lift '^  two'- 


ron*' St. 
of  coun- 

length, 
!•     The 

barren, 
Lis,  from 
xurunt, 
i  Huro%, 

ICC,  It 
lichigan 
t,  called  J  . 
id  navi- 
i  on  the ' 
liles  be> 
th  fides 
nd  fome 


-xw* 


M 


Of  THE  UNITED  STATES,  183 

Lake  Erie,  is  fituated  between  forty-one  and  forty-three  de- 
grees of  north  latitude,  and  between  3"  40'  and  8*  degrees  weft 
longitude.  It  is  nearly  three  hundred  miles  long,  from  eaft  to 
weft,  and  about  forty  in  its  broadeft  part.  A  point  of  land  pro- 
je£ls  from  the  north  fide  into  this  lake,  feveral  miles,  towards  tlie 
fouth-eaft,  called  Long  Point.  The  iflands  and  banks  toward*  the 
weft  end  of  the  lake  are  fo  infefted  with  rattle-fnakes,  as  to  render 
it  dangerous  to  land  on  them.  The  lake  is  covered  near  the  banks 
of  the  iflands  with  the  large  pond-lily ;  the  leaves  of  which  lie 
on  the  furface  of  the  water  fo  thick,  as  to  cover  it  entirely  for 
many  acres  together;  on  thefe,  in  the  fummer  fearon,lye  myriads 
of  water-fnakes  baiking  in  the  fun.  Of  the  venomous  ferpents 
which  infeft  this  lake,  the  hifliilg  fnake  is  the  moft  remarkable. 
It  is  about  eighteen  inches  long,  fmall  and  fpeckled.  When  you 
approach  it,  it  flattens  itfelf  in  a  moment,  and  its  fpots,  which  are 
of  various  colours,  become  vifibly  brighter  through  rage;  *t  the 
fame  time  it  blows  from  its  mouth,  with  great  force,  a  fubtile  wind, 
faid  to  be  of  a  naufeous  froell ;  and  if  drawn  in  with  the  breath 
of  the  unwary  traveller,  will  infallibly  bring  on  a  decline,  that 
in  a  few  months  Jddttft  jprove  mortal.  No  remedy  has  yet  been 
found  to  counteraft  its  baneful  influence.  This  lake  is  of  a  more 
da&|p!J|(p|  navigSfHoii  than  any  of  the  others,  on  account  of  the 
craggy  ihocks  which  proje£i  into  the  water,  in  a  perpendicular  di- 

'  fcftion^  m»ay  miles  together  from  the  northern  fhore,  affording  no 
Iheker  frina  Aorms. 
.    PTef<|u«  IfliQ  is  on  the  fbtith-eaft  ihore  of  this  lake,  ab  out  lat.  4  2** 

'  tt&,     Wfom  this  to.  Fort  Le  Beuf,  on  French  Creek,  is  a  portage 

.•f  fifb)r-#n(^iBiles  and  a  h^lf.  About  twenty  miles  n^ith-eaftof 
this  is  a^fl^^portage  of  nine  miles  and  a  quarter,  betwe  n  Cha- 
toughque  Cntdk,  emptying  into  Lake  Erie,  and  Chatoughque 
Lake,  a  water  of  Allegany  river. 

Fort  Erif  iftands  on  the  northern  Ihore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  the 
weft  bank  (jf!  Niagara  river,  in  Upper  panada.  This  lake  at  its 
north-eaiflr  end,  cfxnmunicates  with  lake  Ontario  by  the  river  Ni- 
agara, which  runs  from  fouth  to  north,  about  thirty  miles,  includr 

•sng  its  windings,  embracing  in  its  'courfe  Grand  Ifland  and  re- 
ceiving T^wanto  Creeks  from  the  eaft.  About  the  middle  of 
this  river  are  the  celebrat«l  falls  of  Niagara,  which  arc  reckoned 
one  of  the  greateft  natural  curiofities  in  the  world.  The  waters 
which  fupply  the  river  Niagara  rife  near  two  thoufand  miles  to 
the  north- weft,  and  fading  through  the  lakes  Superior,  Michigan, 

-Huron,  and  Erie^ctceivWg  in  their  courfe,  conftant  accumulati<Mis ; 
at  length,  with  aftonilhing  grandeur,  rufh  down  a  ftupendous  pre- 
cipice of  one  hunjdvedaad  fifty  feet  perpendicular ;  and  in  a 
ftrong  rapid,  that  exiendis^  to  the  diftance  of  eight  or  nine  miles 


■4 


^ 


&ENtkAL  m^mRiPtrff!^ 


\'% 


below,  fall  near  m  much  more :  the  river  then  lofes  itfelf  ift  Lakrf 
Ontario.  The  noife  of  thefe  falls,  in  a  clear  day  and  fair  wind, 
may  be  heard  between  forty  and  fifty  miles.  When  fhe  water 
ftrikes  the  bottom,  its  fpray  rifes  a  gceat  height  in  the  air,  oeca- 
fionthg  a  thick  cloud  of  vapours,  on  which  the  fun  when  It 
(hine»,  paihtt'il  beautiful  rainbow.  Forfc  Niagara  is  fitu^ted  on 
the  eaft>ftde  of  Niagara  river„^  its  entrance  into  Lake  Ontario; 
Tbitfort,  and  that  at  Detroit,  contrary  to  the  treaty  of  1783,  are 
yet  in  pofleifion  of  the  Britifli  do^rernment. 

Laki  Ontario,  isr  fituated  between  forty-thfee  and  forty-five' 
degrees  north  latitude,  and  belyeen  one  and  five  weft  longitude^ 
Its  form  is  nearly  ovil.  Its  gieateft  length  is  from  fouth-^ei(^  to 
north-eaft,  and  in  cifcumfereoM  about  fix  hundred  mtles^  It 
aboundl  with  fifti  of  an  excellent  flavour,  among  whidi,are  the 
Oiwegb  bafi,  weighing  three  or  four  poundf.  It  receives  the 
wkiers  of ;  the  Cheneflee  riy«Nr  from  the  fouth',  and  of  Onondago, 
«t  Fort  Ofwcfgo,  froin  the  fiMith^eaft,  by  which  it  communicates, 
through^  Lak«0(ieidft  and  Wobd  Creeky  with  ftlphtwk  river.  On 
the  noith-eaft,  thia  lake  dHbh^r  itielf  ibrpii^  Ike  river  Catalan 
qui,  which  at  Mohtred,  takes  <^  na»ie-c0N|^^^lvrence,  tntQ  thcr 
Atlantic:  Qceam  '^ 

About  eight  miles  from  the  wed  end  of  f^#  Ontario,  is  a  iiBu^: 
rious  caverni.  which  the  Mefiifaugas  I]id(a»^  odi  JM'«)tt^0'dA*  mjj 
tiam^  of  kouje  of  tht  Devil,     The  mounftinf  whieli  boeder  on  the 
lake,  at  this  place,  break  off  aibruptlyi  and  Mrily|  preeipipe  oif 
two  hundred  feet  perpendicular  defc4iit;f^a|fiic^ljw^ 
the'  cavern  begins;     The  firft  openiirg  is  lu^'ioAia^l^^t^i^iimatl:. 
men  conveniently  to  walk  alH'eaft^..  It xontimies  a§2|nM|dPiefa^^^ 
for  ievehty  yards  in  a  horizontpl  dirfi^oii.     llienll^llMit  ^ii^  * 
perpendicularly  fifty  yards,  which  may  be  de%eiide4;bn^  irregular 
fteps  from  one  to  four  feet  diilant  from  each  other.     It  then  con> 
tiniiea  forty  yards  horizontally,  at  the  end  of,  whicb  is  another 
perpendicular  defcent,  down  which  there  are  no  depi^v/Tbe  cold 
here  ia  intenfe.     In  fpring  and  autumn,  there  are,  oitce  in  about' 
a  week,  cxplofibns  from  this  cavern,  which  fiiake  the  ^pfbund  for 
fixteeh  miles  round.  ^  * 

,LaR£  Champ  lain,  is  next  in  fize  to  Lake  Ontarloi  and  liea 
near^  eafl  from  it,  forming  a  part  of  the  dividing  line  between 
the  ftate  of  NeW-York,  and  the  ftate  of  Vei»K>nt«    'It  took  its 
name  ft-oma  French  goverrtor,  whofe  natne  was  Champlain,  who  ' 
wai  drowned  in  it.     It  Was  lMfbre^alled\GoSrl«r's  Lake.     It  ii  ' 
about  eighty  miles  in  length  from  nOflli  to  fouth,  and  in  its 
broliitej^  part,  fourteen.     It  is  well  ftored  W^  i^(h,  and  the  land 
on  1^  borders  and  on  the  banks  of  ita  rit^ei^^^  good.     CrowA  r 
Foiilt  and  Ticonderoga  are  fituated  On  t^he  bacnks  of  this  lake^ 
near*  the  fouthejrn  part  of  it. 


or  fiiE  Onited  stated. 


«»5 


tween 

,  wh«  A 
It  i»^ 
in  its 
A  Hind 


'  Lake  Giouci,  licsto  the  fouthward  of  Chimplain,  and  is  t 
inoft  clear,  beautiful  colleAion  of  water,  about  thirty-fix  miles 
Ion  J,  and  from  one  to  feven  miles  Wide.  It  emDofoms  more  ihan 
\vio  hundred  iitands,  fbme  fay  three  hundred  and  fixty-five;  very 
few  of  which  ari  any  thing  more  than  barreW  rock,  covered  with 
heath,  and  a  few  cedar,  fpruce,  ^  hemlock  trees,  and  (hruba» 
that  harbout  abundance  of  rattle-fhakes.  On  eath  fide  it  is  (kirt- 
ed  by  pfodigious  mountains,  froth  which  large  c|uantities  of  red 
cedar  are  every  year  carried  to  New-York  for  (hip-timber.  Thd 
lake  is  full  of  JKIhes,  and  Tome  of  the  bed  kindi  among  which  are 
the  black  Ofwego  bafs  and  large  I^ckled  ttouts.  The  water  of 
this  lake  is  about  one  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  The  portage  between  the  two  lakes  is  one  mile  and  i  half  i 
but  witli  a  fmall  rxpence  might  be  reduced  to  (ixty  yards*,  and 
with  one  or  two  locks  might  be  made  navigable  through  for  bat- 
kcaux.  This  lake,  in  the  JFrench  charts,  is  called  Lake  St.  Sacra- 
ment ;  and  it  is  faid  thSt  the  Roman  Catholics,  in  former  times^ 
were  at  thd  pains  to  pix>icure  this  Water  for  facram^ntal  ufes  iii  all 
their  Churches  in  Canada :  hence  probably  it  derived  its  name. 

The  Mississipri  RiviR,  is  the  great  refcrVoir  of  the  waters  of 
the  Ohio  and  Illinois,  arid  their  numerous  branches  from  the  eaft  ; 
and  of  the  Miflburi  and  other  rivets  from  the  weft;  Thefe  migh- 
ty ilreartis  uhitedj  aVe  borne  down  With  increafing  impetuofity^ 
through  vaft  forefts  and  meadows^  and  difcharged  into  the  Gulph 
of  Mexic^i  The  great  length  and  uncommon  depth  6f  this  river, 
and  the  ekceiliye  muddinefs  and  falubrious  Quality  of  its  waters^ 
after  its  junAi<Mi  with  the  Miflburi,  are  very  fingular*.  The  di- 
reftion  of  the  channel  is  fo  crooked^  that  from  NcW  Orleans  to 
the  mbuth  of  the  Ohio)  a  4iftance  which  does  hot  exceed  foiir 
hundred  and  fijcy  miles  in  a  (trait  line^js  about  eight  hundi-ed  and 
fifty-fix  by  Waten  It  may  be  (hortcned  at  leaft  two  hundred  and 
fifty  miles,  by  cutting  acrofs  eight  or  ten  necks  of  land.  Tome  o^ 
which  are  not  thirty  yards  Widej  Charlevoix  relates  that  in  the 
yeat  i^aa^  at  Point  Coupie,  or  Cut  Point j  the  river  made  a  great 
turn,  and  fome  Canadians,  by  deepenin^^  the  channel  of  a  fmall 
byook^  diverted  the  Waters  of  the  rivCr  into  it«  The  impetuofity 
of  the  ftrcain  was  fo  violent,  and  the  foil  of  fo  rich  and  loofe  4 
quality^  that)  in  a  ihort  time^  the  point  was  entirely  cut  through, 

*  In  a  half  pint  tumbler  of  thil  wateir  has  been  found  a  fedin^ent  of  one  inch, 
it  is,  notwithftanding,  extremely  wh«lefome  and  well  tailed,  and  very  cool  tim 
the  hbtteft  feafons  of  the  year ;  the  rowers,  who  are  there  employed,  drink  of  it 
when  they  are  in  the  ftrongeft  perfpiration,  and  never  receive  any  bad  effefis  front 
iti  The  inhabitants  of  New  Orlean^  ufe  nO^  other  waterthan  that  of  thi»  riyer* 
which,  by  being  kepl^in  jars,  becoQteS  perfefily  dear.. 

Vol.1.  Bs 


I 

iv5 


StMEKAL  hEsckiprras 


Aid  tnTcfletB  ftveff  f&ixttetn  lengiif  i  of  their  voytge.  tAc  d^ 
hti  has  no  water  in  it^  the  thne^  of  the  pertodteaY  ovcrflowingf 
Stity  excepteii.  The  new  channel  hit  been  fince  founded  with  a 
Kne  "of  fntfty  fathonn,  without  fin«iing  a  botrom*  S«v«nl  other 
fcitHtif  «f  great  extent,  Have  in  like  manner,  been  (ihce  cut  off^ 
«Mi  iKl  riVtr  diMrM  httoinew  channels. 
-  ^n  che^ng  ff«oda  \he  Mtdifllppi  is  ^rry  high,  and  the  current 
A^llrtmg,  thtitit!is  with  diflkoky  il  can  be  «(itand<^d;  but  thi» 
di&dvatt<afi  ia  hi  ^arrcobrpenfatid  by  eddies  ot  countevocurronti, 
Whie^  anf  ibund  ih  f he  btiida  clofe  to  the  banlia>  of  the  river/ 
Wh^H  rttnl  with  iHMriy 'cq|^  velocity  againft  the  ftrcam^andafliii; 
the  afccnding  boats/  tlHr  eurrtoncafl  tUia  ftafon  dcffeonda  at  thtf 
yit«  of  about  five  ffltlea  an'hour;  IntautMitm,  when  tM  Watera  are 
IIdv^,  \t  doiet  hot  Vtih  fafter  than  two  tnih»,  &Ut  it  ia  rapid  In  fifch 
parts  of  the  riVfer  aa'have  eluHen  of  iiiands,  fhoal*,-  and  fand-banka. 
The  circiinrfferdnce  of  many  of  ibefe;  ftioala  being!  fev^ral  milea^ 
the'  Voyage  ia'^Ios^gery  and  in  fipitte  perta  moo^  daii^roui  than  in  the 
%ring.  The  q^vchandiae  neceflkry  for  the  oofhrncrtfe  of  the 
upper  ittttleitienlfr  on  e»  near  the  MiiQdpf  i^  i%$onyi«^  in  eho 
luring  and  aUtumft  in  battaaiiNy  rowed  by  ci^M9e«>  tr  twenty  meng 
%rid  carrying  ahoui  forty  lona*  From  N4w  QrWana  tc(  4he'XlKiioi«, 
th*  Voyiige  iA  commonty  performed  in  eigkl  or  fen  wecJIa*  ^  paro« 
^itnu  number  of  ifiands^  fome  of  which  aire  «f  ^osat  extent,  inr- 
•MJMrfe  this  atighty  river<  Its  depth  taemtfci  aa  ydu  afdeiid  ii. 
:|t» Waters^  after  ovcrftowing  its  banha  betbw:  t;^e  llirer*  Ibberville 
fivthe  ciift,  and  the  river  Rouge  on  die-wvUi,  never  iviuni  within 
Ihera  again,  there  biing  ttnmy  ou<tett>  or  ftfenm,  )ff  which  they' 
are  cor^d^dd  into'the  bay  of  Mexico,  »bre  c^eelitty-on  the  weit 
fide  of  the  Mifflflippi,  dividing  the  coumlrf  into  numerous  iiltods. 
Thefe  iinguhritiea  diftinguilh  it  from  every  other  known  river  in 
thrxvoiid.  Below  the  IbbeMlIe,  the  hmd  begins  tc  be  very  low 
dnbisth  fiiies  of  the  rtVer  4ci«oi«  the  coUtitCy,  and  gradually  de- 
diilea  aa  it  at»prb^lie0s  neoirer  to  the  Tea.  Hiiit  ifiiiid  of  N^w  Or- 
Ibana^  and  the  htndii^pOAte,  ai^  to  all  appearance  of  li^  Ibng  <bte; 
lor  in  digging  ever^fd  trttii^^befow  thfc  ful^eej  y«>ii  find' water  and 
grtet  <fiKa^Wti<A*  tree»i  The  "m*(iy  beaehea  tod  hftak^,  as 
WeK  inlets,  whith  have  aritirA  out  ol  the  (ch'afthe^;within  the  laft 
half  century,  at  the  feVcral  moutha  df  the  riverj  are  convincing 
proofs  that  this  peninfula  was  >y holly  formed  in  the  fame  manner. 
And  it  is  certain  that  whdfi  La  Salle  (ailed  down  the  Milfiifippi  ta 
(ho  Tea,  tho  openiag^of  thait  river  WM  very  dift'ereRt  from  what 
ir  is- at  prcfent. 

'  The  neater  you  approach  to'  the  ^fea,  this  truth  becomes  more 
ftriking.  The  bars  that  crols  moft  of  thefe  ftfiall'  channels  open- 
ed by  the  current,  have  been  umtiplied  by  ttteapa  of  the  trees 


Of  THE  VNIT£D  STATES. 


••? 


mnr'ic^  down  vith  the  ftreann}  one  of  which  tkopfed  by  its  raiH« 
or  branches  in  a  i][iallpw  part,  i»  fufiicicnt  to  pbAru6^  the  pifla|9 
of  thouUnds  more,  and  to  fix  (hcvfi  at  the.  (amc  place.  Aftonifli^ 
ing  coHcdions  Qf  tre^  s  are  daily  fccn  in  faffing  between  the  Baltse 
«ad  the  Miffouri.  No  human  force  being  fudicteat  for  teiaovii»g 
them,  the  mud  carried  down  by  the  river  f(|rves  !•  bind  wn4 
cement  them  toijether..  They  are  gradually  covered,  ahd  every 
inundation  no^  oi^y  extends  their  length  end  brchdtb,  but  addt 
another  layer  to  their  height.  In  lefs  than  ten  yearl  taitef  cane«i 
Ihrubl,  end  a4[uatic  tifnbcr  grawon  tbeis,  Mid  fomp  |»«tnts  and 
jiflands,  which  forcibly  (hift  the,  b^d  of  ihc  river*  • 

Nothing  can  be  aflerted  w;ith  .certainty^  rtfpffting  the  length 
of  this  river.  Its  fource  is  not  ^nown,  but  fuppolc/i  to  be  up4 
9vards  of  three  thouCMid  mijey,  from  4>P  ^  M  ^h(  fiyer  ruhs. 
Wie  only  know,  that  from  St.  Anthoq/f  (aUvip  l9t..4j*f,  it  gjiidcf 
x^ith  a  pieafant,  dear  current,  and  receives jnuny  Ufjg^  »o4  very 
cxtenfive  tributary  dreams  before  its  jiui^tioa  with  th<^  .Mvilbunf 
without  greatly  increafing  tne  breadth  of  the  Miflillippit  though 
Ithey,  do  .its  depth  an^  fapidity^.,  ,The  muddy  \vfitcrs- of 
the .  Miffouri  difipolour  ^tbe  lower  part  of  the  river,  till  it  empties 
ttfelf  into  the  Ixiy  of  Mexico,  The  Miffouri  is  a  longer,  broad? 
cr,  and  deeper  rivc^  (than  the  ^fliflippi,  and  affords  a  more 
exteniive  tiavigatton;  it  is,  in  fa^  %he  principal  ilycr,  contri- 
buting more  to  the  common  ftresun  than  does  the  MiirifTippi,  I(. 
]t>asbeen  a(«ended  by .  French  traders  about  twelve  or  thirteen 
hundred  miles,  and  from  the  depth  of  water,  and  breadth  of  the 
river  at  that  diftan.ce,  i^  appeare4  to  be  navigable  many  milea 
further. 

.  From  the  MiiTouri  river,  to  nearly  oppofitethc  Ohio,  the  weft^ 
«rn  bank  of  the  MiiTiifippi,  is,,  fome  few  peaces  excepted,  higher, 
than  the  eaftei[n.  From  Mine  au  fer,  to  the  Ibberville,  the  eaftern, 
bank  is  b|j^r  than  the  we^ern,  pn  which  there  is  not  a  Ongle< 
difcernible  n^ng  of  eminence  for  the  diftance  of  fcven  hundred 
and  fifty  miSi.t»,  From  the  Ihbervilic  to  the  fca  there  are  no 
eminences  on  eithtsr  Ade,  though  the  eaftern  bapk  appears  rather 
the  higheftof  the  two,  as  far  as  the  £ngli|h  turn.  Thence  the 
banks  gradually  diminiflt  in  height  to  the  mc^uths  of  the  river, , 
where  they  are  not  more  than  two  or  three  feci  higher  than  the 
common  furface  of  the  water. 

The  (lime  which  the  annual  floods  of  the  river  MifllfllppL- 
l^aves  on  the  furface  of  the  adjacent  IHorcs.  may  be  compared 
with  that  of  the.  Ni)e>;  which  ^poUts.  a    fimilar  manure,   and? 
for  nufiiy  centuries  pad  has  infured  the  fertility  of  Egypt.    When 
itf  ban]^  n^all  hayfs  beep  cultivated  as  the  excellency  of  its 

B»  2       ■       ■ 


t88 


\ 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


III 


foil  and  temperature  of  the  climate  deferve,  its  population  wilV 
equal  that  of  any  other  part  of  the  world.  The  trade,  wealthy 
and  power  of  America,  may,  at  fome  future  period,  depend,  and 
perhaps  centre,  upon  the  MiiTiffippi.  This  alfo  refcmbles  the 
Nile  in  the  number  of  its  mouths,  all  iffuing  into  a  fea,  that  may 
be  compared  to  .the  Mediterranean,  which  is  bounded  on  th<f 
north  and  fouth  by  ^he  two  continents  of  Europe  and  Africa,  a« 
the  Mexican  Bay  is  by  North  and  South  America.  The  fmaller 
mouths  of  this  river  might  be  eafily  {topped  up,  by  means  of  tho(e 
floating  trees  with  which  the  river,  during' the  floods,  is  always 
covered.  The  whole  force  of  the  channel  being  united,  the 
only  opening  then  left  woul4  probably  grow  deep,  and  the  bar 
be  removed. 

Whoever  for  a  moment  will  "caft  his  eye  over  a  map  of  the 
town  of  New  Orleaus,  and  the  immenfe  country  around  '  it,  and 
view  its  advantageous  fituation,  muft  be  convinced  that  it,  or  fome 
place  near  it,  muft,  in  procefs  of  time,  become  one  of  the  greateft 
marts  in  the  world. 

The  falls  of  St.  Anthony,  in  about  latitude  45*,  received  their 
name  from  Father  Lewis  Hennipin,  a  French  niiflionary,  whi^ 
travelled  iiito  thefe  parts  about  the  year  one  thoufand  fix  hundred 
and  eighty,  and  was  the  firft  European  ever  fccn  by  the  ns|tives> 
The  whole  river,  which  is  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards, 
wide,  falls  perpendicularly  about  thirty  feet,  and  forms  a  moil 
pleating  cataraft.  The  rapids  below,  in  the  fpace  of  three 
hundred  yards,  render  the  defcent  confiderably  greater ;  fo  that 
when  viewed  at  a  diftance,  they  appear  to  be  much  higher  th^n 
they  really  are.  In  the  nriddle  of  the  falls  is  a  fmall  ifland,  about 
forty  feet  broad,  a'ud  fome  what  longer,  on  which  grow  a  few 
cragged  hemlock  and  fpruce  tre'es ;  and  about  half  way  between 
this  ifland  and  the  eaftern  fliore  is  a  rock,  lying  at  the  very  edge 
of  the  fall,  in  an  oblique  pofition,  five  or  fix  feet  broad,  and  thir- 
ty or  forty  long.  Xhefe  falls  are  peculiarly  fituated<,  as  they  are 
approachable  without  the  leaft  obftrudkion  from  any  intervening 
hill  or  precipice,  which  cannot  be  faid  of  any  other  ?onfiderable 
fall,  perhaps,  in  the  world.  The  country  around  is  exceedingly 
beautiful.  It  is  not  an  uninterrupted  plain  where  the  eye  finds 
no  relief,  but  compofed  of  many  gentle  afcents,  which  in  the 
ipring  and'fummer  are  covered  with  verdure,  and  interfperfed 
with  little  groves,  that  give  a  plcafing  variety  to  the  profpeft. 

A  little  diftance  below  the  falls,  is  !^  fmall  ifland  of  about  an  - 
acre  and  an  half,  on  which  grow  a  great  number  of  oak  trees,  al> 
moft  all  the  branches  of  which,  able  to  bear  the  weight,  are,  in  the  ' 
proper  feafon  of  the  year,  loaded  with  eagles  neits^    Their,  in- 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tS^ 


ftin£iive  wifdom  has  taught  them  to  choofe  this  place,  as  it  it  fe» 
cure,  on  account  of  the  rapi4s  above  from  the  attacks  either  of 
man  or  beaft. 

From  the  beft  accounts  that  can  be  obtained  from  the  Indians, 
we  learn  that  the  four  moil  capital  rivers  on  the  continent  of  North 
America,  viz.  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  Miilifliippi,  the  river  Bour- 
bon, and  the  Qregon,  or  the  river  of  the  Weflb,  have  their  fourcet 
in  the  fame  neighbourhood.  The  waters  of  the  three  former,  are 
laid  to  be  within  thirty  miles  of  each  other  ;  the  latt?r  is  rather 
farther  weft. 

This  (hews  that  thefe  parts  are  the  higheft  lands  in  Noirth  Ame- 
rica ;  and  it  is  an  inftance  not  to  be  paralleled^  in  the  other  three 
quarters  of  the  globe,  that  four  rivers  of  fuch  magnitude  ihould 
take  their  rife  together,  and  each,  after  running  feparate  courfes, 
difcharge  their  waters  into  different  oceans,  at  the  diftance  of  more 
than  two  thoufand  i|iiles  from  their  fources*  For  in  their  paflage 
from  this  I'pot  to  the  bay  of  St.  Lawrence,  caft ;  to  the  bay  of  M exi* 
CO,  fouth  ;  to  Hudfon's  Bay,  north  •,  and  to  the  bay  at  the  ftraitt 
of  Annian,  weft  ;  where  the  river  Oregon  is  fuppofed  to  empty 
itfel^  each  of  them  traverfes  upwards  of  two  thoufand  miles. 

The  Ohio  is  the  moft  beautiful  river  on  earth  :  its  current  gen- 
i^e,  waters  clear,  and  bofom  iinooth  and  ' unbrokjsn  by  rockt  and 
f apids,  a  finglc  inftance  only  excepted.  It  is  one  quarter  of  e 
piile  wide  at  Fort  Pitt :  five  hundred  yards  at  the  moutii  of  th# 
Great  Kanhaway :  twelve  hundred  yards  at  Louifville ;  and  the 
rapids,  half  a  mile,  in  fome  few  places  below  Louifville :  but  ite 
general  breadth  does  not  exceed  fix  hundred  yards.  In  fpme 
places  its  width  is  not  four  hundred,  and  in  one  place  particular* 
ly,  far  below  the  rapids,  it  is  lef;;  than  three  hundred.  Its  breadth 
^n  no  one  place  exceeds  twelve  hundred  yards,  and  at  its  jun^on 
with  the  MiffilTippi,  neither  river  is  more  than  nine  hundred  yards 
wide. 

Its  lengthy  as  meafured  according  to  its  meanders  by  Captain 
Hutchins,  is  as  follows  ; 


1  Froi^  Fort  Pitt 

Miles. 

Miles. 

s  To  Log's  Town 

i8i 

9  Mufklngum 

^5  1 

3         Big  Beaver  Creek 

10  i 

lO  Little  Kanliaway 

12  i 

4         Little  Beaver  Creek 

13  i 

11  Hockhocking 

16 

5         Yellow  Creek 

1*  i 

12  Great  Kanhaway 

82  i 

6         Two  Creeks 

21    i 

13  Guiandot 

43  i 

7         Long  Reach 

S3  i 

14  Sandy  Creek 

Ml 

6         End  Long  Reach 

i6| 

15  Sioto 

48  i 

,190   ' 

\ 

CENERAl  DESCRIPTION 

1 

K^  Tfl 

)  Little  Miami 

126  ^ 

23  Buffalo  RWcr 

64  1 

j 

^1 

Licking  CpccH 

8 

24  Waba(h 

97  1 

'- 

18 

Great  Miami 

^6  1 

25  Big  Cave 

4«  i 

^9 

Big  Bones 

32  1 

26  Shaikvtance  Kiver 

52  i 

iO 

Kentucky 

''44  J 

27  Cherokee  Rivejp 

»3 

ti 

Pwapids      ♦ 

77  i 

28  Maffac 

It 

tx 

Low  Country 

»55  1 

29  MifliflSppi 

46 

,1188 

.    In  common  winttt  vna  fpring  flooiis,  it  sISords  thirty  or  forty 
feet  water  to  LouifviUe,  twenty-five  or  thirty  f««5t  Ijoifiip Jifles** 
rapid$>  forty  milel?bove  the  mouth  of  the  Gr^t  l^Wmiiy,  9n4 
^  fugicienc^at  all  tines  for  light- batteaux  and  canoes  to  ff^^jPto^ 
The  rapids  aro  in  latitude  a8^  8'.    The  inundations  of^iH|psvar 
begin  about  the  l^ft  of^Maiich,  and  fubftde  in  July,  auimEtheyr 
frequently  happen  in  other  months,  fot}utlm|:8  which  carry  thret^ 
hundred  barrrels  of  flour,  from  the  MbitibiJiJK|lt^  or  Voul 
ritove  Pittiburgy  have  feldom  limg  to  wie^^pPlrjiiter  ofily, 
ing  thefe  floods  a  firft  y;»|e  man  of  war  nur^jK!''car|i(ed  from- 
ifviUe  to  New  Orleans,  if  the  fudden  tunis.of  th«fim;aii^ 
ftrength  of  its  current  will  admit  a  fafe  i(leerag9^ml|j^%  tfa« 
opinion  of  Col.  Morgan,  who  has  had  all  the  mtanswpj^  un^i<wij|  i^ 
^t  aiveiTel  properly,  built  for  the  fca,  to,  draw  ^'^dtt'Wateiri'^ 
when  loaded^  and  cifiying  from  twelve  tp  ftxtecn  liilui4i«d  baW  T^ 
rels  of  flour,  may  be  morcveafily,  cheaply,  andfafdy  navigated 
from  Pittfburgh  to   the  fea,  than  thoHb  now  in   ufe;   an^%i^     J 
this  mister  only  requires  one  man  of  capacity  and  enterprise  tb-afcfjE^ 
ttui  it.     He  jdsfervcs  that  a  veflel  intended'  to  be  rigged  as  a  brig^  . 
antine,  fnow,  or  fliip,  fhould  be  double  decked,  take  her  mads  oh/i -^i 
dedc<,  and  be  rowed  to  the  Ibberville,  below  which  are  no  iflands^ 
or  to  New  Orleans,  with  twenty  men,  fo  as  to  afTord  reliefs  of  tea 
and  ten  in  the  night. — Such  a  veffel,  without  the  ufe  of  oars,^  he 
fays, -would  float  to  New  Orleans,  from  Pittfljurg,  in  twenty  tiiftesi 
twenty-four  hours.     If  this  be  fo,  what  agreeable  profpe£b  are 
prefented  to  thofe  who  have  fixed  their  refidence  in  the  yfcfUrn^    • 
country. 

The  rapids  at  Louifville  defcend  about  ten  feet  in  a  length  of  ^ 
mile  and  a  half.  The  bed  of  the  river  there  is  a  folid  rock,  anH 
is  divided  by  an  ifland  into  two  branches,  the  fouthcrn  of  whiclr 
Is  about  two  hundred  yards  wide,  but  impalfable  in  dry  feafona^ 
about  four  months  in  the  year.  The  bed  of  the  northern  branch 
is  worn  into  channels  by  the  conftant  courfe  of  the  water,  and  at- 
IritiQn  of  the  pebble  (lones  carried  on  with  it,  fo  as  to  be  paflable 
ipr  battcaux  through  the  greater  part  of  the  year.   Yet  it  is  thought 


OF  THE  UNITED  StATES. 


i^i. 


tliat  the  fduthern  artA  rtiay  be  the  moft  cafily  opetifad  for  cdnfttfift' 
nayigati9n.  The  rife  of  the  waters  in  thefe  iktfidi  dati  Wot  '**^ 
ceed  twenty  or  twenty-five  feet.  The  AmeriiiilftiS  htVe  A  fort,  fi- 
tuated  at  the  head  of  the  falls.'  The  ground  on  the  fou^h  fidft  rife* 
very  gradually. 

At  Fort  Pitt  the  river  Ohio  lofes  its  namfe,  j^nnthiirg  iiiftt  iht 
Monogahela  and  Allegany. 

the  MohtfngahtfU  is  four  hundred  yards  wide  at-  its  moulh. 
Froih  thence  is  twetvfe  or  fifteen  miles  to  the  mouth  of  Y^hogsny/ 
>Vhere  it  i*  three  hundr^  yards  Vride.    Thence  to  Redftnn«  by 
wMer  is  fifty  niles^  by  land  thirty.    Then  tor  the  induth  pf  Gheii 
river  by 'HMOfi'^xty  miles,  by  land  twenty-eight,  (he  width  cdn« 
tmvdtkg  J^^^S^tti  hundred  yards,  and  tht  navigation  good  for-^ 
'  bcMtta^^  Thdhce  the  vfidth  is  ^nit  two  hundred  yirds  to  th« 
iric,  fifty'  miles  higher,  and  the  navtgatioki  ^^uently 
rapHEs;  which  however  whh  a  fwrll  of  tiro  or 
ecoma  y^fery  pafiable  for  boais»    It  then  %imiu  V^t 
iQ«,^fl|68d(bnSi,  fixty-fim  nilds  fUrthor  to  the  head 
i'ir  iwUeyl^Pmiiiting  only  folne  iiiiiaU  rapidd  andi  falls'  of 
one  or  two  l9et'p<erp«ndtci:ttar,  and  lefiitning.  in  its  width  to^  twon-' 
t^*  yai^ds;; v||^jiv:efteta  fork  is-ntvi^ble  in  thtf  winter  teh  or  fif*^ 
.^  tte&':»||M^^PirtI^  of  the  Little  Kanhaway,  and  v^iK 

'i^mk[ii^'jjm/ffli^$^  rosid  to  it.    The  Y^bogany  isthd  j^inci- 

ffpfL  HumM^i^iMef  Hver.  It  paJTes^  through  the  Lauf-el  mOuittafn, 
s^lkBot  di&itjr  Holds  from  its  mouth ;  is  So  far,  from  three  hund:red^ 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards-  wide;  and  the  i^vigation  mtich 
ob'ftrudsed  in  dry  wvather  by  rapidis  and  ^al».  tn  its  pafl&ge 
through  the  mountidn  ik  mdces  very  great  falls,  admitting  no  na> 
ligation  for  ten  milts  to  tho  Turkey  foot.  Thence  f<i  the  great 
crbffin^,  alvout  twenty  mites,  it  is  again  navigable,  except  iije  di*y 
^fons,  and  at  this  place  is  two  hundred  yards  wide.  Th  "-^'Ui'- 
ces  of  this  river  arc  dividied  from  thofe  of  the  Pbtomak  i.^  .he 
Allrguiy  mountains;  From  the  falls,  where  it  inferfeftar  tht  iLau- 
ftd  moutain,  to  Fort  Cumberland,  the  head  of  the  naVigaticm'  on 
the  ^tomak,  is  forty  miles>  of  very  mounfainous  road.  Will's? 
creek,  at  the  mouth  of  which  was  Foit  Cumberland,  is  thirty  or 
^rty  yvtdi  wide,  W  affords  no  navij^ation  as  yet.  Cheat  river, 
afiother  confiderable  branch  of  iki  Monongahela,  is'  two  hundred 
fja4s  wide  at  its  mouth,  anc^on);  hundred  yards  at  the  dunkafd's 
fettlement,  fifty  miles  highee.  It  is  navigable  for  boats,  except 
i6  dry  feafdns.  The  boundary  between  Virginia  and  Pcftnfylva- 
mt  cBoflessit  about  three- or  four  miles  above  its  mouth. 

Hie  Aliegfiny  river,  with  »  flight  fwell,  affords  liavigalion  for 
%ht  bgteaux.  to- Venango,  at  the  miouth  of  French  creek,  where 
it  is  two  hundred  yards  wide ;  and  it  is  praGtifad  even  to  Le  BcEuf»^ 


in 


\ 


i^tf  QENMkAL  DESCRIPTION 

from  wiiente  there  is  *  portage  of  fifteen  miles  and  a  half  (tf 
I^refque  Ifle  on  Lake.  Eric. 

The  country  watered  by  the  Mifllfllppi  and  its  eaflern  branch- 
es, cpniiitutes  five-eights  of  the  United  States ;  two  of  which  five- 
eights  are  occupied  by  the  Ohio  and  its  waters  ;  the  refiduary 
ftreams^  which  run  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  Atlantic,  and  the 
St.  Lawrence,  water  the  remaining  three-eights^ 

Before  we  quit  the  fubjeft  of  the  wcftern  waters,  we  will  tdke 
a  view  of  their  principal  connections  with  the  Atlantic.  Thefe 
are  four^  the  Hudfon's  fiver,  the  Potomak,  St.  Lawrenc6,  and  the 
Milfiflippi/  Dpwn  the  laft  will  pafs  all  the  heavy  commodities. 
But  the  navigation  through  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  fo  dangerous, 
and  tfa^t  up  t)ie  Mifltflippi  fo  difficult  and  tedious,  that  it  is 
thought  probable  that  European  merchandize  will  n6t  be  convey- 
ed through  that  channeU  It  is  moil  likely  that  flour,  timber, 
and  other  heiiavy  articles  will  be  floated  on  rafts,  which  Will  them- 
fiilves  be  an  article  for  fiile  as  well  as  thcrr  loading,  the  naviga^ 
tors  returning  by  land,  as  at  prefent^  There  will  therefore  be  a 
tom{totition  betn^eeh:  the  Hudfon,  the  Potomak,  and  the  Stw 
Lawrence  rivers  for  the  refidue.of  the  commerce  of  all  the  coun- 
try weftward  of  Lake  Erie,  on  the  tva:ters  of  the  lakes,  of  the 
Ohio,  and  upper  parts  of  Mifliflippi.  To  go  to  New- York,  that 
part  of  the  trade  which  comefs  from  the  lakes  or  their  water*  muft 
firft  be  brought  into  Lake  Erie^  Bet'Cveen  Lake  Superior  and  its 
waters  and  Huron  are  the  rapids  of  St.  Marie,  which  will  permit 
boats  topafs,  but  not  larger  vcflels.  Lakes  Hui'on  and  Michigan  af- 
ford comifiunication  with  Lake  Erie,  by  veifels  of  eight  feet  draughty 
That  part  of  the  trade  which  comes  from  the  waters  of  the  Mifllflippt 
muft  pafs  from  them  through  fome  portage  into  the  waters  of  the 
lakes^  The  portage  from  the  Illinois  river  into  a  water  of  Michi- 
gan is  of  one  mile  only.  From  the  Wabafli,  Miami,  Muflcingum  or 
Allegany  are  portages^  into  the  waters  of  Lake  Eric,  of  from  one 
tt>  fifteen  miles.  When  the  commodities  are  brought  into,  and 
have  pafGed  through  Lake  Erie,  there  is  between  that  and  Ontario, 
an  interruption  by  the  falls  of  Niagara,  whcrcjhe  portage  is  of 
eight  miles;  and  between  Ontario  and  tlie  Hudfon's  river  arc 
portages  of  the  falls  of  Onondago,  a  little  above  Ofwego,  of  a; 
quarter  of  a  mile  ;  from  Wood  creek  to  the  Mohawk  river  two 
miles }  at  the  little  falls  of  the  Mohawk  river  half  a  mile,  anrf 
from  Scheneftady  to  Albany  fixteen  miles.  Befides  the  increafe' 
of  expence  occaftoned  by  frcqutnt  cbange^f  carriage,  there  is  an" 
encrcafcd  rifk  of  pillage  produced  by  committing  merchandize  to  a' 
greater  number  of  hands  fucceflively.  The  Potomak  offers  itfelf^ 
under  the  following  circumflance.  For  the  trade  of  the  lakes  ancJ 
their  waters  weftward  of  Lake  Eric,  when  it  Ihall  have  Ibtered 


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tliit  iike^  it  tnaft  co&ft  along  its  fotAhertil  fliore,  <on  acttbtitit  of  the 
ntitnber  and  exMltente  of  its  hafb6ut»j  ih«  ntnthoern,  tbu^gh  thtf  ' 
fh^rteftj  having  feVr  hatbburs,  and  tht(6  tlhfafe.     Httvihg  iie«ch«d 
Cayahdf*,  to  <pl-oct«d  bh  to  NcW'Yofk  it  %iU  hshre tight  hundred 
lind  twenty-five  mileSj  and  five  portages:   trheteas  h  is  but  fcWC 
htindttd  and  t\venty-fitVe  miks  to  AleMndritj  its  emprorititiit^n'the! 
Potomak,  if  it  turns  into  the  Cayahoga^  and  paftes  through  that, 
Big  BeaVerj  Ohioj  Yahogany^  or  Monongalia  and  Cheat,  and  Poto- 
mak^ and  there  are  but  two  portages;    the  firii  of  which  between 
Cayahoga  and  Beaver  ttny  bci  remov^  by  uniting  the  fources  of 
thefe  v/^attfrs^  which  are  lakes  in  the  nei^bourhoodof  each  other^ 
and  in  a  champaign  country ;  the  other  front  the  utaters  of  Ohio 
to  the  Potomak  will  be  from  fifteeti  to  forty  milcs^  iaocoriit^  to 
the  trOuUe  which  ihaU  be  taken  to  approach  the  twonavrgations. 
For  tho  tirade  of  the  OhiOi  or  that  which  (hali  cottte  into  it  from 
its  own  wati^  or  thi  M^ifippi^  it  is  nearer  through  the  Ptttomsk 
to  Alcxindria  thin  to  New- York,  by  five  hundred  and  eighty 
miles^  and  it  h  interruptfd  by  one  portage  only^     there  is  ano-' 
th«r  ctrcumftance  of  <tiffiBreace  too^     The!  lakes  themfelvtas  newt' 
freeze^  but  the  cpmmunitations  between  them  free^e^  and  the 
Hudfon's  riyer  i«  itftlf  ihut  up  by  the  ice  thre<«  months  in  tho^ 
year:  whereas  the  channel  to  the  Chefapeek  lead&  dire^iy  into  a 
warmer  chmsjk^*     The  fouthem  parts  of  it  very  rarely  freeze  at 
all,  and  vrhei^^er  the  northern  do,  it  is  fo  near  the  fources  of  the 
rivers,  th»t  the  frequent  floods  to  whith  they  are  there  liable  break 
i}p  the  Ice^  imoAediately,  So  that  veffds  may  pafs  through  the  whole 
winter,  fubjc^  <mly  to  atcidentai  and  fliort  delays.     Add  t0  all 
this,  that  i(i  cafe  of  a  war  with  their  neighbours  of  Canada,  or  the 
Indiaipis,  the  route  to  New-«York  becomes  a  frontier  throu^  aU 
moft  its  whole  length,  and  all  commerce  through  it,  ceafes  from 
that  mcmient.     Bui  the  channel  to  New- York  is  already  known 
to  pra£ltce  j  whereas  the  upper  waters  of  the  Ohio  and  th«  Poto- 
mak, and  the  great  falb  of  the  latter,  are  yet  to  be  cleared  of  thejr 
fixed  ob^rudiioiis. 

The  route  by  St.  Lawrence  is  well  known  to  be  attended  witli 
many  adf^ants^eSy  and,  fome  difadvantages.  But  there  is  a  fifth 
route,  whieh  ths  enlightened  and  enterprising  Pcnnfytvanians  con- 
template, whichi  if  effie^ed,  will  be  the  eaficft,  chcapcft,  and 
fureft  paflage  from  the  lakes,  and  the  Ohio  river;  by  means  of 
the  Sufquehannahi  and  a  canal  from  thence  to  Pluladfelphia.  The 
Utter  ||)iart  of  this  plan,  viz.  the  canal  between  Sufquchannah 
and  the  Schuylkill  rivers,  is  now  a£lually  in  execution.  Should 
they  accompliih  their  whole  fcheme,  and  they  appear  confident  of 
rttceef$)  Philadelphia  <A  all  probability  will  become,  in  foroe  future 
period,  tHfe  hrgeft  cify  that  has  ever  yet  exifted. 

Vol.  I.  C  c 


>M 


GENERAL  DESCRiPTtOVf 


.  Particular  deforiptionr  of  th«  other  rivers  in  the  United  SuccM^  ^ 
are  refierved  to  be  give  A  in  the  geographical  account  of  the  ftates^ 
through  which  they  refpc^ively  flow;  One  general  obfer^atibnf 
refpefting  the  rivers,  will,  however,  be  naturally  introduced  here^ 
tod  that  is,  that  the  entrances  into  almoftall  the  rivers,  inlets  and- 
tnys,  fr6m  New-Hampihire  to  Georgia,  aie  from  fouth-eaft  to 
north-weft;  • 

BAYS, 

ir'he  coaft  of  the  United  Si^s  is  indented  with  numeV'oui  bay^y 
fome  of  which  are  equal  in  fixe  to  any  in  the  known  world.     Be- 
ginning at  the  northr  eafterly  part  of  the  continent,  and  proceed- 
ing fbuth^wefterly,  yoU  firlt  find  the  bay  or  gulphof  St^  Law-' 
rence,'  which  receives'  the  waters  of  the  river  of  the  faliie  nuiter 
Next  ave  Chedabuktd  iind  Chebukto  Bays,  In  Nova-Scotia,  th«^ 
tatter  diftinguifked  by  the  lois  of  a  French  fleet  in  a  formed  wai^ 
between  France  and  Great-Britain.>     The  bfay  of  Fundy,  betweeh 
Nova-Scotia  and  New-Brunfwiek,'  i»  vemarkable  for  its  tides, 
which  rife  to  ^  height  of  fifty  or  fixty  feet,  and  flow 'fe  rzpidty 
as  to  overtake  animah  which  feed  upon  the  flKOte.     Paflamaqttbd^, 
PenobCcoty  Broad  and  Cafco  Bays,'  tie  along  the  coafl  of  th»diftriA^- 
of  Maine.     Ma(faehufretts<>^Bay  fpreadat  eaftward  of  Bofton,'  and  is 
comprehended  between  Cape  Ann  on  the  north,-  and  Gapt  Cod 
on  the  fouth;    The  points  of 'Bofto»  harbour  are  Nahiinf  and  AI- 
derton  points;     Faffing  by  Narraganl'et  and  other  biays  in  the  ftate' 
of  Rhode-Ifland^  you  enter  Long-Ifland  Souiyd,  between  Montauk- 
point  and  the  Maine.     This  Sthindi  as  k  is  calltid^  is  a  kind  6f  in- 
land fea,<  fronCi  three  to  twenty-live  miles  broad,  and  about'  one^ 
hundred  and  forty  miles  long^  extending  the  wliole'  length  of  the 
ifland,  and  dividing  it  from  ConneAicut;     It  communicated  with 
the  ocean  at  both  ends  of  Lon^Ifland,  and  aifords^  a  very  hft  and 
convenient  inland  navigation* 

The  celebrated  ftrait,  called  HeU^GatCi  is  neiar  thd  Weft  Cind  of 
this  founds  about  eight  miles  eaftward  of  New -York  city,  and  is 
remarkable  for  i£$  Whirlpools^  which-  make  a  tremendous  roaring 
at  certain  times  of  tidew  Thefe  whirlpools  areoecflfiohed'by  the 
narrownei's  and  crookednefs  of  the  pafs^  arid  a  bed  of  rocks  which 
extend  ouite  acrofs  it;  and  not  by  the  meeting  of  the  tides  from 
eaft  to  wefty  as  has  been  conje£Uired,  becaule  they  meet  at  Frogs- 
point,  feveral  miles  above.  A  ikilful  pilot  may  with  fafiety  con* 
du6l  a  Ihip  of  any  burden  through  this  ftrait  with  the  tide,  or  at 
ftill  water  with  a  fair  wind*. 

*  The  following  ingenious  geological  remarks  of  Dr.  MitcheH's,  qr  certain  nii-> 
ritime  paru  of  the  fttte  of  New-York,  dtfervc  a  pbtcc  la  this  confit£U«n : 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


*55 


Bdaivare  Bay  it  fixty  miles  long,  from  the  Cape  to  the  cjntnnce 
«f  the  river  Delaware  to  Bombay-hook ;  and  Co  wide  in  fome  partt,  as 
;that  a  (hip,  in  the  middle  of  it,  cannot  be  feen  from  the  land» 
2t  opens  into  the  Atlantic  nor^h-weft  and  fouth>eaft,  between 
•Cape  Henlopen  on  the  right,  and  Cape  Ma^'  o|i  |he  lefjt.  Thefe 
Capes  are  eighteen  or  twenty  miles  apart. 

The  Chefapeek  is  one  of  the  lar^eft  bays  in  the  4cnowa  world. 
Its  entrance  is  nearly  £.  N.  £.  and  $.  S.  W.  betw«Mt  d^ 
Charles,  lat.  37®  12',  and  Cape  Hency,  lat.  37^,  in  Virginia^ 
it  is  twelve  miles  wide,  and  extends  two  hundred  and  feventy 
miles  to  the  northward,  dividing  Virginia  and  Maryland.  It  is 
from  feven  to  eighteen  miles  broad,  and  generally  as  much^as  nine 
fathoms  deep ;  affording  many  commodious  harbours,  and  a  £ife 
and  eafy  navigation.  It  receives  the  waters  of  the  Sufquehannah, 
Potomak^  Rappshannok,  York  and  James  xiyer^  whi^h^areall 
Urge  and  navigable. 

.*'  from  tbeXitryeyoFihe  foffil*  ip  tbeCe  parts  of  the  .A>ncxican  coa(tone:bccomei( 
<oavinced,  that  the  principal  fhare  ff  them  it  om-akitical,  cemf>0ftd  o/tkijime 
Ji'rtj  afmtttrudt  with  the  Jiigkt/l  4ips,  Pyrauett  CtuuM/uSt  and  Anics^  mi  like  tkm 
Jefittutetfmttals  rndpetrtfaSuns. 

The  occurrence  of  m  horizontal  ftrata,  and  the  frequency  of  vertical  layers* 
lead  ns  fmther  to  fuppofe  ikat  theft  are  not  fecondarj  ctlltSiens  of  mineralst  tut  art 
t«rtai»ly  in  a  JUu  of  primeval  arrangement. 

The  Steatites,  Amianthus,  Skotri,  feldJpatKMiea,  Garnet,  Jajpar,  Shifiu$f  Afhtfiut 
|nd  Qitatii^  muft  all  be  confidered  ti primitive Jofils^  and  by  ntrntteu/f  an  alkvidt 
naiuTf,. 

^yhat  ii^erence  remaifM  aiow  to  be  dnwni  from  this  ftateaent  of  hBtt,  bqt  that 
,the  ftfliionablfc  ppinioh  of  coniidering  thefe  maritime  parts  of  our  country  as  flats, 
hove  up  from  the  deeps  by  the  fea,  or  brought  down  from  the  heights  by  'the  tip 
vers,  ftands  .\uxfupported  by.reafon,  and  cpntrai^i&ed  by  ex{>erie(tce  ? 

A  mofe  lyobablf  fipiiuoa  m,  that  I.ong  Ifla^d,  and  the  adjacent  continent 
were  in  fwmer  Am*  contiguous,  or  only  feparated  by  a  fmall  river,  and  that  the 
Arait  which  now  divides  Arm,  wa«  formed  byfucceffive  inroads  of  the  lea  from 
theeaftward  and  weft  ward  in  the  courfe  of  age^.  This  coi^cAure  i>  fupported  by 
the  fajQs  which  follow,  ^wit ;  jt.  The  foffil  bodies  on  both  (hores  have  a  near  ^e> 
femblance.  s.  The  rocks  ana  iflands  lying  between  are  formed  of  fimilar  mate- 
(lials.  3.  tn  feveral  plact^t,  particularly  at  White-Stone  and  Uell-^ate,  the  dif- 
tance  from  land  to  4and  -is  ^ery  fmaU. '  4.  Wherever  the  (hpre  is  not  compofed  ti 
folid  fodk,  therv  the  water  continues  to  ta^e  great  encroachments,  and  to  caufr 
the  high  hjmlu  to  tumble  down,  not  only  here,  but  at  Mon£lon,  Newton,  and 
clfewbnv,  at  this  very  day.  5.  The  rocky  piles  in  the  Sound,  called  Execution, 
and  St^p{^)ag-Stoaes,  and  thofe  named  Hurtleberry  Ifland,  Pea  lOand,,  Heart 
Ifland^  and  many  rapre  thatlie  up  and  down,  are  (^9ng  ci^cum^ances  in  favour 
of  this  opinion ,  For  from  feveral  of  them  all  the  earthy  matter,  as  far  as  the  higl\- 
eft  tides  cm  reach,  has  long  fince  been  carried  away,  and  from  the  reft,  the  fand 
and  gravel  continue  to  be  removed  by  daily  attrition ;  as  is  the  cafe  with  the  Bro- 
t)ier^  Ryker's,  Blackwell's,  and  other  iflands.  €.  There  is  a  tjradition  arpong 
4hal  race  of  men,  who,  previous  to  the  Europeans,  poflefled  this  trafl  of  country  ; 
(that  at  fome  diftant  period;  in  former  times,  their  anceftors  could  ftep  front  rock 
^rock,  and  crofsthisarmof  the  fea  onfoot  at  HeltGate."  ' 


I, 

i 


C  G    2 


1)6 


GRSERAl  DESCaiPTJON 


FACE  OF  THE  COUNTRY, 
Th«  traft  of  country  belonging  to  the  United  States,  is  happi* 
ly  ^wicgated  with  pUite  and  mountains,  hills  and  rallies.  Soim 
parts  are  rocky,  particularly  New -England,  the  north  parts  of 
New>Yock,  and  New-Jer&y,  and  a  broad  fpace,  including  the 
feveral  ridges  of  the  long  range  of  mountains  which  run  ibuth-* 
wefiward  through  Pennfylvania,  Virginia,  North-Carolina,  and 
part  of  Geer^,  dividing  the  waters  which,  ftow  into  the  Atlantic 
from  thofe  which  fall  into  the  MiflllTippi.  In  the  parts,  eaft  of 
the  AUegany  mountain*,  in  the  fouthcin  dates,  the  country  for  bt 
veral  hundred  milea  in  length,  and  (ixty  or  feventy,  and  fome* 
times  n^orc  in  breadth,  is  level  and  intirely  free  of  ftone.  It  ba| 
been  a  queftion  agitated  by  the  curious,  whether  the  extenftve 
traft  of  low,  flat  country,  which  fronts  the  fevend  ftates  I'outh  of 
New- York,  and  .extends  back  to  the  hills,  has  remained  in  it« 
prefent  form  and  fituation  ever  ftnce  (he  flood:  or  whether  it  haq 
been  made  by  the  particles  of  earth  which  have  been  waihed 
down  from  tl^e*  adjacent  mountains,  and  by  the  accumulation  of 
foil  from  the  decay  of  vegetable  fubftanees  *,  or-by  earth  wa(he4 
out  of  the  bay  of  Mexico  by  the  gulf  ftream,  and  lodged  on  th« 
coaii  ;  or  by  the  recefs  of  the  of  can,  occaiioned  by  a  change  in 
fome  other  part  of  th'e  earth.  Several  phenomena  deferve  confi- 
doration  in  forming  anT  opinion  on  this  qucflion. 

1.  It  is  a  faft,  well  known  to  every  peirfon  of  obfervation  whq 
has  lived  in,  o^  travelled  through  the  fouthcm  ftates,  that  marine 
0>elU  and  other  fubftances  which  are  peculiar  to  the  fea  fhore,  are 
almoik  invariably  found  by  digging  eighteen  or  twenty  feet  below 
the  furface  of  the  earth.  A  gentleman  of  veracity  has  afferted  ; 
that  in  finking  a  well  m^-:y  miles  from  the  fea,  he  found/  at  the 
depth  of  twenty  feet,  everv  appearance  of  a  fait  mar(h ;  that  is^ 
marfh  grafs,  marfh  mud,  and  brackifli  water.  In  dlltihis  flat  coun- 
try until  you  come  to  the  hilly  land,  wherever  you  dig  a)  w«ll^ 
youfijid  the  water,  at  a  certain  depth,  frefli  ana  tolerably  gbod; 
but  if  you  exceed  that  depth  two  or  three  feet,  you  come  to  a 
faltiih  or  brackifh  water  that  is  fcarcely  drinkabh^  ind  th«c«rth 
dug  up,  refembles,  in  appearance  and  fmell,  that  wh^^is'd^i  lift 
onthe  edges  of  thi  fait  marihes. 

2.  On  and  near  the  margin  of  the  rivers  are  frequently  fiound 
fand  bills,  which  appear  to  have  been  drifted  into  ridges  by  the 
force  of  water.  At  the  bottom  of  feme  of  the  banks  in  the  xivers^ 
fifteen  or  twenty  feet  below  the  furface  of  the  earth,  arc  wajhed 
out  from  the  folid  ground,  logs,  branches,  and  leaves  of  trees  ; 
and  the  whole  bank,  from  bottom  to  top,"  appears  ftreaked  with 
layers  of  logs,  leaves  and  fand.  Thefe  appearances  are  (ben  far  up 
the  rivers,    from  eighty  to  one  hundred   miles  from  the   fea, 


IV 


OF  TH^  UNITED  STATES, 


'97 


wtiere,  when  the  riverf  ar«  low,  the  banks  »r«  from  fifteen  t« 
twenty  feet  high*  A$  you  proceed  down  the  riven  towards  the 
fea,  the  banks  decreafe  in  height,  but  Hill  are  formed  of  layers  ol 
fand,  leaves  and  logs,  iome  of  which  are  entirely  found,  and  ap- 
pear to  have  been  fuddenly  covered  to  a  conftdcrable  depth. 

3.  It  has  been  obferved,  that  the  rivers  ip  the  fouthem  States 
frequently  vary  their  channels;  that  the  fMramps  and  low  grounds 
are  conftantly  BlUng  up ;  and  that  the  land  in  many  places  annual- 
ly infringes  upon  the  ocean.  It  i&  an  authenticated  faft,  that  no 
longer  ago  than  1771,  at  Cape  Look-out  on  the  coaft  of  North- 
Carolina,  in  about  latitude  34^  ^ty,  there  was  an  exctUent  harbour, 
capacious  encrgh  to  receive  an  hundred  fail  of  (hipping  at  a 
time,  in  a  gocd  depth  of  water:,  it  is  now  entirely  filled  up,  and 
is  folid  ground.  IniUnces  of  this  kind  are  frequent  along  the 
coaft. 

'  It  is  obfervabli^,  likewife,  that  there  is  a  gradual  defcent  of  about 
eight  hundred  feet,  by  meafurement,  from  the  foot  of  the  moun« 
tains  to  the  fea  board.  This  defcent  continues,  as  it  demonftnio 
ted  by  foundings,  fa;r  into  the  fea. 

4.  It  is  worthy  of  obiervation,  that  the  foil  on  the  banks  of  the 
rivers  is  proportionably  coarfe  or  fine  according  to  its  diftance 
from  the  mountains.  When  you  firft  leave  the  mountains^  and 
for  a  confiderable  diftance,  it  is  obfervable,  that  the  foil  is  coarfe, 
with  a  large  mixture  of  fand  and  fhining  heavy  particles.  As  you 
proceed  toward  the  fea,  the  foil  is  lefs  coarfe,  and  fo  on }  in  pro- 
portion as  you  advance,  the  foil  is  finer  and  finer,  until,  finally, 
is  depoftted  a  foil  fo  fine,  that  it  confulidates^  into  perfe£i  clay; 
but  a  clay  of  a  peculiar  quality,  for  a  great  part  of  it,  has  intermix- 
ed with  it  reddiih  -ftreaks  and  veins,  like  a  fpecies  of  Qchre  ;  brought 
probably  from  ihc-ted-lands  which  lie  up  towards  the  mountains. 
This  clay,^  when  dug  up  and  expofed  to  the  weather,  will  diiTolve 
into  a  fine  mould,  without  the  leaft  mixture  of  fand  or  any  gritty 
fubftance  whatever.     Now  we  know  that  running  waters,  when 

^^Ulbid,  will  depofit,  firft,  the  coarleft  and  heavieft  particles,  medi- 
Mely,  thofe  of  the  feveral  intermediate  degrees  of  finenefs,  and 
ultimately,  thofe  which  are  the  moft  light  and  fubtle ;  and  fuch  in 
jfafk  is  the  general  quality  of  the  foil  on  the  banks  of  the  fouthern 
jrivers. 

5.  It  is  a  well-known  fa£l,  that  on  the  banks  of  Savannah  river, 
about  ninety  miles  from  the  lea  in  a  dire£l  line,  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  or  two  hundred,  as  the  river  runs,  there  is  a  very  re- 
markable coUeAion  ofoyfter  Ihclls  of  an  uncomm.  a  fize.  They 
run  in  a  north-eaft  and  fouth-wcfl:  dired:ion,  nearly  parallel  to 
the  fea  doail,  in  three  diftin6l  ridges,  which  together  occupy  a 
jpace  of  feven  miles  in  breadth.    The  ridges  commence  at  Savan- 


ll 


t9>8 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


Mh  river,  and  have  been  traced  aa  far  fouth  a»  the  riorthcra 
branchea  of  the  Alatamaha  river.  They  are  found  in  fuch  qiwn- 
^ties,  aa  that  the  indigo  plantcra  carry  them  away  in  Urge  ix>ac 
load*,  for  the  purpofe  of  nuking  lime  water,  to  be  ufed  in  the 
manufafture  of  indigo.  There  are  thoufand«  a;id' thoufandii  of 
lona  ftill  re»Mmag*i  The  ^ueftion  is,  how  came  they  here  ? 
It  cannot  be  fuppofed  that  they  were  carried  by  land.  Neither 
»a  it  probable  that  they  were  conveyed  in  canoea,  or  boata,  to  I'uch 
a  diftance  from  the  place  where  oyftera  are  now  fouqd.  'fhe 
uncavilixed  natives,  agreeable  to  their  roving  manner  of  living^ 
would  rather  have  removed  to  the  fca  fiiore,  than  have  been  at 
iuch  immenfe  labour  in  pcocuring  oyftera^  Befidea,  the  difficul- 
ties of  conveying  them  would  hnve  been  infunnountable.  They 
vrould  not  only  have  had  a  ftrong  current  in  the  river  againft  them, 
an  obfbcle  which  would  not  have  been  eafily  overcome  by  the 
Indiana,  who  have  ever  had  a  great  averfion  to  labour  ;  but  could 
they  have  furmounted  this  difficulty,  oyflers  conveyed  I'uch  a 
diftance,  either  by  land  or  water,  in  fo  warm  a  climate,  would 
have  fpoiled  on  the  paflage,  and  have  become  ufclefs.  The  cirr 
cumftance  of  thefeihelK  being  found  in  fuch  quantities,  at  fo  great 
a  diftance  frem  the  fea,  can  be  rationally  accounted  for  in  no 
ether  way,  than  by  fuppoTing  that'the  fea  (hore  was  formerly  near 
this  bed  of  Aiells,  and  that  the  ocean  has  llnce,  by  the  operation 
of  icertain  <caufes  not  yet  fully  inveftigated,  receded.  Thefe 
pheneinena,  it  is  prefumed,  will  authorire  thi«  conclufien,  jthat  a 
great  part  of  the  flat  country  which  fpreads  eafterly  of  th,c  Alle- 
gany mountains,  had,  in  feme  paft  period,  a  fuperin(;fimbent  lea ; 
or  rather,  that  the  conftant  accretion  of  foil  from  the  various 
Caufcs  before  hinted  at,  has  forced  it  tp  retire. 

*  '^  On  the  Geergh  fide  of  the  riveri  about  15  mile*  Below  Silver  Bluff,  the 
bigh  road  crofles  a  ridge  of  high  fwelling  hilU  of  uncommon  elevation,  and  perr 
fca^i  70  feet  higher  than  the  furface  of  theiriver.  Thefe  hills  are. from  three  feet 
below  the  common  vegetative  furface,  to  the  depth  of  ao  or  30  feet,  compofed  tin^ 
drely  of  foffil  oyfter  flielU,  internally  of  the  colour  and  confiftency  of  clear  white 
marble ;  tliey  are  of  an  includible  magnitude,  generally  15  or  ao  inehet  in  lengths 
from  6to  S  wide,  and  frota  ^  to  4  in  thickoefs,  and  their  hollow*  fufficient  tortf 
cctve  an  ordinary  man'i  foot.  They  appear  all  to  have  been  opened  before  the  pe- 
riod of  petrefaAion ;  atranfmutation  thsy  feem  evidentlyto  have  fuffiered.  They 
are  undoubtedly  very  ancient,  and  perhaps  antideluviain.  The  adjacent  inhabitantk 
kuTB  them  to  lime,  for  building,  for  which  purpofe  they  ferve  well;  and  will  un- 
doubtedly afford  an  excellent  manure,  when  their  lands  require  it,  thefe  hills  now 
being:  remarkably  fertile.  The  lieaps  of  JKells  lie  upon  a  firatum  of  yellowiih 
&id  lAould,  of  feveral  feet  in  depth,  upon  a  foundation  of  foft  white  rocks,  that 
h»  the  outward  appearance  of  free  ftonc,  but  on  ftrifi  examination  is  really  a  tef- 
laceo(|s  concrete,  or  compofuion  of  fand  and  pulverifed  fea  (hells.  In  Ihort,  this 
teftaceous  rock  approaches  near  in  equality  and  appearance  to  the  Bahama  or  Ber* 
muiian  White  Rock."  Sartiram'ifTravtb,  pi^e  qi9. 


OF  THE  UNITEI>  STATES, 
MOUNTAINS. 


m 


'  *Thc  tnd  of  country  eait  of  Hudfon'i  river,  comprehending 
^art  of  the  State  of.  New- York,  the  four  NeW  England  States, 
and  Vermont,  is  rough,  hilly,  and  in  fome  pa\rts  mountainous^) 
Thefe  mountaina  will  be  more  partkubrly  del'cribed  under  NcW 
England^  In  all  parta  of  the  worlds  and  particularly  on,  thift 
weftern  continent,  it  il  obfervable,  that  a»  you  depart  ftom  the 
ocean,  or  from  a  rtver,  the  land  gradually  riCea ;  and  the  height 
of  land,  in  common^  ia  about  equally  diiunt  from  the  water  OA 
either  fide,  iThe  Andes,  in  South  America^  form  the  height  of 
land  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans^  The  high  Iand» 
between  the  diftrift  of  Maine  and  the  province  of  LoWer  Canada, 
divide  the  riveri  which  fall  into  the  St.  Lawrence,  norths  and 
into  the  Atlantic,  fouth^  The  Green  MouA^aina,  in  Vermont, 
divide  the  waters  which  flow  eafterly  into  Connecticut  river, 
from  thofe  which  fall  wefterly  into  Lake  Chatmplain,  Lake  George^ 
and.Hudfon's  River. 

Between  the  Atlantic,  the  Miflli&ppi,  and  the  lakes,  runs  at 
long  range  of  mountains,  made  up  of  a  great  number  of  ridges^ 
Thefe  mountains  extend  not th-eaftcrly  and  fouth-weflerly,  iiearly 
parallel  to  the  fea  coaft,  about  nine  hundred  miles  in  length,  and 
from  fixty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  two  hundred  miles  in 
l>readth.  Mr.  Evans  obferves,  with  refpeft  to  that  part  of  thefe 
mountains  which  he  travelled  over,  viz.  in  the  back  part  of  Penn- 
fylvania,  that  fcarcely  one  acre  in  ten  is  capable  of  culture.  O^his, 
however,  is  not  the  cafe  in  all  parts  of  this  range.  Numerous 
traGts  of  fine  arable  and  grazing  land  intervene  between  the  ridges. 
Irhe  differenctkiges  which  compofe  this  immenfe  range  of  moun- 
tainSi  have  different  naiiies  in  different  ftates. 
.  As  you  advance  from  the  Atlantic,  the  firfl  ridge  in  Pennfyl- 
yania,  Virginia,  and  North-Carolina,  is  the  Blue  Ridge,  or  South 
Mountain,  ivhich  is  from  one  hundred  and  thirty  to  two  hundred 
miles  from  thci  fea.  Jftctween  this  and  the  North  Mountain  fpreads 
a  large  fertile  vale ;  next  lies  the  Allegany  ridge  i  nCxt  beyond 
this  is  the  Long  Ridge,  called  the  Laurel  Mountains,  in  a  fpur 
•f  which,  about  latitude  36^,  is  a  fpring  of  water  fifty  feet  deep, 
^ery  cold,  and  it  is  (aid,  to  be  as  blue  as  indigo.  From  thefe  fe- 
veral  ridges  proceed  innumerable  namelcls  branches  or  (purs.  The 
Kittatinny  mountains  run  through  x  the  northern  parts  of  New 
Jerfey  and  Pennfylvania.  All  thefe  ridges,  except  the  Allegany, 
are  feparated  by  rivers,  which  appear  to  have  forced  their  paflfages 
through  folid  rocks. 

The  principal  ridge  is  the  Allegany,  which  has  been  defcrip. 
lively  called  the  tack-bone  of  the  United  States.  ,  The  general 


«^ 


% 


1«0 


GENERAL  DKSCRtPTIOtt 


fcittered 
erto|iping 

want  of  them 


name  for  thefe  mountAms,  taken  colkftively,  feem»  nol  yet  to  lia^tf 
been  determined.  Mr.  Evana  calU  them  the  EndUft  Mountains  i 
others  have  called  them  the  Appalkehlan  ^otitltiini,  from  a  trib« 
of  Indfaini  who  live  en  i  river  which  procd^dl  from  this  mountain^ 
Called  the  Appalachicola.  But  the  moft  cofnmon  nliime  is  the 
Allegany  Mountains,  fo  called,  cither  from  tlie  principal  ridge  of 
the  range,  or  from  their  running  nearly  pindlel  to  iHe  KSXtffgtsf 
or  Ohio  river ;  w^nich,  from  its  head  wllerS,  till  h  tilitSBi^libd 
theiMifliflTippi,  ia  known  and  called  h^  ttift  named^  Alleging 
River,  by  the  Seneca  and  other  tribes  w  the  Sil^|ifattonSy  whd^ 
once  inhabited  it.  Thefe  mountains  ar«  tet  C< 
and  broken,  rifing  here  and  thete  !ntiB>'|!;( 
each  other,  but  ftretch  along  in  Unifo^il 
mile  high.  iThey  fpread  as  you  proccc 
terminate  in  high  perpendicular  blulft*^  \WS^ln\§kim\\j  fubfide 
into  1  level  country,  giving  rife  to  the  f^iUi' which  rim  (butherly 
mtothe  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

They  afford  many  curious  phenomena,  front  which  naturalifU 
have  deduced  m«ny  theories  of  the  earth,  tkme  of  them  have 
been  whimfical  enough  \  Mr.  Etans  fuppofes  that  the  moft  obviouS' 
of  the  theories  which  have  been  formed  of  the  eiith  is^  that  it 
was  originally  made  out  of  the  ruins  of  another.  **  Bones  antl 
Ihells  which  efcaped  the  fate  of  fofter  animal  fubftances,  vtt  find 
mixed  with  the  old  materials,  and  elegantly  preferved  in  the  Idofe 
ftones  and  rocky  bafes  of  the  higheft  of  thele  hills."  With 
deference,  however,  to  Mr.  Evans's  opinion,'  thefe  appeSran* 
ces  have  been  much  more  rationally  accounted  for  by  fup« 
poitng  the  reality  of  the  flood,  of  which  Mofes  has  given  us  va 
account.  Mr.  Evans  thinks  this  too  great  a  nuracle  to  obtain 
belief.  But  whether  is  it  a  greater  miracle  for  the  Creator  to 
alter  a  globe  of  earth  by  a  deluge,  when  made,  oc  to  create  one 
new  from  the  ruins  of  another  ?  The  former  certainly  is  not  left- 
credible  than  the  latter.  **  Thefe  moutitains,**^  lays  our  author* 
**  exiftcd  in  their  prefent  elevated  height  befoire  the  deluge,'  but 
not  fo  bare  of  foil  as  noW.^  How  Mr.  Evans  came  to  be  fo  cir- 
cumftantially  acquainted  with  thefe  pretefided  fa^,  is  dificiilt  t/» 
determine,  unlefs  we  fuppoib  him  to  haire  been  ap  Antediluvian^ 
and  to  have  I'urVeyed  them  accurately  before  the  convulfions  of 
the  deluge  ;  and  until  we  can  be  fully  aiTured  of  this,  we  mu(t 
be  expufed  in  not  aifentiiig  to  his  opinion,  and  ia^l^icring  to  the 
old  philofophy  of  Mofes  and  his  advocates.  W«  have  every 
y  reafon  to  believe  that  the  primitive  ftate'of  the  earth  was  totally 
^nietamorphofed  by  the  firft  convulfion  of  nature  at  the  time  of 
"'      fluge;  that  the  fountains  of  the  great  deep  were  indeed  broken 


D  J  Tiit  VKtTlb  STATES. 


•Oft 


4^,  ih^  that  tho  ▼•ribii»>i«.  of  thi  ewrth  wer«  aiflWcful,  ana 
thrown  into  every  po9iblc  ikgree  of  conftifion  and  diforder. 
Hence  thofe  vaft  piles  of  mounuini  which  lift  their  crtggy  cliffii 
to  the  clou4«,  wete  proh»Wy  thrown  together  from  the  iloeting 
niint  of  the  eirth  :  and  this  ronjcaure  is  remarkably  confirmed 
hy  the  vaft  number  of  fofliU  and  other  marine  nmvin  which  arc  found 
Sfobadedonthetops  of  mmiiltainai  in  the  interior  parts  of  continents 
Ivmotc  from  the  fca,  in  aU  parts  of  the  world  hitherto  explored* 
liie  various  cirevmftsnces  attending  thefiJ  marine  bodies  leave  ui 
to  conclude,  iM  theV  were  adually  generated,  lived  and  died  in 
the  very  bedlim^ll.  Chey  are  found,  and  therefore  thefe  bcdj» 
muft  haVe  origiiW  bmttthe  bottom  of  the  ocean,  though  now 
in  many  inibne^eH^W  fcveral  miles  above  its  furfsce.    HenM 
it  appears  thatmouiJwIad  tontinents  were  not  primary  produc* 
tions  of  nature,  bUtWll"V*ry  diftant  period  of  time  from  the  cre- 
ation of  the  world;  i  time  long  enough  for  the  Jfraia  to  have  ac- 
quired their  greateft  degree  of  cohefion  and  hardnefs ;  and  for  the 
teftaccous  matter  of  marine  fliells  to  become  changed  to  a  ftony 
fubftance}  for  in  the  fiiTuresof  the  lime-done  and  other  ftrata, 
fragments  of  the  fame  ihell  have  been  frequently  found  adhering 
to  each  fide  of  the  cleft,  in  the  very  ftate  in  which  they  were  ori- 
ginally broken  ;  fo  that  if  the  fcveral  parts  were  brought  together, 
they  would  apparently  tally  with  each  other  exaftly.    A  very  confi- 
derable  time  therefore  muft  have  elapfcd  between  the  chaotic  ftate  of 
the  earth  and  the  deluge,  which  agrees  with  the  account  of  Mofes, 
who  makes  it  a  little  upwards  of  fifteen  hundred  years.    Thefo 
obfervations  are  inteiiided  to  ftiew,  in  one  inftance  out  of  many^ 
others,  the  agreement  between  revelation  and  reafon,  between  the 
account  which  Mofes  gives  us  of  the  creation  and  deluge,  and  the 
prefent  appearances  of  nature. 

SOIL  ANP  VEGETABLE  PRODUCTIONS. 

In  the  United  States  are  to  be  found  every  fpecies  of  fo;^  that 
the  earth  affords.  In  one  part  of  them  or  another,  they  p^  ^uce 
all  the  various  kinds  of  fruits,  grain,  pulfc,  and  hortuline  plants 
and  roots,  which  are  found  in  Europe,  and  have  been  thence 
tranfplanted  to  America,  and  befides  thefe,  a  great  variety  of  na- 
tive vegetable  productions. 

The  natural  hiftory  of  the  American  States,  particularly  of  New- 
England,  is  yet'.|n  its  infancy.  Several  ingenious  foreigners, 
fkilled  in  botany,  hav^  vifited  the  fouthern,  an^  !bme  of  the  mid- 
dle ftates,  and  Canada  ;  and  thefe  ftates  have  alfo  had  ingenipus 
botan^s  of  their  own,  who  have  made  confiderablc  progrcfs  in 
defcrlhing  the  produ^ona  of  thofe  parts  of  America  which  they 

bo 


20» 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


liave  Vifited ;  but  New>England  feems  not  to  have  en'gagc<^f^ 
attention  either  of  foreign  or  American  botanifts.  There  nevef 
yf^i  an  attempt  to  defcribe  botanically,  the  vegetable  produ£fcion» 
of  the  earftern  ftates,  till  the  Rev.  Dr»  Cutkr,  of  Ipfv^ich,  turned 
^i»  afttentioif  to  the  fubjeft.  The  rcfuk  of  his  firft  enquiries  has 
^en  pu()lifhed  in  the  firft  volume  of  the  "  Memoirs  of  the  Ame- 
riean  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciejnces."  Since  that  period,  the 
poftor  has  paid  very  particular  attention  to  this,  his  favourite 
^udy ;  and  tlie  public  may  fbortly  expt*ft  to  be  gratified  and  im- 
proved by  his  botanical  defcriptions  and  difcovcries. 

The  produdtions  of  the   fouthern  fliates  are  likewife  far   front 
being  well  described,  by  any  one  aut^or^  in  a  work    profeffedly 
£or  that  pvirpofe ;[  btit  ar6  hiofily  intermixed  with  the  produftion» 
of  other  parti  of  the  world ;  in  the  large  works  of  European 
botanifb.  This-  renders  it  difficult  to  iele£i:  and  to  give  an  accurate 
and  conne&ed  account  of  them«    To  remedy  this  -incenveniencey 
and  to  refcue  the  republic  from  tlie  reproach  of  not  having  any 
authentic  and  feientific  ai^count  of  its  natural  hiftory,  Dr.  Cutler,, 
who  has  already  examined  nearly  all  the  vegettibles  of  Nev-£ng- 
hnd,  intends,  as  foon  as  his  leifure  will  admit,  to  pubHfh  a  botani- 
cal work,  of  confiderable  magnitude,,  confined  principally  to  the 
produflions  of  the  New- England  (tates.     Dr.  Barton,  of  Philadel- 
phia, I  am  informed,  is  tolte3:ing  materials  for  a  work  of  a  fimL 
kr  nature,  to  comprehend  the  middle  and  ibuthern  ftates ;  fo  that 
both  together  will  form  a  complete  natural  hiflory  of  the  Ameri- 
can itateis.    As  far  as  poflible  to  take  advanta^  oJF  thefe,  as  well 
a^  of  other  works  of  a  fimilar  kind,  the  natural  hiftory  of  the  ve- 
getables,  animals,  birds^  reptiles,  infe£ls,  fifties,  &c,  peculiar  to 
the  American  continent,  will  be  feparately  coniidered  in  the  lafi 
volume  of  this  work ;  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 

POPULATION. 
According  to  the  ccnfus,  taken  by  order  of  Congrefs,  in  1799, 
the  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  United  States  of  America,  was 
three  millions  nine  hundred  and  thirty  thoufand,  nearly.  In  this 
number,  none  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  territory  N.  W.  of  the  ri- 
ver Ohio,  are  included.  Thefe  added,  would  undoubtedly  have 
increafed  the  number  to  three  millions  nine  hundred  and  fifty 
thoufand,  at  the  period  the  ccnfus' Was  taken.  Theincreafe  fince, 
oti  fuppofltion  that  the  inhabitants  of  thp  United  States  double 
once  in  twenty  years,  has  been  about  four  hundred  thoufand  :  fo 
that  now,  1794,  tliey  are  increafed  to  four  millions  three  hundred 
and  fifty  thoufand.  To  thefe  muft  be  added,  the  vafl  influx  of 
inhabitants  into  the  States,  from  the  different  countries  of  Euk 
rope ;  with  their  natural  incrcafe ;  which  taken  at  a  moderate  cal- 
culation  will  make  the  number  at  leaft  five  millions  of  fouls. 


OF  THE  VNTTED  STATES, 


ao3 


The  American  republic  is  compofed  of  almoft  all  nations,  lan- 
guages, charafters,  and  lytligibns,  which  Europe  can  furnifh ;  the 
greater  part,  however,  are  defcended  from  the  Englifh ;  and  all 
may,  perhaps  with  propriety,  he  diftingviiihin^ly  denominated 
Federal  Americans, 

It  has  generally  been  confidered  as  a  faft,  that,  of  the  human' 
face,  more  males  than  females  are  horn  into  the  world.  The  pro- 
portion commonly  fixed  on,  is  as  thirteen  to  twdre,  ~  Hence  an 
argument  has  been  derived  againft  Polygamy.  Thj^  larger  num-' 
ber  of  males  has  been  believed  to  be  a  wife  appointment  of  Pro« 
vidence,  to  balance  the  deftruftion  of  the  males  in  war,  by  fea,. 
and  by  other  occupations  more  hazardous  to  life  than  the  domef- 
tic  employment  of  the  female  fex.  The  following  table,  formed 
from  the  cenfus  of  the  United  States,  in  which  the  males  and* 
females  are  numbered  in  differenjt  Columns,  fumiihes  a  new 
proof  of  the  truth  of  the  i:ommon  opinJKWj  as  it  refpefts  the 
United  State^s*^ : 


Vermont       • 
New-Hamplhire 
Diftria  of  Maine^ 
Maflachufeus '      r 
Rhode  Ifland 
ConneAi^ut 
New-York 
JJew-Jerfey        ? 
Pennfylvapia 
Delaware 

Maryland        9        w 
Virginia 

ICentttcky        r        • 
^orth  Carolina        • 
3outh  Carolina 
Georgia        • 
Territory  $•  of  Ohio 


TABLE. 

Male*.        I      Fenjialet. 

44.763  40.505 

70,937  70,»69 


_      1 


»8a,74« 
311818 

»»4.9*6 

)6i,9aa 
86,667 

817,736 

»07,ad4 
a*7t07i 

8».«»« 
»47'494 
73.898  , 
»7.»47 
16.548 


190,58* 
3«.65* 

117.44* 
»^a«3>0 

83.«87 
so6,b63 

aa,384 
»oi,395 

815,046 
aSigas 

140,710 
66,880 

«5.739 
15.36s 


£xcer$, 

4.«58+ 

777 

7,840 

«.5«« 
9.50s 
3.380 

»».373 
».540 
5.859 
ia,oa5 
3,289 
6,784 
6,418 
»i408 
>i»83 


Sex. 
Males. 

Femalek. 
4o. 
■do. 
Malea. 
do. 
do. 
do. 

do. 

dot 

do. 

do. 

do* 

do, 

do. 


It.i$  remarkable,  that  the  excefs  in  all  the  States  is  on  the  fide 
of  males,  except  in  MaiTaphufett^,  Rhode  lAand,  and  Connefticut. 

*  Mr.  Bruce,  in  hit  Travels,  affirms,  that  iq  that  tra€l  of  country  from  the  Ifth- 
mus  of  Suei  to  the  Straits  of  Babelmandel,  which  contain*  the  three  Arabiat,  the 
proportion  it  fuliybiir  women  to  one  man. 

t  In  the  co|un)nt  o^  the  cenfus,  in  which  are  noted  ullolhcr/ree  perfons  and  Jlavts, 
the  male*  and  femalei  are  not  diftinguilhed,  and  are  therefore  not  regarded  in  this 
table. 

t  the  males  and  femalet  are  not  diftinguilhed  in  the  diftrift  of  Maine,  in  the  late 

Do  2 


264 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


In  thefe  States  the  females  are  confiderably  the  moil  numerous. 
This  difference  is  obviouily  to  be  afcribed  to  the  large  migration* 
irom  all  thefe  States  to  Vermont,  the  northern  and  weftern  parts 
oif  Niw-York,  the  territory  N,  W,  of  Ohio,  Kentucky,  andPenn^ 
fylvania,  ana  fome  to  almoft  all  the  fouthern  States.  A  great  pro- 
portion of  thefe  migrants  were  males }  and  while  they  have  ferv-> 
ed  to  increafe  the  proportion  of  males  in  the  States  where  they 
have  fettled,  as  is  firi^ingly  the  cafe  in  Vermont  and  Ken- 
tucky, to  which  the  migrations  have  been  moft  numerous,  an4 
where  the  males  are  to  the  females  neurly  as  ten  to  nine,  they  have 
ferved  to  leffen  the  proportion  pf  m4es  in  the  States  from  whence 
tliey  emigrated. 

The  number  of  flaves,  in  1790,  in  all  the  States,  was  fix  hun- 
'  drcd  ninety-feven  thoufand  fix  hundred  and  ninety-feven.  The 
increafe  of  this  number  fince,  owing  to  faluttry  laws,  in  feveral  of 
the  States,  and  the  humane  exertiofis  of  the  government  in  fa-] 
vour  of  their  emancijiation  and  the  prevention  of  any  further  iQ\- 
portatton,  hasi  happily  been  fmall,  aii4  wiU  be  lefs  in  future, 


CHARACT?:R  A»D  MANNERS, 

Federal  Americans,  coUei^ed  together  from  various  coun? 
tries,  of  different  habits,  formed  under  different  govexnments^ 
have  yet  to  form  their  national  charafter,  or  we  may  rather  fay,  it 
is  in  a. forming  iiate,  They  have  not  yet  exilled  as  a  nation  long 
enough  for  us>  to  form  an  idea  of  what  v/ill  be,  in  its  maturity, 
its  prominent  features.  Judging,  however,  from  its  prefent  pro- 
mifing  infancy,  we  are  encouraged  to  hope,  that,  at  fome^  future 
period,  not  far  dif|ant,  it  will,  in  every  point  of  view,  be  refpe^r 
able.  * 

Until  the  revolution,  which  was  accomplilhed  in  17?  3,  Euro- 
ropeans  were  ftrangely  ignorant  of  America  and  its  inhabitants, 
They  concluded  that  the  new  world  mttfi  be  inferior  to  the  old, 
The  count  de  ^uffon  fuppofed,  that  even  the  animals  in  that  coun- 
try were  uniformly  lefs  than  in  Europe,  and  thence  concluded  that, 
<•  on  that  fide  the  Atlantic  there  is  a  tendfency  in  nature  to  belittle 
her  produftions,"  The  Abbe  Raynal,  in  a  former  edition  of  hif 
works,  fuppofed  this  ieSuKng  tendency ^  or  influence,  had  its  ef- 
fcfts  on  the  race  of  whites  tranfplanted  from  Europe,  and  thence 
had  the  prefumption  to  affert,  that  ^*  America  had  not  yet  produt 
ced  one  good  poet,  one  able  mathematician,  nor  one  man  of^Cr 
jfxius,  in  a  fingle  art  or  fcience.'*  Had  the  Abb6  been  juftly  in^ 
formed  rcfpe&ing  the  Americans,  we  prefume  he  would  not-have 
made  an  affertion  fo  ungenerous  and  injurious  to  their  genius  s»p4 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES^ 


^•6 


literary  ehara&er.    This  affertion  drew 'from  Mr.  JefFeilbn  th* 
following  reply:  •  ' 

*^  When  wc  (ball  have  exifled  a»  a  people  as  long  as  the  Greeks 
fdid  before  they  produced  a  Homer,   the  Romans  a  Virgil,  the 
French  a  Racine  and  Voltaire,  the  Engliih  a  Shakefpeare  and  Mil* 
(ton,  fhould  this  reproach  be  ftill  true,  we  will  inquire  from  What 
unfriendly  caufes  it  has  proceeded,  that  the  other  countries  of 
Europe  and  quarters  of  the  earth,  ihall  not  have  infcribed   any 
name  in  the  roll  of  poets.     In' war  we  have  produced  a  Wafhing- 
|ton,  whofe  memory  will  be  adored  while  liberty  (hall  have  vota- 
ries, whofe  name  .wi^l  triumph  over  time,  and  will,  in  future  ages 
afTume  its  juil  ftatiun  among  the  moft  celebrated  worthies  of  the 
world,  when  that  wretched  philofophy  (hall  be  forgotten,  which 
would  arrange  him  among  the  degeneracies  of  nature.     In,  phyfics 
we  haye  produced  a  Franklin,  than  whom  no  one  of  the  prefent 
age  has  made  more  important  difcoveries,  nor  has  enriched  philo- 
fophy  with  more,  or  more  ingenious  iblutions  of  the  phaenomena 
pf  nature^     We  have  fuppolicd  Mr.  Rittenhoufe   fecond  to  nq 
^ftronomer  living :  that  in  genius  he  muft  be  the  (irft,  becaufe  |i« 
is  felf-taught.     As  an  artift,  he  has  exhilnted  as  great  proofs  of 
mechanical  genius  as  the  world  has  ever  produced. — He   has  not 
pot  indeed  made  a  world ;  but  he  has^  by  imitation,  approached 
fiearer  i|ts  Maker  than  any  man  man  who  has  lived  from  the  cre« 
potion  to  this  day.     As  in  philofophy  and  war,  fo  in  government, 
in  oratory,  ii>  painting,  in   the  plaftic  art,  we  might   (hew   that 
America,  though  but  a  child  d  yefterday,  has  already  given  hope- 
ful proofs  of  genius,  as  well  of  the  nobler  kinds,-  which  aroufe  the 
)}eft  feelings  of  man,  which  call  him  into  afi:ion,  which  fubftantiate 
his  freedom,  and  condiift  him  to  happinefs,  as  of  the  fubordinate^ 
which  ferve  to  amufe  him  only.     We  therefore  fuppofe,  that  this 
reproach  is  as  unjuft  as  it  is  iinkiod ;  and  that,  of  the  geniufes 
which  adorn  the  prefent  age,  America  contributes  its  full  (hare. 
For  comparing  it  with  thofe  countries,  where  genius  is  mod  culti- 
vated, where  are  the  moft  excellent  models  foj  art,  and  fcaffold- 
tngs  for  the  attainment  of  fcience,  as  France  and  England,  for  in- 
ftance,  we  calculate  thus:    the  United  States  contain  three  mil- 
lions  of  inhabitants,  France  twenty  millions,  and  the  Britiih  iflands 
ten.     We   produce  a  V/a(hington,  a   Franklin,  a   Rittenhoufe. 
France  then  (hould  have  half  a  dozen  in  each  of  thefe  lines,  and 
Great  Britain  half  that  number  equally  eminent.     It  may  be  true 
that  France  has;  wc  are  but  juft  becoming  acquainted  with  her, 
»nd  our  acquaintance  fo  far  gives  us  high  ideas  of  the  genius  of 
her  inhabitants.     It  would  be  injuring  too  many  of  them  to  name 
particularly  a  Voltaire,  a  finffon,  the  conftellation  of  Ency elope- 


se6 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


'W 


difts,  the  AbM  Ra3mal,  hfanfelf,  Ac.  &c.     We  therefore  hav« 
reafon  to  believe  (he  can  produce  her  full  quota  of  genius." 

The  two  late  important  revolution!  in  America,  which  h^ve 
been  fcarcely  exceeded  fince  the  memory  of  man,  I  metn  that  of 
the  declaration  and  eftablifhment  of  independence,  and  C!Kat  of  the 
adoption  of  a  new  form  of  government  lyithout  bioodlhed,  have 
called  to  hiftoric  fame  many  noble  and  4ii(Uligui(he4  ^l^^r4^rs 
who  might  otherwife  have  flept  in  oblivion, 
*'  But  while  we  exhibit  the  fair  fide  of  the  charafter  of  the,  Fe-^ 
BE RAL  Americans,  we  would  not  be  thought  blind  to  their  faujts, 

**  If  there  be  an  obje£l  truly  ridiculouji  in  nature,  it  is  an  Am/St 
ricah  patriot,  figning  refolutions  of  independency  with  one  hand, 
and  with  the  other  brandiOiing  a  whip  over  his  af&ighted  flaves.'^ 

Much  has  been  written  to  (hew  the  injuftice  and  iniquity  of 
enflaving  the  Africans ;  fo  much,  as  to  render  it  unneceflary  here 
to  fay  any  thing  on  that  part  of  the  fubjeft.  We  cannot,  howe- 
ver, forbear  introducing  s  few  obfervations  refpe^ng  the  influ- 
ence of  flavery  upon  policy,  morals,  and  manners.  From  calcula- 
tions on  the  fubjeft,  it  has  been  found,  that  the  expence  of  niain-* 
taining  a  (lave,  efpecially  if  the  purchafe  money  be  included,  is . 
much  greater  than  that  of  maintaining  a  free  man ;  this,  however, 
is  difputed  by  fome ;  but  fuppofe  the  expence  in  both  cafes  be 
equal,  it  is  certain  that  the  labour  of  the  free  man,  influenced  by 
the  powerful  motive  of  gain,  is,  at  leaft,  twice  as  profitable  to 
the  employer  as  that  of  the  (lave.  Befides,  (lavery  is  the  bane  of 
induftry.  It  renders  labour  among  the  whites,  not  only  unfa(h- 
ionable,  but  difreputable.  Induflry  is  the  offspring  of  necelfity 
rather  than  of  choice.  Slavery  precludes  this  neceiilty ;  an4  in-- 
dolence,  which. ftril^es  at  the  root  of  all  focial  and  political  hap- 
pinefs,  is  the  unhappy  confequence.  Thefe  obfervations,  with- 
out adding  any  thing  upon  the  inji^ftice  of  the  pra£tice,  (hew 
that  (lavery  is  impolitic. 

Its  influence  on  manners  and  morals  is  equally  pernicious, 
The  negro  wenches,  in  many  inftances,  are  niirfes  to  their  mif- 
trefTes  children.  The  infant  babe,  as  foon  as  it  is.  born,  is  deliver? 
ed  to  its  black  nurfc,  and  perhaps  feldom  or  never  taftes  a  drop 
of  its  mother's  milk.  The  children,  by  being  brought  up,  and 
conftantly  aflbciatmg  with  the  negroes,  too  often  imbibe  their 
low  ideas,  and  vitiated  manners  and  morals,  and  contra£b  a  negnl/h 
kind  of  accent  and  dialed:,  which  they  often  carry  with  them 
through  life. 

To  thefe  I  (hall  add  the  obfervations  of  *a  native*  of  a  (late 
which  contains  a  greater  number  of  flaves  than  any  of  the  others. 
Although  his  obfervations  upon  the  influence  of  flavery  were  in- 
♦  Mr.  Jcfferfon. 


np  fHE  t/NlTEJ>  STATES, 


**7 


hav9 


with- 
fliew 


tended  for  a  particular  ftate,  they  will  apply  equally  well  to  all 
places  where  this  pernicious  praftice  in  any  confiderable  drgree 
prevails.  / 

**  There  muft  doubtlefs,"  he  obferves, . "  be  an  unhappy  influ. 
eiice  on  the  manners  of  our  people,  produced  by  the  exiftence  of 
flavery  among  us.  The  whole  ccnnmerce  between  mafter  and  ^^ve 
is  a  perpetual  exercife  of  the  moft  boifterous  paflions,  the  moft 
unremitting  defpetifm  on  the  one  part,  and  degrading  fubmiflions 
on  the  other.  Our  children  fee  this,  and  learn  to  imitate  it;  for 
man  is  an  imitative  animal.  This  quality  is  the  germ  of  all  edu- 
cation in  him.  From  his  cradle  to  his  grave,  he  is  learning  to  do 
what  he  fees  others  db.  If  •;  parent  could  find  no  motive  either 
in  his  philanthropy  or  his  fclf-love^  for  retraining  the  intemper- 
ance of  a  pallion  towards  hit  &nre,  it  fliould  always  be  a  fufficient 
one,  that  his  ehild  is  prefeitt.  But  generally  it  is  not  fufficient. 
The  parent  ftorms,  the  child  looks  on,  catches  the  lineamenjts  of 
wrath,  puts  on  the  (ame  airs  in  the  circle  of  fmaller  flaves,  gives 
a  loofe  to  his  worft  of  paflions,  and  thus  nurfed,  educated,  and 
daily  exercifed  in  tyranny,  cannot  but  be  ftamped  by  it  with  odi- 
ous peculiarities.  The  man  muft  be  a  prodigy  who  can  retain  his 
manners  and  morals  undepraved  by  fuch  circumftances.  And 
with  what  execration  Ihould  the  ftatefinan  be  loaded,  who,  per- 
mitting one  half  of  the  citizens  thus  to  trample  on  the  rights  of 
the  other,  transforms  thofe  into  defpots,  and  thefe  into  enemies ; 
deftroys  the  morals  of  the  one  part,  and  the  awtorpatrU  of  the  other. 
For  if  a  flave  can  have  a  country  in  this  world,  it  muft  be  any 
other  in  preference  to  that  in  which  he  is  bom  to  live  and  labour 
for  another ;  in  which  he  muft  lock  up  the  faculties  of  his  nature, 
contribute,  as  far  as  depends  on  his  individual  endeavour,  to  th» 
evaniflunent  of  the  human  race,  or  entail  his  own  miferable  con- 
dition on  the  endlefs  generations  proceeding  from  him.  With  the 
morals  of  the.  people,  their  indufiry  aUb  is  deftroyed.  For  in  a 
warm  climate^  no  man  will  labour  for  himfelf  who  can  make  ano- 
ther labour  for  him.  This  is  fotrue,  tlbatof  the  proprietors  of 
flavei  a  very  fmall  pn^ortion  indeed  are  ever  feen  to  labour. 
Apd  can  the  liberties  of  a  nation  be  thought  fecure  when  we  have 
removed  their  only  firm  bafis,  a  convi6lion  in  the  minds  of  the 
people  that  thefe  liberties  are  the  gift  of  God  ?  That  they  are  not 
to  be  violated  but  with  his  wrath?  Indeed  I  tremble  for  my 
country  when  I  refleft  that  God  is  juft :  that  hisjuftice  cannot 
fleep  for  ever :  that  confidering  numbers,  nature,  and  natural 
means  only,  a  revolution  of  the  wheel  of  fortune,  an  exchange 
of,  fituation,  is  among  poflible  events :  that  it  may  become  pro- 
bable by  fupematural  inference ! — The  Almighty  has  no  attribute 
which  can  take  fide  with  us  in  fui^h  %  conteft.    But  it  is  impofli- 


m 


,1 


m 
111 


■e8  '      GENERAL  l>isckt>tl(fli'     , 

Ue  to  be  temperate  and  to  purfue  this  fubjeft  thrcUgn  tbe  VarimMi 
confiderations  of  policy,  of  monls,  ofiiiftory,  natural  and  civile 
We  muft  be  contented  to  hope  they  will  force  their  way 
into  every  one's  mind.  I  think  a  change  already  perceptible^ 
fince  die  origin  of  the  prefent  revolution.  The  fpirit  of  the 
mafter  is  abating,  that  of  the  (Uvvfr  riftng  from  the  duft,  his  <;on- 
/dition  mollifying,  the  way  I  hope  preparingi  under  the  aufpices 
of  Heaven,  for  a  total  emancipationr,  and  that  tins  is  di^ofed,  inl 
the  order  of  events,  to  be  with  the  confient  oi  their  njafters,  ra^ 
ther  than  by  their  extirpation,"  ' 

Under  the  Federal  governmrnt)  frtun-.the  meafufes  already 
adopted,  we  have  rcafon  to  belieVeJthat  all  flaves  in  the  linked 
States,  w;ill  in  time  be  emancipated,  in  a  manner  mo&  conftftent 
with  their  own  happincfs,  and  the  true  iotereft  of  their  proprie- 
tors.. Whether  this  will  B9  effeAed  by  tran%orting  them  back  to 
Africa ;  or.  by  colonizing  them  in  (bme  part  of  the  American  ter- 
ritory, and  extending  to  them  their  alliance  and  pretedion^  until 
they  {hall  have  acquired  ftrex^th  fufficient  for  dieirown  defence  $ 
or  by  incorporation  with  the  whites ;  or  in  feme  other  w^,  r&* 
mains  to  be  determined. 

In  the  middle  and  northern  flates,  there  are  comparatively  but 
few  flaves;  and  of  courfe  there  is  lefs  difficulty  in  giving  theM 
theii:  freedom.  In  Maflachufetts  alone,  and  we  mention  it  to> 
their  diftinguifhed  honor,  there  are  none.  Societies  for  the 
manumiflion  of  flaves  have  be^n  inftituted  in  Philadelphia,  New* 
York,  and  other  places,  and  laws  have  been  enafted,  and  other 
^ea^res  taken,  in  the  New>£ngland  States,  to  accomplifli  thtf 
fame  purpofe.  The  Friends,  commonly  called  Quakers,  have 
evinced  the  propriety  of  their  name,  by  their  goodnefs  in  origi- 
nating, and  their  vigorous  exertions  in  executing  this  truly  hu- . 
mane  and  benevolent  delign. 

The  Englifli  Language  is  univerfally  fpoken  in  the  United 
Stjites,  and  in  ^t  buflnefs  is  tranra6fced,  and  the  records  are  kept* 
It  is  fpoken  with  great  purity,  and  pronounced  with  propriety  ill 
New  England,  by  perfons  of  education;  and,  exceptmg  fomeiew.. 
corruptions  in  pronunciation,. by  all  ranks  of  people.  In  the. 
middle  and  fouthern  States,  where  they  have  had  a  great  influx  of 
foreigriers,  the  language,  in  many  inftances,  is  corrupted  ^fpecially 
in  pronunciation.  Attempts  are  making  to  introduce  an  unifor- 
mity of  pronunciation  throughout  the  States,  yrht^h  for  political, 
as  well  as  other  reafoAs,  it  is  hoped  will  meet  the  approbation 
and  encouragement  of  all  literary  and  influential  charaSiers. 

Intermingled  with  the  Americans,  are  the  Dutch,  Scotch,  Irifliy 
French,  Germans,    Swccds,  and  Jews ;   9II   thcfe,^    except    the 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


ao9 


Scotch  ahd  Irt(h|  retain  in  a  greater  or  lefs  degree,  their  native 
language,  in  which  they  perform  their  public  worfliip,  converfe 
and  tranfafl  their  bufinefs  with  each  other. 

The  time,  however,  is  anticipated,  when  all  improper  diftinc- 
tions  (hall  be  abolilhed;  and  when  the  language,  manners,  cuftoms, 
political  ^nd  religious  fentimcnts  of  the  mixed  mafs  of  people  who 
inhabit  the  United  States,  {hall  become  fo  aifimilated,  as  that 
all  nominal  diftin£lion  (hall  be  loft  in  the  general  and  honourable 
name  of  Americans.  .! 


G  O  V  E  R  N  M  E  N  T. 

IJKtiL  the  fourth  of  July,  1776,  the  prefent  United  States 
were  Briti(h^  colonies.  On  that  memorable  day,  the  Reprefen- 
Utives  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  Congrefs  alTemblcd, 
made  a  folemn  declaration,  in  which  they  afllgned  theil'  reafons 
for  withdrawing  their  allegiance  from  the  King  of  Great  Britain. 
Appealing  to  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  world  for  the  rectitude 
of  their  intentions,  they  did,  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  good  people  of  the  colonies,,  folemnly  publiih  and  declare. 
That  thel'e  United  Colonies  were,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  Free 
and  Independent  States ;  that  they  were  abfolved  from  all  allegi- 
ance to  the  Britiih  crown,  and  that  all  political  connexion  be- 
tween them  and  Great  Britain,  was,  and  ought  to  be,  totally  dif- 
folved }  and  that  as  Free  and  Independent  States,  they  had  full 
power  to  levy  war,  conclude  peace,  contrail  alliances,  ^(lablKh 
commerce,  and  do  all  other  a£b  and  things,  which  Independent 
States  may  of  right  do.  For  the  fupport  of  this  declaration, 
with  a  firm  reliance  on  the  prote£l.  >n  of  Divine  Providence,  the 
delegates  then  in  Congrefs,  (ifty-five  in  number,  mutually  pledged 
to  each  other  their  lives,  their  fortunes,  and  their  facred  honour. 

At  the  fame  time  they,  publiihed  articles  of  Confederation  and 
Perpetual  Union  between  the  States,  in  which  they  took  the  title 
of  ^'  The  United  States  of  America,"  and  agreed,  that  each  State 
fhould  retain  its  fovcreignty,  freedom,  and  independence,  and 
every  power,  jurifdi£):ion,  and  right,  not  exprefsly  dcliegated  to 
Congrefs  by  the  confederation.  By  thcfe  articles,  the  Thirteen 
Uaited  States  (everally  entered  into  a  firm  league  of  friendihip 
with  each  other  for  their  common  defence,  the  fccurity  of  tlicir 
liberties,  and  their  mutual  and  general  welfare,  and  bound  them- 
felves  to  aififl  each  other,  againil  all  force,  offered  to,  or  attacks 
that  might  he  made  upon  all,  or  any  of  them,  on  account  of 
religion,  fuyercignty,  commcice,  or  any  other  pretence  whatever. 

E    E 


ltd 


GENERAL  PESCJtIPTiaif 


BttC  for  the  more  convenient  management  of  the  general  inlerefli 
«f  the  UnitjBd  States,  it  was  determined,  that  Delegates  fhoiild 
be  annually  appointed,  in  Tuch  manner  as  the  Legiflature  of  each 
State  flioutd  dire£l,  to  meet  in  Congrefs  the  firft  Monday  in 
Hcarttnher  of  every  year ;  with  'a  power  referved  to  each  State 
to  recall  its  delegates,  or  any  of  thom,  at  any  time  within  the 
year.  Mid  to  fond  othen  in  their  ftead  for  the  remainder  of  the 
year.  No  State  was  to  be  reprefefi^ed  in  Congrefs  Ly  lefs  than 
two,  or  more  than  feven  members ;  and  no  per  Ion  could  be  a 
delegate  for  more  than  three  years,  in  any  term  of  fix  years,  nor 
was  any  perfon,  being  a  delegate,  capable  of  holding  any  dflice 
under  the  United  States,  for  wbich  he,  or  any  other  for  his 
benefit,  fhould  receive  any  falary,  fees,  or  emolument  of  any  kind. 
Tn  determining  queftions  in  Congreft,  each  State  was  to  have 
one  vote«  £very  State  was  bound  to  abide  by  the  determination^ 
of  Congrefs  in  all  queftions  which  were  fubmitted  to  them  by 
the  confederation.  The  articles  of  confederation  were  to  be  in- 
variably obfcrved  by  every  State,  and  the  Union  to  be  perpetual : 
nor  was  any  alteration  at  any  time  afterwards  to  be  made  in  any 
of  the  articles,' '  unlcfs  fuch  alterations  were  agreed  to  in  Congrefs, 
and  afterwards  confirmed  by  the  legtflatures  of  every  State.  The 
articles  of  confederation  were  ratified  by  Congrefs,  July,  9th, 
1778.  ' 

■  Thefe  articles  of  confederation  being  found  inadequate  to  the 
purpofes  of  a  federal  government,  for  rcailbns  hereafter  mention- 
ed, delegates  were  chofen  in  each  of  the  United  States,  to  meet 
and  fix  upon  the  neceflfary  amendments.  They  accordingly  met 
in  convention  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  fumtmer  of  1 787,  attd  agreed 
to  propofe  the  following  conflitotion  for  the  confideration  of 
their  con  flituents : 

CONSTITUTION. 

WE,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more 
perfefl  union,  cflablilh  juftice,  infure  domeflic  tranquility,  pro- 
vide for  the  common  defence,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and 
fecurc  the  bleflings  of  liberty  to  ourfelves  and  our  poflcrity,  do 
ordain  and  eftablifh,  this  Conllitution  for  the  United  States  of 
Amiprica,  . 


ARTICLE  I. 

Sf.ct.  1.  All  legiflative  powers  herein  granted  (hall  be  vefl;ed 
in  a  Congrefs  of  the  United  States,  which  (hall  confifl  0/  a 
Senate  and  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


att 


Sect.  u.     The  Houfe  of  Repref«ntativc«  Ihall  be  compofed 
of  membefs  chofen  every  fccond  year  by  the  people  of  the  Cv 
ral  ftates,  and  the  eleftort  in  each  (bte  (hall  have  the  qualificn* 
tions  requifite  for  ele£lors  of  the  moA  numerous  branch  of  the 
flate  legiflature. 

No  perfon  fhall  be  a  rcprefentative  who  Hull  not  have  att1^n- 
ed  to  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  been  feven  years  a  citUen 
of  the  United  States,  ai\d  who  (hall  not,  when  ele^d,  be  an  in- 
habitant of  that  (late  in  Which  he  (hall  be  ohoGon, 

Reprefentatives  and  direft  taxes,  (hall  be  apportioned  among 
the  feveral  dates  which  may  be  included  within  this  Union,  ac- 
cording to  their  refpcftive  numbers,  which  (hall  be  determined 
by  adding  to  the  whole  number  of  free  pcrfons,  included  thofe 
bound  to  fervice  for  a  term  of  years,  and  excluding  Indians  not 
tixed,  three-fifths  of  all  other  peribna.  The  adual  enumeration 
(hall  be  made  within  three  years  after  the  firfl  meeting  of  the 
Congnsfs  of  the  United  States,  and  within  every  fubfequent  term 
of  ten  years,  in  fuch  manner  as  they  (hall  by  law  4ire£l.  The 
number  of  reprefentatives  (hall  not  exeeed  one  for  every  thirty 
thoufand,  but  each  ftate  (hall  have  at  kail  one  rcprefentative ;  Af)d 
until  fuch  enumeration  (hall  be  made,  the  (late  of  Ncw-Hamp(Hire 
(hall  be  entitled  to  choofe  three,  MaiTachufitttS  ei^ht,  lOlode* 
Iflandand  Providence.Plantations  one,  Connefticutfive,  New-York 
fix,  New-Jerfey  four,  Pennfylvania  eight,  Delaware  one^  Mary- 
land fix,  Virginia  ten,  North-Carolina  five,  South-Carolina  five, 
and  Georgia  three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  repi^efentation  of  sny  (late,  the 
executive  authority  thereof,  (hall  iifue  writs  of  eleftion  to  fill 
fuch  vacancies. 

The  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives  (hall  choofe  their  Speaker  and 
£>ther  officers  ;  and  (hall  have  the  fole  power  of  impeachment. 

Sect.  III.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  (hall  be  compofed 
of  two  (enators  from  each  flate,  chofen  by  the  legiflature  thereof 
for  fix  years;  and  each  fenator  Qtali  have  one  vote. 

Immediately  after  they  (ball  be  afiembled,  in  confequence  of 
the  Srft  eleftion,  tliey  (halj  be  divided  as  equally  as  tnay  be  into 
threte  clalTes.  The  feats  of  the  fenators  of  the  firfl  clafs  (hall  be 
vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  fecond  year  t  of  the  fecond  clafs 
at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth  year ;  and  of  the  third  clafs  at  the 
expiration  of  the  fixth  year,  fo  that  one  third  may  be  cholen 
every  fecond  year }  and  if  vacancies  happen  by  refign^tion,  or 
Otherwife,  during  the  receis  of  the  legiflature  of  any  (late,  the  exe- 
cutive power  thereof  may  make  temporary  appointments  until 
the  next  meeting  of  the  legiflature,  which  (hall  tlicn  fill  fugh 
V*c4i»cies,  E  E   2 


SI9 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


No  perfon  (hall  be  a  fenator  who  fliall  not  have  attaiflf  d  to  the 
age  of  thirty  years,  and  been  nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United: 
States,  and  who  (hall  not,  when  elcded^  lie  w»  inhabitant  of  that 
(late  for  which  he  (hall  be  chofcn. 

The  vice-preftdent  of  the  United.  States  (hall  be  prefidcnt  of 
the  fenate,  but  (hall  have  no  vof«,  unlefs  they  be  equally  divided. 

Tbt*  fenate  (hall  choofe  their  other  olHcers,  and  alio  a  prefi'lent 
pro  temporCf  in  theabfence  of  the  vice-prefvdent,.  or  when  he  (hall 
cxercife  the  office  of  prefident.  of  t-he  United  States. 

Th^  fenate  (hall  have  the  fo\c  power  to  try  all  impeachments* 
When  iiftting  for  that  purpofe,  they  fhall  be  on  oath  or  afiirma- 
tton.  When  the  pEeftdent  of  the  United  States  is  tried  the  chief 
jufticf  fhall  prefide :  And  no  perfon  (hall  be  convi£led,  without 
the  concurrence  of  two-thirdt  of  the  members  prefent. 

Judgment  in  cafes  of  impeachment,' (hall  not  extend  further- 
than  to  removal  from  oflice,  and  difquali(ication  to  hoU  rnd  en- 
joy any  o(Hre  of  honour,  truft,  or  pro(it  under  the  United  States; 
but  the  party  convided  (hall  neverthelefs  be  liable  and  fubjc£l  to 
indi£lment,  trial^'  judgment,  «ind  puni(hment  according  to  law. 

SfiCT.  IV.  The  times,  places,  and  manner  of  holding  elec- 
tions for  fenators  and  reprelientatives,  fhall  be  fubfcribed  in  eacK. 
(bte  by  the  legiflature  thereof;  but  theCoi.g;c%r!i  mayat  any  time 
by  hw,  make  or  alter  fuch  regulations,  except  as  to.  the  places  of. 
chooftng  fenators. 

The  Congrefs  (hall  alTemble  at  leaft  once  in  every  year,  andi 
fuch  meeting  (hall  be  on  the  (irft  Monday  in  December,  unlefs^ 
they  (hall  by  law  appoint  a  different  day. 

'  Sect.  v.  Each  houfe  (hall  be  the  judge  of  the  cle^on^,, 
returns  and  qualifications  of  its  own  members,  and  a  majority  o£ 
each  (hall  conditute  a  quorum  to  do  bufinefs  ;  but  a  fmaller  num- 
ber may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorifcd  to  com-i 
pel  the  attendance  of  abfent  m^embers,  in  fuch  manner,  and  under 
fuch  penalties  as  each  houfe  may  provide. 

Each  houfe  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  punilh 
its  members  for  diforderly  behaviouf,  and,  with  the  concurrence 
of  two  thirds,  expel  a  member.  ^ 

Each  houfe  (hall  keep  a  journal  of  its>  proceedings,  and  from 
time  to  time  publilh  the  fame,  excepting  fuch  parts  as  may  in 
their  judgment  require  fecrecy;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the 
members  of  either  houfe,  on  any  queftion,  (hall  at  the  defire  of 
one  fifth  of  thofe  prefent,  be  entered  on  the  journal. 

Neither  houfe,  during  the  feilioti  of  Congrefs,  (hall,  without 
the  confent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor 
to  any  o^hcr  place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houfcs  (hall  be 
fitting. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


•#9 


iSccT.  VI.  The  Senators  and  Reprcfentntivcs  flisHl  receive  a 
compenlation  for  their  Services,  to  be  afccrtained  by  law,  and 
paid  out  of  the  trcal'ury  of  the  United  States.  They  fliall,  in  all 
call'*,  except  treaibn,  folony,  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privi- 
Icdgcd"  from  arrell  during  their  attendance  at  the  lieflion  of  their 
rcipc^livc  houti:«,  and  in  going  to  and  returning  from  the  fame ; 
and  for  any  fpeech  or  debate  in  either  houfe,  they  (hall  not  be 
<]uc{li(>ncd  in  any  other  place. 

No  fcnator  or  reprefcntative  (hall  during  the  time  for  which  he 
was  defied,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  oHice  under  the  authority 
of  the  United  States,  which  fhall  have  been  created,  or  the  emo- 
luments whereof  fliall  have  been  increafed  during  fuch  time;  and 
no  pcrlon  holding  any  o(Hce  under  the  United  States,  fhall  be  a 
member  of  either  Houfe  during  his  continuance  in  office. 

Sect.  vii.  All  bills  for  raifing  revenue  (hall  originate  in  the 
Houfe  of  Reprclcntatives ;  but  the  Senate  may  propofe  or  con- 
cur with  amendments,  as  on  other  bills. 

Every  bill  which  (hall  have  paffcd  the  Houfe  of  Reprefenta- 
tives  and  the  Senate,  (hall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  prefented 
to  the  Pre^dent  of  the  United  States ;  if  he  approve,  he  fhall  fign 
it,  but  if  no^^  he  (hall  return  it,  with  his  objeflions,  to  that  houfe 
in  which  it  originated,  who  (hall  enter  the  objcd:ions  at  large  on 
their  journal,  and  proceed  t6  re-confider  it.  If,  after  fuch  re. 
fronfideration,  two  thirds  of  that  houfe  (hall  agree  to-pafs  the  bill, 
it  (hall  be  fent,  together  with  the  objeflions,  to  the  other  houfe, 
by  which  it  (hall  likewife  be  re-confidered,  and  if  approved  by 
two  thirds  of  thai  houfe,  it  (hall  become  a  law.  But  in  all  fuch 
cafes  the  votes  of  both  houfes  fhall  be  determined  by  yeas  and 
nays,  and  the  names  of  the  perfpns  voting  for  and  againd  the  bill 
(hall  be  entered  on  the  journal  of  each  houfe  refpeftivciy.  If 
any  bill  fhall  not  be  returned  by  the  Prefident  within  ten  days, 
Sundays  excepted,  after  it  (hall  have  been  prefented  to  him,  the 
fame  (hall  be  a  law,  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  figned  it,  unlefs 
the  Congrefs,  by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its  return,  in  v/hich 
cafe  it  (hall  not  be  a  law. 

Every  order,  refolution,  or  vote,  to  which  the  concurrence  of 
the  Senate  and  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives  may  be  neceflTary  (except 
6n  a  queilion  of  adjournment)  (hall  be  prefented  to  the  Prefident 
of  the  United  States ;  and  before  the  fame  fhall  take  cfFeft,  fhall 
be  approved  by  him,  or,  being  difapproved  by  him,  (haP  be  re- 
paflTed  by  two  thirds  of  the  Senate  and  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives, 
according  to  the  rules  and  Hmitatioi)s  prefcribcd  in  the  cafe  of 
a  bill. 


•M 


GENERAL  DEStRIPTION 


Ssct.  VIII.     The  Congrefs  (hall  have  povfer, 

To  lay  and  coUcA  taxes,  duties,  impofts,  and  excifes ;  to  puy 
the  debts  and  provide  for  the  common  defence  and  general  wel- 
fane  of  the  United  States ;  bat  all  duties,  impoft,  and  excifet  (hall 
be  uniform  throughout  the  United  States ; 

To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States ; 

To  reguhtt  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the  fe- 
veral  States,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes ; 

To  eftablifh  an  uniform  rub  of  naturalisation,  and  uniform 
laws  wn  the  fubjcft  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  United  States ; 

To  coin  money,  regulate  the  v^e  thereof,  and  of  foreign  coin, 
tnd  fix  the  ftandard  of  weights  and  meafures ; 

To  provide  for  the  puniiHment  of  counterfeitlag  the  fecuritiei 
and  current  eoin  of  the  United  States ; 

To  eftablilh  pod  offices  and  poft  roads } 

To  promote  the  progrefs  of  fcience  and  ufeful  arts,  by  iecuring 
for  limited  times,  to  authors  and  inventors,  the  excktfive  right  to 
Cheir  reljpeAive  writings  and  difcoveries ; 

To  conflitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  fupreme  court ; 

To  define  and  punifh  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  tho 
high  feas,  and  oitences  againft  the  law  of  nations ; 

To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and  rt^rifal,  and  make 
rules  con^cerntng  captures  on  land  and  water ; 

To  raife  and  fupport  armies,  but  no  appropriation  of  ihoney  ta 
that  ufc  fhall  be  for  a  longer  term  than  iwo  years } 

To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy  ; 

To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  tif  the  land 
and  naval  forces ; 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws  of 
the  union,  fupprefs  infurre^lions,  and  repel  invadon^^ 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  difciplining  the  militia, 
and  for  governing  fuch  part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the 
feirvicc  of  the  United  States,  rfcferving  to  the  States  ref);>eftivtly, 
the  appointment  of  the  officers,  and  the  authority  of  training  the 
militia  according  to  the  difcipline  prefcribed  by  Congrefs  ; 

To  exercifc  exclufivc  Icgiflatioi  in  all  cafes  whatfoever,  over 
filch  diftrift,  not  exceeding  ten  miles  square, as  rtiay  by  ceflTionof 
particular  States,  and  the  acceptance  of  Congrtefs,  become  the 
ieat  of  government  of.  the  United  States  ;  and  to  exercife  like 
authority  over  all  places  purchafed  by  the  confertt  of  the  legifla- 
ture  of  the  State  in  which  the  fame  fliall  be,  for  the  ereftion  of 
forts,  magazines,  arfenals,  dock-yards,  and  other  needful  build- 
ings : — And  '  , 


>""' 

,^^ 


0F  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


sii 


To  make  all  laws'  which  (h«ll  be  neccflary  and  proper  for  car- 
rying into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  powers 
vedcd  by  this  conftitution  in  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  or  in  any  department  or  nfficer  thereof. 

Sect.  ix.  The  migration  or  importation  of  fuch  perfons,  as 
any  of  the  States  now  exifting  (hall  think  proper  to  admit,  (hall 
not  beproh.bitcd  by  the  Congrefs prior  to  the  year  one  thoufand 
eight  hundred  and  eight,  but  a  (ax  or  duty  may  be  impol'ed  on 
fuch  importation,  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  each  pcrfon. 

The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  (hall  not  be  fufpend- 
«d,  unlefs  when,  in  cafes  of  rebellion  or  invafion,  the  public 
i'afety  may  rccjuire  it. 

No  bill  of  attainder  or  ex  poft  fa£io  law  (hall  be  palTed. 

No  capitation,  or  other  direft  tax,  (hall  be  laid,  unlefs  iu 
proportion  to  the  ccnfus,  or  enumeration,  herein  before  dire£ied 
to  be  taken. 

No  tax  or  duty  (hall  be  laid  on  articles  exported  from  any 
State. — No  preference  (hall  be  given  by  any  regulation  of  com< 
mcrce  or  revenue  to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  thofe  of  another : 
nor  (hall  ve(fcls  bound  to  or  from  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter» 
clear,  or  pay  duties  in  another. 

No  money  (hall  be  drawn  from  the  treafury,  but  in  confequcnce 
of  appropriations  mad<^  by  law ;  and  a  regular  flatcmcnt  and  ac- 
count of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  all  public  money  (hall 
be  pubU(hed  from  time  to  time. 

No  title  of  nobility  (hall  be  granted  by  the  United  States. — 
And  no  perfon  holding  any  o(Ece  of  profit  or  truft  under  them, 
(hall,  without  the  confent  of  Congrefs,  accept  of  any  prel'ent, 
emolument,  ofHcCy  or  title  of  any  kind  whatever,  from  any  king, 
prince,  or  foreign  (late. 

SxcT.  X.  No  fbte  (hall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or 
confederatioiri  •,  grant  letters  of  nnrque  and  reprifal ;  coin  money  ; 
emit  bills  Qf  credit ;  make  any  thing  but  gold  and  filver  coin  a 
Under  in  payment  of  debts ;  pafs  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  poft 
faflo  law,  or  law  imparing  the  obligation  of  contrails,  or  grant 
9ny  ti^  of  nobility. 

No  State  (hall,  without  the  confent  of  the  Congrefs,  lay  any 
ajnpofts  or  duties  on  imports  o»  exports,  except  what  may  be  ab- 
folutely  neceflfary  for  executing  its  infpeftion  laws ;  and  the  net 
produce  of  all  duties  and  impofts,  laid  by  any  State  on  imports 
or  exports,  (hall  be  for  the  ufe  of  the  Treafury  of  the  United 
States  ;  and  all  fuch  laws  (hall  be  fubje^  to  the  revifion  and  con- 
troul  of  the  Congre(s.  No  Sute  (hall,  wrihout  the  confent  of 
Congrefs,  lay  any  duty  of  toniuge,  keep  troops,  or  (hips  of  war, 
in    tiBie  of  peace,  enter  into  any  engagement  or  compa£l  with 


i ;  i 


ti6 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


another  State,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or  engage  in  war,  unlci9 
aftually  invaded,  or  in  fuch  imrtiincnt  danger  as  will  not  admit  of 
delay.  '       .        " 

ARTICLE    JI. 
Sect.   i.     Tlie executive  power  fhall  be  vetted  in  a  Prefident 
of  the  United  States  of  An^crica.     He  (hall  hold  his  office  during 
the  term  of  four  years,  a<id|  together   with  the   Vitc-Prcfidcnt, 
chofen  for  the  fame  term,  be.ele£led  as  follows  :  .^ 

Each  State  fhall  appoint,  in  fuch  manner  a^  the  fegiflature 
thereof  may  dire6l,  a  number  of  eleftors,  eqUal  to  the  whole 
number  of  fenators  and  rcprefentatives  to  which  the  State  may  be 
entitled  in  the  Congrels;  but  no  fenator  or  reprel'entative,  or  pcr- 
fon  holding  an  oflice  of  truft  or  profit  under  the  United  States, 
fhall  be  appointed  an  ele£lor. 

The  ele£lors  fhall  meet  in  their  refpe£live  States,  and  vote  by 
ballot  for  two  perfons,  of  whom  one  at  leafl  fhall  not  be  an  inha- 
bitant of  the  fame  State  with  themfelves.  And  they  fhall  make  a 
lifl  of  all  the  perfons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for 
each ;  which  lift  they  fhalt  fign,  certify  and  tranfmit,  fealed,  to 
the  feat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  dire£led  to 
the  Prefident  of  the  Senate.  The  Prefident  of  the  Senate  fhally 
in  the  prcfence  of  the  Senate  and  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  open 
all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  fhall  then  be  counted.  The 
perl'on  having  the  greatefl  number  of  votes  fhall  be  the  Prefident^ 
if  fuch  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  ele£tors  ap- 
pointed ;  and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who  have  fuch  majority 
and  have  an  equal  number  of  votes,  then-  the  Houfe  of  Repref^n. 
tatives  fhall  immediately  choofe,  by  ballot,  one  of  them  for  Prefi- 
dent ;  and  if  no  perfon  have  a  majority,  then  from  the  five  high- 
eil  on  the  lifl,  the  laid  houfe  fhall  in  like  manner  choofe  the  Pre« 
fidcnt.  But  in  choofing  the  Prefident,  the  votes  fhall  be  taken 
by  States,  the  reprefentations  from  each  State  having  one  vote  $ 
a  quorum  for  this  purpofe  fhall  confift  of  a  member  or  members 
from  two  thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  States 
fhall  be  neceffary  to  a  choice.  In  every  cafe,  after  the  choice  of 
the  Prefident,  the  perl'on  having  the  greateft  number  of  vote« 
of  the  elcftors  fliali  be  the  Vice-Prefident.  But  if  there  fhould 
remain  two  or  more  who  have  equal  votes,  the  Senate  fliall  choofe, 
from  them  by  ballot  the  Vicc-Prcfidcnt. 

The  Congrefs  may  determine  the  time  of  choofing  the  ele£):ors^ 
and  the  day  on  which  they  fhall  give  their  votes ;  which  day 
fliall  be  the  fame  throughout  the  United  States. 

No  perl'on,  except  a  natural-born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  conflitution, 
fliall  be  eligible  to  the  oflicc  of  Prefident ;  neither  fhall  any  per- 


01?  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


atf 


foti  be  eligible  to  that  office  who  ihall  not  have  attained  to  the  age 
of  thirty-'^ve  years,  and  been  fourteen  years  a  refident  wkhin  the ' 
United  States. 

In  cafe  of  the  removal  of  the  Prefident  from  .office,  or  of  hia 
death,  reiignatioil,  or  inability  to  difcharge  the  powers  and  duties 
of  the  (aid  office,  the  fame  ftiall  devolv^e  on  the  Vice-Pi<efident, 
and  the  Congrefs  may  by  law  providi  for  the  cafe  of  removal, 
death,  refignatioj^',  or  inability,  both' of  the  Prefident  and  Vice- 
Prefident,  declaring  what  officer  fhall  then-  a£l  as  Prefident,  and 
fuch  officer  fhall  a£l  accordingly,  until  the  diiability  be  removed, 
or  a  Prefident  fhall  be  ele£led. 

The  Prefident  fhall,  at  flated  times,  receive  for  his  fervices,  a 
compenfation,  which  ^alt  neither  be  increafed  or  diminifhc^ 
during  the  period  for  which  he  fhall  have  been  elc£ted,  and  he 
fliall  not  receive  within  that  period  any  pther  emolument  from^,  the 
United  States,  or  any  of  them. 

Before  he  enters  on  the  execution  of  his  office,. he  fhall  take 
the  following  oath  or  affirmation  : 

"I  do  folemnly  fwear  (or  affirm,)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute 
'i  the  office  of  Prefident  of  the  United  States,  and  will,  to  the  beft 
"  of  my  ability,  preferve,  protc£);,  and  defend  the  cohflitution  of 
"the  United  States." 

Sect.  2.  The  Prefident  fhall  be  commander  in  chief  of  the 
army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  fe- 
veral  States,  when  called  into  the  a£lual  fervice  of  the  United 
States;  he  may  require  the  opinion,  in  writingj  of  the  principal 
officer  in  each  of  the  executive  departments,  upon  any  fubje£fc 
relating  to  the  duties  of  their  refpe£live  offices,  and  he  fhall  have 
power  to  grant  reprieves  and.  pardons  for  offences  againfl  the 
United  States,  except  in  cafes  of  impeachment. 

He  fhall  have  power,  ^by  and  with  the  advice  and  confent  of 
the  Senate,  to  make, treaties,  provided  two  thirds  of  the  fenators 
prefent  concur ;  and  he  fhall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  ad- 
vice and  confent  of  the  Senate  (hall  appoint  ambaffadors,  other 
public  miniflers  and  confuls,  judges  of  the  fupreme  court,  and  all 
other  officers  of  the  United  States,  whofe  appointments  are  not  here- 
in otherwife  provided  fbr,"ahd  which  (hall  be  eflablifhed  by  law. 
But  the  Congrefs  may  by  law  veft  the  appointment  of  fuch  in-> 
ferior  officers,  as  they  think  proper,  in  the  Prefident  ^lone,  in  the 
courts  of  law,  or  in  the  heads  of  departments. 

The  prefident  fhall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  that  may 
happen  during  the  reeefs  of  the  fenate,  by  granting  commiffion* 
Which  fhall  ejcpire  at  the  end. of  their  next  feiTion. 

F  » 


MiS. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


^ECT.  3.  He;  fliall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the  Congrefs  ink 
form^ipn  qf  the  flate,  of  the  uniony  and  recommend  to  their  con- 
fideration  fuch  meafures  as  he  fliali  judge  neceflary  and  expedi-. 
ept ;  he  inf)S  '^^  vCxtraordinary  occafions,  convene  both  houfes, 
o^  either  of  them,  and  in  cafe  of  difagreement  between  them,  with 
relpeO;  t<>  the  time  of  adjouriunenk,  he  iQay  adjourn  them  to  fuch 
time  as  he  fliall  t*nm)ik  proper ;  he  (hall  receive  ambafiadors  anfl 
other  pviBItc  miqiftjers^;  ht;  fhaU  take  care  that  the  laws  be  ffiith- 
foUy  executed)  and  (ball  commiiTion  all  the  officers  of  the  United 

$tat^<. 

Sact.  4«  The  Prefident,"  Vice-Prefident,  and  all  civil  officers 
of  the  Unittrd  States^  fliall  be  rempvcd  from  oiHce  on  impeach- 
ment for^  and  convif^ion  of,  treafoR,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes 
and  mildemeanorsy 

ARTICLE  UL 

Sect.  t.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  Ihall  be 
Veiled  in  one  fupreme  court,  and  in  fuch  inferior  courts,  as  the> 
t^ongrefs  may  £rom  time  to  time  ordain  and  eftablifh.  The  judges, 
both  of  the  fupreme  and  inferior  courts,  flia!!  hold  their  offices 
during  g(>od  behaviour,  and  fhall,  at  flated  times,  receive  for  their 
fervices,  a  compenfation,  which  (hall  not  be  diminiflied  dur^ng;- 
their  continuance  in  office. 

S£Ct.  2.  The  judicial  power  ihall  extc^nd  to  all  cafes,  in  taw 
apd  equity,  a  rifmg  under  this  conflitution,  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  and  treaties  made,  or  which  fhall  be  made,  under  their  au- 
thority ;  to  all  cafes  affe&ing  ambaffadors,  other  public  miniflers, 
and  confufs ;  to  all  cafes  of  admiralty  and  maritime  jurifdifti^m  : 
to  controverfies  to  which  the  United  States  fhall  be  a  party ;  to 
controverfies  between  two  or  more  States,  between  a  State  and 
citizens  of  another  State,  between  citizens  of  different  States, 
between  citizens  of  the  fame  State  daiming  lands  under  grants 
of.  different  States,  and  between  a  State,  or  the  citizens  thereof, 
and  foreign  States,  citizens,  or  fubjefls. 

In  all  cafes  afFcding  aqibafladors,  other  .public  nunifterS)  and 
(;onfuls,  and  thofe  in  which  a  State  fhall  be  party,  the  fupreme 
cqurt  fhall  have  original  jurifdiftion.  In  all  the  other  cafe9  be- 
fore mentioned,  the  fupreme  court  fhall  have  appelate  jurifdiftion, 
both. as  to  law  and  fa£i,  with  fuch  exceptions,  and  under  fuch  re- 
gulations as  the  Congrefs  fhall  make. 

The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cafes  of  irppeachment,  fhall 
l^e  by  jury  ;  and  fuch  trial  fhall  be  held  in  the  State  where  the 
laid  crime  fhall  have  been  committed ;  but  when  not  committed 
within  any  State,  the  trial  fhall.  be  at  fuch  place  or  places  as  the 
Congrefs  may  by  law  have  direfted. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


419 


Sect.  3,  Trcafon  agamft  the  United  States  fliall  confift  only  in 
levying  war  againft'  thenx,  or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving 
them  aid  and  comfort^  No  perfon  Ihall  be  convided  of  treafon^ 
unlefs  on  the  teftimony  of  two  witnefles  to  (he  fame  overt  aft, 
or  on  confeifion  in  opeia  court. 

The  Congrcfs  (hall  have  power  to  4^1a^|^hi6  puniniment  of 
treafon,  but  no  attainder  of  treaf on  Aiall  worf  corruption  of  blood* 
-or  forfeiture,  except  during  thic  life  <i^  the  perfbn  attaiiltcd.    *    • 

ARTICLE    IV>      " 

Sect,  u  Full  faith  and  crc  t  (hall  fete  given  in  eath  State  to 
the  public  afts,  records,  audjudiciii' proceedings  of  ^ every  other 
State.  And  thte  Congrefs  may  by  general  laws  prefcribe  them^n- 
ner  in  which  fuch  a6U,  records,  J*«ld  prccecdings  fliall  he  prdi/^ed, 
and  the  eflFeft  thercbf,    . 

Sect.  2.  The  citizcri  of  each  Ikate  fhall  be  cnjtit}ed  to  41  pri- 
vileges And  immvimtiefi  of  citizens  in  the  feveral  $tates^ 

A  perfon  chained  in  any  State  with  treason,  felony,  or  Qthef 
crime,  who  (hall  flee  from  juftice,  and  be  found  in  another"St|te, 
(hall,  on  demand  of  the  executive  authority  of  the  State  fro|}i 
which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to 'the  Sjate  having 
Jurifdi£lion  of  the  crime^  ,     ,.  • 

No  perfon  held  to  fervice  pr  labour  in  one  State,  under  the 
laws  thereof,  efcaping  into  another,  (hall,  in  confequei^;^  of  .tny 
law  or  regulation  therein,  be  difcriarged  from  fuch  (eivicc  or  la* 
^our,  but  (hall  be  delivered  up  on  claim  of  the  sj^ty  ig  whoUn 
^uch  fervice  or  labour  may  be  due.  :  r;. 

Sect,  ^p  New  ^tes  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congilefs  into 
this  union,  E»u^  i)o  new  State  (hall  be  formed  or  ereded  within 
thejurifdii^tiq^of  »nx  other  Sutc;  nor  any  State  jbe  formed  by 
the  jun^ioi)  of  two  or  i^ore  States,  or  parts  of  States,  without 
the  confenlt  of  the  le^iflature;?  o^  t^p  States  conce^rned  as  wejil  as 
of  th^  Congrefs^ 

The  Congrefs  fliall  have  power  to  difpofe  of  and  make  all  nccd» 
f  ul  rules  and  regulations  refpe^ing  the  territory  or  other  property 
belonging  to  the  United  States ;  and  nothing  ip  this  conftitution 
(hall  be  fo  conftrued  as  to  prejudice  any  clainp  of  the  Uiiited 
States,  or  of  any  particular  State, 

Skct»  4.  The  United  States  (hall  guarrantce  to  every  State  in 
this  union  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  (hall  protefl 
each  of  them  againft  invafion;  and  on  application  of  the  legifla- 
ture,  or  of  the  executive,  when  the  legiflature  cannot  bo  con- 
vened, againd  domeftic  violence. 


F  2 


2  20 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


ARTICLE  V. 
The  Congrefs,  whenever  two  thirds  of  both  houfcs  fliall  deem 
it  neceflary,  fhall  propofe  amendments  to  this  conflitution,  or,  on 
the  application  of  the  legiflatures  of  two  thirds  of  the  fcveral 
States,  fhall  call  a  convention  for  propoHng  amendments,  which, 
in  either  cafe,  fhall  be  valid  to  all  intents  and  purpofes,  as  part 
of  this  conftitution,  when  ratified  by  the  legiflatures  of  three 
fourths  of  the  feveral  States,  or  by  conventions  in  three  fourths 
thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  mod6  of  ratification  may  be  pro- 
pofed  by  the  Congrefs :  provided,  that  no  amendment  which 
may  be  made  prior  to  the  year  one  thoufaild  eight  hundred  and  . 
eight,  fhall  in  any  manner  aSeEt  the  firfl  and  fourth  claufes  in  the 
ninth  fc£Uon  of  the  firfl  article  ;  and  that  no  State,  without  its 
confent,  fhall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  fuffrage  in  the  Senate. 

ARTICLE    VL 

All  del>ts  contrafted,  and  engagements  entered  into  before  the 
adoption  of  this  conflitution,  fhall  be  as  valid  againfl  the  United 
States  under  th^S  conflitution,  as  under  the  confederation. 

This  conflitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  which 
fhall  be  made  inpurliiance  thereof}  and  all  treaties  made,  or  which 
Ihall  be  made,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  fhall  be 
the  fupreme  law  of  the  land ;  and  the  judges  in  every  State  fhall 
be  bound  thereby,  ar/y  thing  in  the  conflitution  or  Iaw$  of  any 
State  to  the  contrary  notwithflai^ding. 

The  Senators 'and  Reprefentatives  before  mentioned,  and  the 
Members  of  the  feveral  State  Legiflatures,  and  all  Executive  and 
Judicial  OfHcers,  both  of  the  United  States  apd  pf  the  feveral 
States,  fhall  be  bound  by  oath  or  affirmation  to  fupport  this  con-, 
flitution  ;  but  no  religious  tefl  fhall  ever  be  required  as  a  qua^^ 
fication  to  any  office  or  public  trufl  uiyier  the  United  States,     , 

ARTICLE    Vn. 
The  ratification  of  the  conyentions  of  nine  States  fhall  be  jfuf- 
ficient  for  the  eflabUfhment  of  this  conflitution,  between  the  States 
fo  ratifying  the  fame. 

DONE  in  ConveTition,  by  the  unanimous  confent  of  the  States  prejeatt  the 
feveiUeenth  day  of  SeptemheTt  in  the  year  jof  our  Lord  One  thoufand  Se- 
ven Hundred  and  Eighty  f even,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  jJmerica  the  Twelfth.     In  Witneft  thereof  v/e  have  here- 
unto fuiferihed  our  names- 

GEORGE  WASHIl^GTON,  Prejdent. 
Signed  aJfo  hy  all  the  Delegates  which  were prefent  from  twelve  States, 

Atteft,  WILLIAM  JACKSON,  Secretary, 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  aai 

In  CONVENTION,   Monday,  September  17,    1787. 

PRESENT, 

Xhe  States  of  Ntno-Ham^tre,  Majfachujettt^  ContuBicutt  Mr.  Hamlltom 
from  New-Torky  Netv-Jerfey,   Penn/ylvania,  Delaware,  Marylandt 
yirg'mia.  North  Carolina,  South  Cardinal  and  Georgia.         -^ 
Resolved,  The  the  preceding  conftitutioh  be  laid  before  the 
United  States  in  Corigrefs  affembled,  and  that  it  is  the  opinion  of 
this  Convention,  that  it  fhodld  afterwards  be  fubmitted  to  a  Con. 
vention  uf  Delegates,  chol'en  in  each  State  by  the  people  thereof j 
under  the  recommendation  of  its  legiflature,  for  their  affent  and 
ratification  ;  and  that  each  Convention  aflfenting  to,  and  ratifying 
the  fame,  ihould  give  notice  thereof  to  the  United  States,  in, 
Congrcfs  aflembled. 

Rssoi.VEiy,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Convention,  that  as 
foon  as  the  conventions  of  nine  States  Ihall  have  ratified  this  con- 
(litution,  the  United  States  in  Congrifs  afTembled  fhould  fix  a  day 
on  which  eIc£^ors  fhould  be  appointed  by  the  States  which  fhall 
have  ratified  the  lame,  and  a  day  on  which  the  eleflors  (hould 
afTemble  to  vote  fot-  the  Prefldent,    and  the  time  and  place  for 
commencing  ^proceedings  under    this  Conflitution.      That  after 
fuch  publication,  the  ele^burs  fhould  be  appointed,  and  the  fena- 
tors  and  reprefentativcs  ele£led  ;  that  the  eleflors  fhould  meet  on 
the  day  fixed  for  the  eleftion  pf  the  prefident,  and  fhould  tranf> 
mit  their  votes  certified,  figned,  fealed,  and  directed,  as  the  con> 
ftitiition  requires,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  United  States  in  Con- 
grefs  affembled  ;  that  the  fenators  and  reprefentativcs  fhould  cOn> 
vene  at  the  time  and  place  afTigned ;  that  the  fenators  fhould  ap- 
point a  prefident  of  the  fenate,  for  the  fole  purpofe  of  receiving, 
opening,  and  counting  the  votes  for  prefident ;  and  that  after  he 
IhaU  be  chof'cfh,  the  Congrefs,  together  with  the  prefident,  fhould, 
withouX  delay,  proceed  to  execute  this  conflitution. 
By  the  unanimous  order  of  the  Convention, 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON,   Prefident 
WILLIAM  JACKSOl^,  Secvetary, 


In  CONVENTION,  SeptemSer  17,  1787. 


I  R. 


WE  have  now  the  honour  to  fubmit  to  the  confideration  of  the 
United  States  in  Congrefs  afTembled,  that  conflitution  which  has 
appeared  to  us  the  mofl  advifeablc. 

The  friends  of  our  country  have  long  feen  and  defired,  that  the 
power  of  making  war,  peace,  and  treaties,  that  of  levying  money 
and  regulating  commerce,  and  the  correfpondent  executive  and 
judicial  authorities,  fhould  be  fully  and  efFeftually  vefled  in  the 


■«*' 


a«4 


GENERAL  DESCRIFTIOtf 


general  government  of  the  union ;  but  the  impropriety  of  delegate 
ing  fuch  extenfive  truft  to  one  body  of  men  is  evident.  Hence 
rdults  the  ncceflUy  of  »  different  organiution. 

It  is  obvioiifly  impraJ9;tcabie,  in  the  fcjdeiraji  government  of  tl^fe 
Stated,  to  fecure  ,aU  rig|its  of  independent  (bvereigrity  to  each,  intf' 
yet  provide  fonr  the  intereft  an4  laiTcty  of  all.  Individuals  enter- 
ing into  fociety  muft  give  up  a  fhare  of  liberty  tQ  prftferve  the  rei^ 
The  magnitude  of  the  facrilice  muft  depend  as  well  on  fituation 
tind  circumftances,  as  on  t}ie  objeift  to  be  attained.  It  is  at  all  times 
difficult  10 ^aw  with  precilion  the  live  between  thdk  rights  which 
niuft  '^B  furrendered,  and  thofe  wl^ch  may  be  rtfer^^ed  ;  and  on 
4heprifent  occafioa.this  difiiculty  was  iocrvuife^  by  m  dii(^renc6 
among  Ihe  fevcr^  States  as  to  their  lituitiop,  ^x|ent,  habits,  »i)4 
parttc|ilar  intere**!.,  > 

In  all  our  deiiberatiofis  on  this  rubje^  wie  lej^t  (le^dily  ih  bv^ 
view,  that  whicit  apptars  to  us  the  ptHiS.  iti:t6f  eft  of  every  tm* 
Atnerican,  the  toAlbli<ktiOtt  of  GUI'  unibn,  ih  whith  is  invc|v«| 
»«ir  prdfperity,  fdidty,  fafety,  periiaps  our  national  exiftente, 
iliis  impoitaltit  cttnfideratioti,  ferioufty  and  diser>ly  tmprrifed  on 
6uir  mihds,  led  each  Stale  in  the  convention  to  bte  lefs  rij^d  ini 
points  of  inferior  magnitude,  thah  might  have  been  dtheiwi^ 
cxpe^ed ;  and  thus  the  conftltution,  which  we  now  prieferit,  ife 
llic  rifutt  df  a  fpirit  of  amity/ and  of  that  mutuftf  dfclerence  atiA 
contfeifion  which  the  peculiarity  of  our  political  fituation  rem 
dteted  indifjpenftble. 

Thit  it  will  meet  the  futl  and  entire  ipj^robation  of  ev«ry  Slac^ 
ik  hot  pei'haps  to  be  expelled :  but  each  will  doubtlefe  cbnfiie^t 
t^iitt  had  her  interefts  \ctn  alone  confulted,  the  confe(|nenccil 
might  have  been  patticulafly  difagreeible  bt  injurious  to'oth«rs: 
that  it  is  liable  to  as  few  exceptions  as  cottld  reaf6nab|y  hav«  l^n 
«xpc£fced,  we  hope  and  believe :  that  it  may  promote  the  laftin| 
welfare  of  that  country  fodear  to  us  all,  and  fecurt  her  fril^d^ 
3nd  happinefs,  which  is  out  moft  ardent  wi(h. 

With  grett  refp©^  we  have  the  hohour  to  be,  3ir,  your  J^JCf 
cellency's  mdft  bbeditnt,  and  humble  fervknts, 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Pr£/f<fei^, 

By  tmanimoms  order  of  tie  CwvettttMi* 
His  £xcdlency  the  Prefident  of  the  CongreiSk    - 

The  conventions  of  a  number  of  the  States,  having  at  the 
time  of  their  adopting  the  conftitution  exprefled  a  defire,  in  order 
to  prevent  mifconftruElion  or  abufe  of  its  powers,  that  further 
declaratory  and  feftriaiive  ClaUfes  (hould  be  addfed :  and  as  ex- 
tending the  ground  of  public  confidehc^in  the  government  inrill 
beft  enfutft  the  benftficeht  ends  of  its  inftitution,  it  was 


^TTHE  UNITEiy  STATES, 


•n 


Rif  6&VBD  by  the  Sfenate  and  Moufe  of  Rcpreftntatives  of  the 
United  ^tet  of  America  in  eongrefli  aflbmbled^  two-thieds  of 
both  hcMfe*  <!Oncurring,  That  the  foUowing -  article*  be  propofe^ 
to  A51  togiQaturM  of  the  foveral  Stattt}  a*  amenAaents  to  the 
cxmflfitution  o^  ^  United  States,  all  or  any  of  which  articles, 
whetJhlnMed'^r  t^ewfbnrths  of  the  fitid  kgiitatures,.  to  b^  valid: 
to  all  iiBtenife  i»f  fuii|^dQrs,4s  part,  of  the  laid  conftitution :  viz. 

A«.iv  JU  AltRP  thO'&cftitiUMBeiratiQa/vequired  by  the  firft  article 
«f<  the  copftit^tion^  ilMCic  ih«U  be  one  repr^entetive  for  every  ' 
thirty  thgwfai^,  until  thtt  nmnber  IhaU  amount  to.  one-  .uittdf«4 
a^rwh|fill^i>l(i||f^ipR9tifmoiM  fay  Congnli^  tHlat 

there  fl^aU  be  notleff  ^n  one.  hundred ^n^Mkiitivea^  nor  lels. 
iitm  imtt  nfm^«m\ijf*-  5*  vweyr  <bity  thou&nd.perAihv  until 
the  nundtei^aff  iifNrdinritetittesifflMUiMnOimitat two* hundred^  after 
futhidk  thepmpoitaoiiflHill  be  fotmgalatedfb^.Congrefs,  that  there 
nudl  netbe  le&  then  two  hundt«d  reptefentativM^  nor  more  than 
one  teprefentative  for  every  fifty^thouiand  pcrfons.  - 

Art.  II.  No  law  varying  the  compenfittion  for  the  fervices  of 
the  fenators  and  reprefentatives  fllalt  take  effeft,  until  an  eicfiion 
of  reprefentatives  fliall  have  intervened.  '     ^ 

Art.  IHv  Congrefs  fhall  make  no  law  rel^e^ng  an  eftablifli- 
ment  bf  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  Aree  exercille  thereof ;.  or 
abridging  the  freedom  of  Ijpeech,  or  of  the  preift ;  Or  the  right  of 
pei^le  peacei^ly  to  aflemble,  and  to  petition  the  goveminent  for 
a  redreis  of  grievances. 

Akt.  IV.  A  well-r6guhrted'  militia  King  necefiary  to  the  fecu- 
rtty  of  a  free  ftate,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  beai^  arms 
{hi^.n0t.be  infringed.  ^ 

Ak^,  V.  No  foldier  fhall  in  time  of  pbace  be  quartered  in  afiy, 
houfe  without  theconfent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of,  war,  but 
iQ.ft^manner  to  be  preicribed.by  law. 

Altx*  VI.  The  right,  of  ^e  people  to  be  fceure  in  their  perfons, 
bpi^ftn,  papers,. and ,e|Fe^  a^inft  unreafonable  fearches  and  feizr 
i^rttf,  Iball  not.be  violated,  and  no.  warrants  ihall  iffue,  but  upon 
probable  caufe,  fupported  by  Oath  or  affirmation,  and  particiolarly 
dip^cribu^ig  th«  place  to  be  fearched,  and  the  perfons  or  things  to 
bef^zed^ 

Ait,  VII.  No  perfpn  fhaU  be  held  to  anfwcr  for  a  capital,  or 
dtherwife  itiCiiiKms  crime,  unleft  on  a  prefftntmentor  indi3;ment 
of rgrand'jury,  eMsepttin  cafesariftng  in  the  land  or  naval  forces, 
or'in  the  nttlitia  wheik  in  iSiial'  fefvice,  in  time  of  war  or  public 
danger ;  nor  fhall  WooMpcUed  in  any  criminal  cafe  to  be  a  wit* 
iiafaJgaittft'himfelf^  nbrbede{>rivedof  life,  liberty,  or  property, 
w«||bm)t  dne;rprocefa«ffiUwv;  nor  fhall  private  property  be^  taken 
fat:p«l4tc:iif*'  -whfa«ntrjufi<C9alfttnfation; 


aa4 


GEN.KRAL  DESCRIPTION 


Art.  Vm.  In  all  criminal  profecutbns  the  accufed  flii^  enjoy 
the  right  to  a  fpcedy  and  public  trial,  by  ^  impartial  Jury  of  the 
Sute  and  dtflrift  wherein  the  crime  iha|l.  have  b«H|  eommttt^df 
which  diftria  Otall  h^ve  been  previouOy  iiftefteiiw^  ^r.  W».  and 
tb  be  informed  of  the  Mature  and  caatfe  of  the  yrripTOp.,! .  t<(f'  be . 
'  -  confronted  with  the  wiH^ires  againll  him ;  ^lMMpi»iW 
proceis  for  obuining  witiieflea  in  lita,fay^^(,  aoitt^  ^jp^^.«£* 
nftance  in  counfel  for  his  defence.  -'   *     •  .v  * 

Aav.  IX.    |n  fi|it8VcommoriIavr,)i4i[hw^^ 
J  ve>fy  (hall  exceed  twienty  dollars,  the  x\f^  '\>f  trial  by  jury  <  fliatt 
tiiffpfdbrvedk  and  no  fift^  tried  b^  a  jury,  (hall' be  ^ei^fe  ft- 
es^iiSlldin  «ny  court  of  the  United  Sca^  |Ai*tt  ^|;ftMii^(  t^  the 

,       A»i^^   Ex^fiive^baa  Oiall  ttoCi  b^  slM[i«lMl  iior  i^xceiW 

fines  im^ofed,,nor  crueland  unuAial  i^ntatmetttfiiifliiGbd.        ^ 

Aar.  XI.  The  etMomeratioii  in  th^  i6oa^tution^t^«f  eertaiii 

rights,  ihall  not  be  conftrued  to  deny  or4ifpatage  otheit  retained 

bji^ie  people.  ^ 

>|LiiT.  Xll,    The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by 

-  ^e  conftitufi^n,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are  referved 
to  the  States  refpe£):ively,  or  to  the  people. 

iThe  following  States  have  ratified  all  the  foregoing  articles  of 
amendment  to  the  conftitutton  of  the  United  States,  vi^.  Majry-  . 
land,  North  >  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  NewrYork,  Virginii|^  and 
Vertnont.  N<Jw  Hampfliire,  New  Jerfey,  and  Pennfylyania  rejed: 
tlitjecond  article  f  and  Delaware  rejefts  the  firft  article.  No 
official  returns,  to  our  knowledge,  have  been  made  from  the 
other  States.  '-■■', 

Against  this  cbnftitutibn,  thus  ratified,  organized  and  efta- 
bliihed,  objeftions  may  no  doubt  be  urged,  and  defefts  pointed 
out ;  it  may  be  faid  that  it  contains  no  declaration  of  rights,  and 
that  the  laws  of  the  general  government  being  paramount  to  the 
laws  and  conftitutions  of  the  feveral  States,  the  declarations  of 
rights  in  the  feveral  flat^  conftitutions  are  no  fecurity-<H)or  aire 
the  people  fecu^ed  everi  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  benefits  of  the 
common  law,  ^ 

Owing  to  the  fmall  number^  members  in  the  houfe  of  repre- 
fontatives,  there  is  not  the>  fubftance,  but  the  fhadow  only  p£  re- 
prefenlation,  which  can  never  produce  proper  information  in  the, 
legiflature,  or  infpir^  confidence  in  the  people>^hc  taws  will 
therefore  be  generally  made  by  men  little  concerned  itij  and  un.* 
acquainted  with,  their  efiFefts  and  confequencea. 

The  Senate  have  the  power  of  altering  all  money  bills,  and  of 
originating  appropriations  of  money,  although  they  are  not  the  im> 
mediate  reprefentatives  of  the  people,  or  amenable  to  them,  thefe 


Oi'tiit  UNITED  StATSS. 


uafg: 


fend  tHeIr  other  gr^at  powers,  viz.  their  power  ^n  the  appoint- 
ment of  AnlA!EM^rit!|ind  all  puhlic  ofRcers,  in  making  treaftet, 

and  trying!;^  j^^  thetr  influence  upoMi  and  eonneC' 

■iiCTi:;,withf'f||j||PJi||||^  '  From  thefo 'circumftances, 

thdr:4t||]yiHflH|^^^i^^gsf»>li|&ig~'«  conftant'exifting  'body* 

il^ir  being  one  cfjn|qpleto  ' 
>lny  and  every  balaudt  in 
^^Ifjgil^j^p^^^^ggillpiffB^tflkdiiniHiilh  what  u(urpatioa 

libi^l0#bft)iep^ple.        ' 

ii  to  conftruaed  alii  tXf^ 

fudieiarifi  of  the  ^llirlral 

ttricati,  ^ilM^««|^«!pyd 

i^  JW^W'liiiMBiii^Wlltl^fe  by 't 'great  part''(>ft'i|>:«io|itMi-i 

ilchy  ^%i^re(S'  the-  po«rf*5'*'- ' 
fdeA^1»l;thib;0i^<d  Sci^^'lAl  ndeonftitutfonal  1^ 
;x^X-^^d^  utkticftm  ir^fWk  at^d  regiltaif  Oijverr«went*-h« 
lyitl  ^ivfore  be  uilifo{^p«^M  by  proper  infonnation>«li(^  advice^ 
a|dr  will  generally^  be  SreSkcd  by  minions  and  favourite*,  ^he 
Win  bedfiinte  a  tool  to  the  Senate ;  or  a  Counc^  of  State  ^irill  f^jfW 
out  Qfi>l|N|t'  principal  officers  of  the  great  departmrats,  the  wdrfl 
and  mftft' dangerous  of  all  ingredients  for  mcli  a  Council  in  a 
Ittc  country ;  for  they  may  be  induced  to  join  in  any  dangeWilii. 
«|^^reflive  meafUres  to  ihelter  themfclvci^and  prcA^ent  an  in- 
||iif|  uitb  thdf  own  mifbondua  in  offcei  ||||^t,  had  a  con- 
ftitutional  Council  been  formed,  as'%^'  C<ud  to  have  been  bro- 
pofed,  of  fix  Members,  viz.  two  from'i^e  Eaftern,  two  fn^^e 
.Middle,  and  two  from  the  Southerir'  Stateis,  to  be  appointed  by 
V'pf  of  the  Stlltes  in  the  Hoiife  of  ReprcfentatiVe^. with  the 
lame  ^uration'and  rotation  of  office  as  the  Senate,  the  executive 
would  alwiya  have  had  fafe  and  proper  information  and  advice ; 
the  Prefident  of  fuch  a  Council  might  have  aded  as  Vice  Prcfi- 
dent  of  the  United  States,  pro  tempore^  upon  any  vaeant^  or  difa- 
bility  of  the  Chief  Magiftrate, -and  the  long'-continued^ffions  of 
the  Stinate  would  in  a  great  meafure,  have  been  prevented.  From 
this  fatal  defea  of  a  conflitutional  Council,  has  Irifen  the  impro- 
per power  of  the.  Senate  in  the  appointmen^t  of  puijilic  officers, 
and  the  alarming  dependence  ahd^onnedioi^  j^iwcien  that  hramh. 
of  the  legtftature  and ihc  exttcutfVe,  Hence  alfo  fprung;  that  ijn- 
neceffary  and  dangerous  office  of  the  Vice  Prefident,  who,  ior 
Vanl  of  other  emptoyment,  is  made  Prefident  of  the  Senate, 
thereby  dahgeroufly  blending  the  legiflative  and  executive  pow* 
ers;  befides  always  giving  to  fome  one  of  the  States  an  unnecef- 
fary  and  unjuft  pre-eminenc<i  over  the  others.    . 

Go 


>«& 


OENBRAL  DE^CKlPTiON 


lttLnMMI990ilfei  Ul 


The  Prefident  of  the  United  States  has  the  unreftrained  power 
of  granting  pa|?don  for  treafons,  which  may  be  (bmetimes  exer* 
cifed  to  fcrcen  from  punifliment,  thofe  ^hom  he  had  fecretly  in- 
ftigatcd  to  commit  the  crime,  and  thereby  piwvent  the  diii^overy 
of  his  own  guilt.  ,,        *» 

%  declaring  all  treatiee  A|piremeM>|i:^»  «| 
live  and  Icnate  have,  in  many  >!oUe9|  %i^ 
tion,  which  might  have  been  ftVicdd^ 
refpefl  to  treaties,  aijd  rehiring  ||m|' 
pit filntatives,  where  it  could  be  «e  ^ 

IJIldf  r  their  «>vn  conftru£UiMi  olltlli 
olll^bfaumera^d  powers,  the  Con||e^, 
trade  ao<l!eomtnerce~—€on(Mtute  not  ,<, 

fevere  puniflunents,  and.^teiid  t^i^^H^r  4^%r  as  they  fbalt 
^hink  prppor-«-4b  th^  the  State  Legiihturet  htv«  ao  (ecurity  for 
the  p6wei«  now  pr^f^imed  to  remain  to  thi^  or  the 
their;  rights., ,       , 

There  is  no  declaration  for  preferving  the  liberty  of  thelftnefs, 
the  trial  by  yxi0  in- civil  caufes,  nor  againfl  the  danger  ^ji  fkaas^ 
ing  armies  in  itipf  of  peace. 

Wf  admit  thcfe  objeftions  in  part  to  be  juft,  and  view  them  as 
unanfwerable :  but  we  condder  them  as  dedu£ling  but  little  froni 
tlie  beauty  and  order  of  the  whole  fyllem  ;  they  may  all  be  eor- 
rc£ted  by  the  application  of  the  fame  principles  on  which  tike 
Couftitution  is  founded,  and  if  all  circumftances  are  considered 
we  0iall,  perhaps,  nther  be  aftonifbed  that  its  defers  are  fo  few 
and  of  fo  little  importance. 

.  To  form  a  good  fyftem  of  governihcnt,  for  a  fingle  city  or  ftatc, 
however  U^vitcd  as  to  territory,  or  inconfiderable  as  fb  numbers, 
has  been  thought  to  require  the  ftrongeft  efforts  of  human  genius. 
With  what  confcious  diffidence,  then,  mufl  the  members  of  the 
convention  have  revolvtd  in  their  minds,  the  immenfe  under- 
taking which  .was  before  them.  Their  views  could  not  be  con- 
fined to  a  fmall  or  a  fingle  community,  but  were  expanded  to  • 
great  number  of  ftates ;  feveral  of  which  contain  an  extent  of 
territory,  and  refources  of  population,  equal  to  thofe  of  fome  of 
the  moft  rcfpe^ble  kingdoms  on  this  ftde  of  the  Atlantic.  Nor 
were  even  thefe  the  only  objcfts  ^to  be  comprehended  within 
their  deliberations.  Numerous  ftates  yet  unformed :  Myriads  of 
the  human  race,  wlu)  will  .inhabit  regions  hitherto  uncultivated* 
were  to  be  afFeded  by  tl>e  refult  of  their  proceedings.  It  was 
oecetTiu  y,  therefore,  to  form  their  calculations,  on  a  fcale  com- 
menfuratc  to  fo  large  a  portion  of  the  globe. 

Thus  a  very  important  difficulty  arofe  from  comparing  the  ex- 
tfcnt  of  the  country  to  be  governed,  with  the  kind  of  govern- 


er  THE  UNtttD  STATES.  t^^ 

■lent  which  it  would  be  proper  to  eftabliih  in  it;  It  hat  been 
*n  opinion,  countenanced  by  high  authority,  **  that  the  natural 
property  of  i'mali  ftatet  is  to  be  governed  as  a  republic  •,  of  mid- 
ling  ones,  to  be  fubjeft  to  a  immarch ;  and  of  large  empires,  to 
^  Apr*yed  by  a  defpotic  prince  ;  and  that  the  confe4{uence  is* 
that,  in  order  to  preferve  the  principles  of  the  eilablifhed  |overn- 
^ent,  the  ftate  muft  be  fupportef^lh  the  extent  it  has  acquired  ; 
and  thit  the  fpirit  of  the  ftatC|4riU  alter  in  proportion  ts  it  ex- 
tends or  contrafts  its  limits.***^  l^his  opinion  feemsto  be  fup. 
ported  nther  than  eoti|ra|iM,  by  the  hiftory  of  the  govem- 
meots  in  the  did  w^rNt  Here  then  the  difficulty  appeare<|'ijit 
full  view.  Oa  |lili|ifi4l,  the  United  States  containing  m  tm- 
menfe  extent  4fl#rit<^r,  ibCe^tdtttg  to  the  foregoing  opinion,  a 
4erpotic  govehiinMSiH  luriia  beft  adsipted  to  that  extent.  Oil  the 
«ther  hand,  it  was  vreU  known,  thai|.  ti6wever  the  citizens  of 
the  ^nited  States  aHght,  with  pleafulv  fubmit  to  the  legtfimat^ 
rcftraints  of  a  republican  cohftitution,  they  would  rejeft  with 
indignation,  the  fetters  of  defpotifm.  What  then  was  to  be 
done?  The  idea  of  a  confederate  republic  prcfetited  itielf.  A 
kihd«v-  iconftitution  which  has  been  thought  to  have  *^  all  the 
internal  advantages  of  a  republican,  together  wijth  the  external 
,  force  of  a  monarchial  government." 

Its  deCcription  is,  *'  a  convention,  by  which  Icveral  ftates  agree 
to  become  members  of  a  larger  one,  which  th(^  intend  to  efta- 
bliih. It  i«  a  kind  of  affembliige  of  focieties,  that  conftitute  a 
nem  one^  capable  of  increafing  by  means  of  farther  aflbciationf  .'* 
The  expUnding  quality  of  fuch  a  government  it  'peculiarly  fit- 
ted for  the  United  Stateis,  the  grcateft  part  of  whofe  territory  is 
yet  uncultivated. 

But  ^t^iilc  this  form  of  government  enabled  them  to  furmount 
the  difficulty  laft  mentioned,  it  condu£led  ,  them  to  another.  U 
left  them  aflmoft  without  precedent  or  guide ;  and  eonlcquently 
without  the  benefit  of  that  inflrudion,  which,  in  many  cafes  may 
be  deidved  from  the  conftitution,  hiftory  and  experience  of  other 
nations.  Several  aifociations  have  frequently  been  called  by  the 
name  of  confederate  ftates,  which  have  not,  in  propriety  of  bn« 
guage,  deferved  it.  The  Svifs  Cantons  arc  eonne^Ud  only  by 
alliances.  The  United  Netherlands  are  indeed  an  aflemblage  of 
focieties;  but  this  alfem|>lage  coniUtutes  no  new  0n« ;  and  there. 
fo|5p,  it  does  not  correfpond  with  the  full  definition  of  a  confede- 
rate republic.  The  Germanic  body  is  compofed  of  fuch  dii'pro" 
portionate  and  difcordant  materials,  -and   its  ftru&ure  is  fo  in* 

•  Montefquleu,  b.  8.  c.  20. 
t  Moiitef(^uieu,  b.  9..  c.  *. 
Gg      8 


m8 


G£X4^4L,  DESCKtfyjON 


tric«te  ana  coq^|^ex/  th«t  little  ufcfvjl  knowledge  could  be  dnwti 
from  it.  Ancient  hiftory  difclofes,  and  barely  difclofes  to  our 
view,  fomc  confederate  republics-rihe  Achacn  leaguc--4lie  l^y- 
cian  confederacy,  and  the  Aiiip|^ionic  council.  But  f^  |aa« 
recprded  concerning  their  conftttutiona  are  fo  few  and  g^cra|, 
and  thftr  hiftorieaarefounnifirked  and  defe£live,  ikhat  no  iattifac- 
tory  information  can  be  co|le|y /rom  them,  concerning  mfwy  par- 
ticular  circumfbnccs  i  froni  «ft '(^curate  dii^ernment  and  f(>mpa«>. 
rifon  of  which  alone,  legitimatiibd  pra6Ueal  inferences  c^  be 
niade  from  onecpnftit|utioii  to|l|ltlpf^^  Befidea,  t)ie  fituatioaand 
dtfpnitons  of  thofo  confederacifli  |^"ti|  ftaie  of  fociety,  man- 
lieri»^^^  in  them,  wewf%.ii|(pp|}||o.-n.  thofe  of  the 

United  States,  that  the  moft  ci»Yf4  difli^ii»||  tt^d  have  fup- 
plied  but  a  very  fmaU  fund  of  applic«fa||  renuMrla.  Thus,  ii» 
forming  this  fyilem,  tl|C^.  were  deprived  of  many  4dvantagB% 
which  the  hiftory  and  cxpc^rience  ^otlfpr  agei  and  other  WUQ? 
tric^  would,  in  other  cafes,  have  afforde4  them,  '  j    ' 

(1  We  may  add,  in  thi»  place,  that  the  fcience  of  government  ^. 
fclf,  feequ  yet  to  bealtrioft  in  its  ftateof  infancy.    Govemifients, 
in  general,  havevbeen  the  reiult  of  force,  of  fraud,  and  of  gf^i* 
dent.     After  a  period  of  fijj;  thoufatid  years  has  elapfed,  fimie;^ 
creation,  the  United  States  exhibit  to  the  world,  the  firft  ifill|m^ 
^k  far  as  we- can  lea^^  bf  »  nation,  unattacked  by  cxter|ia|,  ^e, 
unconvulfed  by  domeftiq  itUurreaions,  affembling  voluntarilf^  d«i» 
liberating  fully,  and  deciding  ci^ly,  concerning  that  fyftem  of 
government,  under  which  they  would  wiih  that  they  and  thei^r 
poftcrity  ihouldlive^     The  ancients,  fo  enlightened  on  other  fub- 
je£U,  were  very  uninformed  with  regard  to  this.     They  lofnn 
fcarcely  to  have  had  any  idea  of  any  other  kind,  of  government^ 
than  the  three  Ample  forms,  defigned  by  the  epitluits,  monarchial, 
ariftocratical  and  democratical.     Much  and  pleafing  ingenuity  Kas 
been  exerted,  in  modem  times,  in  drawing  entertaining  p«|rallipl| 
between  feme  of  the  ancient  conftitutionsand  fome  of  t|ie  mixjed 
governments  that  have  fmce  cxifted  in  Europe,     But  on  ftri^ 
examinatidn,  xhe  anftancesof  refemblance  will  be  found  to  be  few 
and  weak  ;  to  he  fuggefted  by  the  improvements,  which,  in  fub- 
fequent  ages,  haxro  been  made  in  government,  and  not  to  be  drawn 
immediately  from'  the  ancient  conftttutiono  themfelves,  as  they 
were  intCKided  and  underftood  by  thofe  who  framed  them.     One 
thing  is  very  certain^  that  the  do6brine  of  reprefentation  injo-> 
vernment  was  altogether  unknou  to  the  ancients.     The  know, 
ledge  and  praftice  of  which,  is  cifcntial  to  evxiry  fyftem,  that  can 
poffefs  the  qualities  of  freedom,  wifdom  and  energy. 


OF  TUB  UNITED  STATES, 


••9 


Reprcfentation  is  the  chain  of  communication  between  the  peo* 
pie,  ind  thofe,  to  whom  they  have  Committed  the  exercire  of  the 
powers  of  government.  This  chain  may  conftfl  of  one  Or  more 
Unki :  -but  in  all  cafci  it  (hould  be  fulHdently  (Irong  and  dif- 

1|p  be  left  without  guide  of  precedent'  was  not  the  only  diff- 
cu%,  in  which  the  convention  wcfre  involved,  by  prbpofing  to 
their  conftituents  a  plan  of  a  codlederade  republic.  TKey  found 
themfelves  embarraflfed  with  another,  df  jpt'culiar  ddicMy'lnid  im- 
portance ;  I  mean  thsU  of  drsuvini  a  pro|>^  line  betw||B  the  na- 
tional government,  and  thl^6^ernm(Bnts  oJTthe  feverii  Wlllk  \  ti 
was  eafy  to  difcover  a  proper  and  fatisfaftory  princij^  on  the 
fubjea.  Whate^ei^  '^^A  of  $bvtt<imtnt  is  coh6iidnr||»  ome- 
l^tion  and  eltcfts  Within  <h^  bounds  of  apartieuU::'  i|tei|flliotiC^ 


^ij. 


be  confider^d  ao lielon'ging  to  the  governineht  of  thak  tpalk^^f&i^ 
everobjeft  of  governmint  ext^ncU,  iti  ita  operali(Mi  (4^litR^'^^ 
vend  the  bounds  of  a  particular  ftate,  IhOitid  Ik  d>h(i^ire(^,as  be- 
ionaing  to  the  government  of  the  Unit^^tai^S }  but  tcfMush  thia 
principle  is  found  and  fatisfaftory,  its  ap()licatioii  to -raii^ulir 
cafn  would  be  accompanied  with  i^ch  di/Hculty }  'be^aim' m  m 
application,  room  mufl:  be  allowed  for  great  difcretiolnSn^  lUlttt^ 
of  conftruftion  of  the  principle.  In  order,  to  leffi^ 
the  dimculty,  arifing  from  difcretionary  conftru6|iMi 
je^  an  enumeration  of  particulIlP  tnftancefi,  in  wlUgk 
ition  of  the  principle  ought  to  take  plaice,  has  been  att< " 
much  indudry  and  care.  It  ia  only  in  mathematical  fcUttie  that 
p  line  can  be  defcribed  with  mathematical  precifibn.  But;  iipon 
the  ftri^eft  inveftigation,  the  enumeration  will  hi  tiUmii  *9  be 
lafe  and  unexceptionable;  and  accurate  too  in  as  grei^  i  degn^ 
%»  accuracy  can  be  expe£led,  in  a  fubjeft  of  this  nature* 

After  all,  it  was  neceflary,  that,  on  a  fubjeft  fo  peculiarly  deli- 
cate as^lhis,  much  prudence,  much  candour,  much  moderation  and 
Inuc^  liberality,  (hould  be  exercifed  and  difplayed,  both  by  the 
fedeivl  government  and  by  the  governments  of  the  feveral  ftates* 
Ana  it  is  to  be  hoped,  that  thefe  virtues  will  continue  to  be  ex- 
erci^  and  difplayed,  when  we  confider,  that  the  powers  of  the 
federal  government  and  thofe  of  the  flate  govemmenta  are  drawti 
from  fOufces  equally  pure.  If  a  difference  can  be  difcovered  be» 
tween  them,  it  is  in. favor  of  the  federal  government,  becaufe  that 
gbvcimmentjs  founded  on  the  reprefi6ntation  of  the  u/hoie  vimovf} 
whereas  the  government  of  any  particular  ftate  is  founded  only 
on  the  reprefentation  of  a  part,  inconfiderable  when  compared 
with  the  whole.  It  is  not  more  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  tltat  the 
<Sounfels  of  the  whole  will  embraco  the  intpreft  of  every  par^, 


830 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


than  that  the  counfels  of  any  part  will  embrace  -the  interefts  of 
the  whole? 

Having  enumerated  fome  of  the  difiiculties,  which  the  conven> 
tion  were  obliged  to  encounter  in  the  courfe  of  their  proceedibgs, 
let  us  view  the  end,  which  they  propofed  to  accomplifli.     ? 

In  forming  this  fyftem,  it  was  proper  to  give  minute  attetllion 
to  the  intoreil  of  all  the  parts ;  but  there  was  a  duty  of  dill  ^igh» 
er  import-^to  feel  and  to  |hew  n  predominating  regard  to  the  fu. 
pcrior  interefts  of  the  whole.  If  this  great  principle  had  not 
prevaikdy  the  plan  before  us  would  dever  have  made  its  appear- 
ance. ' 

The  aim  of  the  convention,  was  to  form  a  fyftem  of  good  and 
efficient  government  on  the  more  extehfive  (bale  of  the  United 
States.  In  this,  and  in  every  other  inftance,  the  work  (hould  be 
Judji^ed  with  the  fame  fpirit,  with  which  it  was  performed.  A 
principle  of  duty  as  well  as  candour  demands  this. 

It  has  Veen  remarked,  that  civil  government  is  neceffary  to  the 
perfeftion  of  ifociety :  We  rem-rk  that  civil  liberty  i»  neceffary 
to  the  perfcftion  of  civil  government.  Civil  liberty  is  natural 
liberty  itfelf,  divefted  only  of  that  part,  which,  placed  in  thiB  go- 
vtmment,  produces  more  good  and  happinefs  to  the  community, 
than  ^!  it  h«d  roinained  In  the  individual.  Hence  it  follows,  that 
civil  liberty,  while  it  reftgns  a  part  of  natural  liberty,  retains  the 
free  and  generous  exercife  of  all  the  human  fucuUies,  fp  f^r  as  it 
is  coinpatible  with  the  public  welfare. 

In  confidering  and  developing  the  nature  and  end  of  the  fyf* 
tern  before  us,  it  is  necefTary  to  mention  another  kind  of  lib^rty^ 
which  may  be  diftinguiihed  by  the  appellation  of  federal  liberty. 
When  a  Angle  government  is  inflituted,  the  individuals,  of  which 
it  is  compofed,  furrender  to  it  a  part  of  their  natural  independ* 
cnce,  whicji  they  before  enjoyed  as  men.  When  a  confederatip 
republic  is  inflituted,  the  communities,  of  which  it  is  compofed^ 
furrender  to  it  a  part  of  their  political  independence,  Which  they 
before  enjoyed  ati  States.  The  principles,  which  diretiled,  in  the 
former  cafe,  what  part  of  the  natural  liberty  of  the  man  ought  to 
be  giv^n  up,  and  what  part  ought  to  be  retained,  will  give  Ami- 
lar  direftions  in  the  latter  cafe.  The  ftatcs  fhould  refign,  to  the 
national  government,  that  part,  and  that  part  only,  of  their  poli- 
tical liberty,  which  placed  in  that  government,  will  produce 
n^ore  good  to  the  whole,  than  if  it  had  remained  in  the  feveral 
ilates.  While  they  refign  this  part  of  their  political  liberty, 
they  retain  the  free  and  generous  exercife  of  all  their  other  facuU 
tics  as  flates,  fo  far  as  it  is  compatible  with  the  welfare  of  the  ge> 
neral  and  fuperintending  confederacy. 


Of  Tti£  ifNlTED  STATES.'  831 

Since ^ates  jks  well  as  citizens  are  reprefeiited  ir  the  conftitu- 
tion  before  us,  and  form  the  objeQs  on  which  that  conftitution  i» 
propofed  to  operate,  it  was  neceflary  to  qotice  and  dt&ne  Jederal 
as'well  as  civil  liberty. 

Vy^,«iOw  fee  the  great  end  which  they  propofed  to  acdbmpiiih. 
Itiiiip  to  frame,  for  their  con ftituents,  one  federal  and  njitioiul 
ec^Mtution — a  conftitution,  that  would  pfckdticc  tl«p  advantages 
of  good,  and  prevent  the  inconveniebccft  of  h|d  gQnremment — a 
conftitution,  whofe  beneficence  «iid  energy  Wi6u]4,|kirvadei  |th« 
whole  union  ;  and  bind  and  embrace  the  inteiefta  of  ever^^^jpaW 
—a  conftitution,  that  would  enfure  piacsa,  frQedi>||| Jpld  happii^s, 
to  the  ftates  and  people  of  America*  >  i  r  f>**' 

We  are  now  natundly  led  to  examine  the  means,  bjr  whichj^iey 
propofed  to  accamptifli  thiiend.  But  previoufly  to  ^r  entering 
upon  it,  it  will  not  be  tmph>per  to  ftate  fome  general  and  leading 
principles  of  government,  which  will  receive  particular  applica* 
tion  in  the  courfe  of  our  inveiligationf. 

There  neceffarily  exiftamwery  government,  ^r^ 
which  there  is  no  appeati;«6#-'wKieht  for  that  reafon,'  may  be 
termed  fupreme,  abfolute  and  lincontroulable.     Where  4ati  thi9 
power  refide  ?  To  this  <|uefti<»i,  iWiters  on  difierent  governnientt 
will  give  diillreiil^  aiid^ers.     Afiibrding  to  BIackftohe;^'iH%i>^ 
country,  this^tt^er  is  lodged  Itt^eBritilh  parlianfiftit^  Und  the? 
parliament  «lvy  atte^  the^liti  of  government  ;  and  its  powei' ii" 
abfolute  wititeuf  coftttoh  Hit  idea  of  a  conftitution,  limiting  and 
fitperiQtending  the  operations  of  legiflative  authority,  Teems  not 
to  hivefaeen  accurately  lixIstleV  in  this  kingdom.    There  are, 

at'liinf  no  graces  of  pra6it«i,  eottformable  to  fuch  a  principle. 

l|^^ntroul  the  power  aUd  condudldf  the  legiflaiure  fay  an 
|^<bhftitution)  l^l^implov^  the  &iehce  and 

^^ntment,  referVed  td>  the  AmetPNi  ftates. 
»,|^litican,  i^hdhaa  not  cofl|ld«£red,  with  fulficlent 
^litical  fyftetns,  would  aiifWer,  that  in  their  go- 
iijpveiAe  pon^eir  was  vefted  in  %|kh  conftitutions. 
ichesa  ftep  nearer  to  the||ibi; 'but'  does  not 
truth  is,  that,  in  the  Atnerieim  govti^rnments,  the 
ite  and  uncontroulable  ■pawisf  remains  in  tlie  people. 
^  lonft^tumt  are  fii|>eri6r  to  thehr  legiflat^yi ;  fo  the 
people'%e  fuperlor  tb  their  ccbiftitutions.  Indet^tllplbperiori. 
ty,^|^ls  laft  inilance,  is  mu^tk  greater  ;  for  thl  |il||^  poflcfs, 
ove^  fwtr  conftitutions,  conlir#l  in  aB,  as  well  aslA  right. 

The  confequence  is,  that  the  people  Qiay  change' the  cdnftitu. 
tions  whenever,  and  however  they  pleafe.  This  is  a  right,  of 
which  no  pofitive  inftitution  can  ever  deprive  them.  ' 


ij  li! 


GENERAL  bESC^tPflON 

'Thefe  important  truths,  are  far  from  being  merely  fpeculative  i 
To  their  dperation,  wfe  are  to  afcribc  the  fcene,  hitherto  unparat^ 
leled,  which  America  now  exhibits  to  the  world — a  gentlei  a* 
peaceful^  a  voluntary  ard  a  deliberate  tranlition  from  one  confti^. 
ttiition  of  government  io  another.  In  other  parts  of  the  ^lydrld, 
Ac  idet  of  rcvoiutibns  in  government  is,  by  a  mournful  an|  in- 
diflbltibte  ilSbciatidiiJi  canne£led  with. the  idea  of  wars,  and  all  the 
<!da#ittie$'atteit(iilaiit'qn  wiars.  'But  happy  experience  teaches  uft 
te^%tew  'ftttft*-r^1«stutionai  in  a*^^  different  light — to  coniider 
fliett  duly  as  |>rd^ffellivefteps  in  improving  the  knowledge  of  gO' 
vwrn^Mbftt,  atfd  ^^rdiiiag  1^  happinefs  of  fociety  and  Mankind. 

With  filent  pleafure  and  admiriktibn  we  view  the  foi^ce  and 
JH^dViilehdd,'  i$i  this  f«ittrment  throughput  tlie  Unit^  States,  that 
tiitfr  f«^^i¥efh£ 'power  refides  in  the  people;  and  that  tfaey  never  can 
|»rt  witit  it.-  It  Btcy  be  called  the  PoffOfM  in  p6Utics.  Thers 
can  <fae  ^nd' diforder  in 'the  comnmntty  but  may  here  receive  « 
radical  cure.  If  the  error  be  in  the  legillature,  it  may  be  correfted 
by  the  conftilution :  If  in  tlw  cottftitution,  it  may  be  correfUdby 
thfe  peoples  iThfere  is  a  r^ddy,  therefore,  for  every  diftemper  in 
government ,  if  the  people  are  not  wanting  to  thcmfelves.  For  » 
peopte  wanting  to  themfelves,  there  :%  no  itemedy  i  From  their 
poWdif^  there  is  no  appcali  To  their  cnt>r^Aferei»  no  fuperior 
principle  of  iborreftfon.       *  '  -P       ^  -=       .v  *;>     ,  ; 

The  leading  principle  in  politics,  and<^at  Which  ^lervades  the 
American  conftitutions,  is,  that  the  fuprene power  relldes lathe 
people;  their  conftitution  opens' wi^  a  folemnand  pcai^cal  re- 
cognition oi  this  principle,  **  WEyTKir  PEOPLE  or  «|i«  Igni- 
te n  States,  in  oi-ddr  to  form  a  more  perfe£):  untot<)  tftlpffli 
juftice,  &c.  no  QRDAIM  AKnVESTABLISH  this  eonftit^#in, 
for  the  United  States: of  Atmeric»^^  It  is  announced  fa  tl«(^^li|ne, 
it  receives  its  polltiltStlexiftc^cifft'Om  their  authority-^t^iW^^ 
andeftablilKt  Whit  is  the  neceflary  confeqtience^l 
ordain  and  eftabUfli,  have' the  power,  if  ^ey  ttl 
repeal  and  annul.- — A  proper  attention  to  thia 
tisfy  the  nrinds  of  feme;  who  contend  for  the 
Tights. 

Its  eftablifhment,  I  apprehend,'  has  more  force, 
written  on  the  fubjca^^it  renders  th|s  truth?«indc«rtitat^^tl>co- 
plc  have  a  right  to  ;&>  what  they  pleafc,  witk.i!i:g»rd  t^^ilie  gor 
vernmient.   .  -    '  .  ■■'■■|  ♦*         '  >■•  -fe^?    . 

Therefore,  feven  in  a  fuiglc  gbv«rnment,  if  the  poweaftM^the 
people  feft  on  the  fame  eftabliflunent,  as  is  cxpreffod  in  this  con- 
Hitutton,  a  bill  of  rights  is  by  no  means  a  neceffary  meafure.  In 
a  government  poffelted  of  enumerated  polwers,  luch  a  meafure 
would  be  not  only  unneceflary,  but  prepoflerous  and  dangerous : 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


*33 


>iv)ie»cerome  this  notion,  that  in  the  United  States  there  is  no  fe- 
curity  wihout  a  bill  of  rights  ?  Have  the  citizens  of  South  Carolina 
no  fecurity  for  their  liberties  ?  they  hove  no  bill  of  ngh^.  Are 
the  citizens  on  the  eaftern  Ade  of  the  Delaware  lefs  free,  or  lefs  fe- 
cured  in  their  liberties,  than  thofe  on  the  weftem  fide  ?  The 
State  of  Ncw-Jerfey  has  no  bill  of  rights^— ^The  State  of  New- 
York  has  no  bill  of  rights.— >-The  ftates  of  Connefiicut  and  Rhodo- 
Ifland  haVft  no  bill  of  rights^  I  Hnow  not  whether  I  have  exaftly 
enumerated  the  States  who  have  thought  it  unneceflary  to  add  « 
bill  of  rights  to  their  conftitutions ;  but  this  enumeration  will  ferve 
to  fhew  by  experience,  as  well  as  principle,  that  even  in  (ingle 
governments,  a  biU  of  rights  is  not  aa  eflential  or  neceflary 
meafure.— -But  in  a  government,  coniifting  of  enumerated  powers, 
fuch  as  is  adopted  by  the  Ut^i^ed  States,  a  bill  of  rights  would  not 
only  be  unneceflary,  but,  in  my  humble  judgment,  highly  impru- 
dent. In  all  focieties,  there  are  many  powers  and  rights,  which 
cannot  be  particularly  enumerated.  A  bill  of  rights  annexed  to  a 
roti  'tution,  is  an  enumeration  of  the  powers  fefcrved.  If  we  at- 
Ce.  <v  enumerati<Mi,  every  thing  that  is  not  enumerated  is  pre- 
fu  ''  .  J  be  given.  Tlie  confequence  is,  that  an  imperfeft  enu. 
mention  would  throw  aU  implied  power  into  the  fcale  of  the  go« 
vernment-;  and  the  rights  of  the  people  would  be  rendered  incom- 
plete. On  the  other  hand,  an  imperfe£l  enumeration  of  the  pow- 
ers of  gQvemment,  referves  all  implied  power  to  the  people  ;  and 
by  that  means  the  conftitution  becomes  incomplete ;  but  of  the  two^ 
it  is  much  fafer  to  run  the  ri(k  on  the  fide  of  the  conftitution  ;  for 
an  omiflion  in  the  enumeration  of  the  powers  of  government,  is 
neither  fo  dangerous  nor  important,  as  an  omiflion  in  the  enume- 
ration of  the  rights  of  the  people. 

In  this  conftitution,  (he  citizens  of  the  United  States  appear 
difpeniing  a  part  of  their  original  power,  in  what  manner  and  in 
what  proportion  they  think  fit.  They  never  part  with  the  whole  ; 
«nd  they  retain  the  right  of  re-calling  what  they  part  with.  When 
therefore,  they  poflefs  ^e  fee-fimple  of  authority,  why  fhould 
they  have  recourfe  to the^intite  and  fubordinate  remedies,  which> 
can  be  neceflkry  only  to  thofe,  who  pafs  the  fee,  and  referve  only 
afentdbaargi^     Vfe 

To  eVeiry  fuggeltion  concerning  a  bill  of  rights,  the  citizens  of 
the  Unite4  States  may  always  fay,  WE  reserve  the  richt  to 

OO  WHAT  W»  VLBASS. 

This  obfervation  naturally  leads  to  a  more  particular  confidcr. 
ation  of  the  government  before  us.  In  order  to  give  permanency, 
ftability  and  fecurity  to  any  government,  it  is  of  eflential  import- 
ance, that  its  legifl^ture  fhould  be  reflraincd ;  that  there  fliould 


'^fe; 


'ill 


>d4 


GENERAL  DESCAlPtlOM 


not  only  be^  what  wc  call  a  pafflw,  but  an  aSive  power  ovtt  it  | 
for  of  all  kinds  of  defpotifmj  this  is  the  moft  dreadful,  and  th« 
moft  dtfllcult  to  be  corrected. 

It  is  therefore  proper  to  have  efficient  reflrainis  upon  the  legif. 
lative  body<  Thefe  reftraints  arife  from  different  fburces :  In 
the  American  conftitution  they  are  produced  in  a  very  conftdcr* 
able  degree,  by  a  divifion  of  the  powef  in  the  legiflative  body  it^ 
felf.  Under  this  fyflem,  they  may  arife  likewiftf  from  the  inter, 
ference  of  thofe  officers^  who  are  introduced  into  tl)e  executive 
and  judicial  departments.  They  may  fpring  alfo  from  another 
fource ;  the  eleftion  by  the  people ;  and  finally,  under  this  confti« 
tution,  they  may  proceed  from  the  great  and  Uft  refprt— from  the 
PEOPLE  themfelves* 

In  order  to  fecure  the  preiident  ftjpm  any  dependence  upon  the 
legiflature,  as  to  his  falary,  it  is  provided^  th^t  he  (hall,  at  fUted 
times,  receive  for  his  ferviccs,  a  compenfatioo  that  fha)l  neither 
be  increafed  nor  diminifhedf  during  the  period  for  which  h«  fhall 
have  been  elefted,  and  that  he  fhall  not  receive,  within  that  pert« 
ed,  any  other  emolument  from  the  United  States,  or  any  of  them 
individually. 

To  iecure  td  the  judges  independence,  it  is  ordered  that  they 
fhall  receive  for  their  fervices,  a  compenfation  which  fhall  not  be 
diminifhed  during  their  continuance  in  office.  The  Congreis  may 
be  retrained,  by  the  ele£Uon  of  its  confUtueiit  partSu,  If  a 
legiflature  fhould  make  a  law  contrary  tp  tj^  conftitution,  or  ep'* 
,  prefEve  to  the  people,  they  have  in  it  their  power,  every  (ccon4 
year,  in  one  branch,  and  every  fixthyear  in  the  other^  to  4ifplace 
the  men,  who  ad:  thus  inconfiflent  with  their  duty ;  and  if  this  is 
not  fufficient,  they  have  flill  a  farther  power  ;  they  may<  aflume 
into  their  own  hands,  the  alteration  of  tK<t  conftitution  itfiilf-* 
they  may  revoke  the  leafc*  when  the  conditions  are  broken  by>the 
tenant. 

There  is  flill  a  further  reilraint  upon  the  legiflature—f^e  ^uali. 
fied  negative  of  the  prefident.  This  will  be  attended  with  very 
important  advantages,  fpr  the  fecurity  and  h^ppincfii  of  the  people 
of  the  United  States.  The  prefident  will  nptbe  a  ftl^aoger  to  the 
country,  to  its  laws,  or  its  wifhes.  He  will,  undes  Uut  Conftitu- 
tion, be  placed  in  ofifice  as  the  prefident  of  the  whole  vuiion,  and 
be  chofen  in  fuch  a  manner,  that  he  may  jufUy  be  ftUed  th(  ma.n 
or  THiB  People  ;  being  elefted  by  the  different  puts  of  the 
United  States,  he  will  confiderhimfelfasnot  palrticularly  interefl- 
ed  for  any  one  of  them,  but  will  watch  over  the  whole  Kjrith  pa^ 
ternal  care  and  affeftion.  This  will  be  his  natural  conduft,  to  re. 
commend  himfelf  to  thofe  who  placed  him  in  that  high  chair,  and. 
it  is  a  very  important  advantage,  that  fuch  a  man  mufl  have  every 
law.prefentiMi  to  him^  before  it  can  become  binding  upon  the 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


«35 


United  States.    He  will  have  before  him  the  fuUeft  information  of 
their  fttuation,  he  will  avail  himfelf  not  only  of  records  and  offi. 
ciaV  communications,  foreign  and  domeftic,  but  he  will  have  alfo 
the  advice  of  the  executive  officers  in  the  different  departments  of, 
the  general  government. 

If  in  confequence  of  this  information  and  advice,  he  exertife  the 
authority  given  to  him,  the  effeft  will  not  be  loft— he  returns  his 
objed:ions,  together  with  the  bill,  and  uniefs  two  thirds  of  both 
branches  of  the  legiflature  are  now  found  to  approve  it,  it  does  not 
become  a  law.  But  even  if  his  obje£lions  do  not  prevent  its  paC 
fmg  into  a  law,  they  will  not  be  ufelefs  ;  they  will  be  k<ipt  toge« 
thcr  with  the  law,  and,  in  the  acchieves  of  congrefs,  will  be  valua« 
ble  and  praftical  materials,  to  form  the  minds  of  pofterity  for  legif- 
lation— 'if  it  is  found  that  the  law  operates  inconveniently,  or  op- 
preflively,  the  people  may  difcover  in  the  prefident's  objc£lions,  the 
fourcT^of  that  inconvenience  or  oppreflion.  Further,  when  ot>je£lions 
fhall  have  been  made,  it  is  provided,  in  order  to  fecure  thegreateftde- 
gree  of  caution  and  refponfibility,  that  the  votes  of  both  houfes 
ihall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the  per* 
fons,  voting  for  and  againft  the  bill,  ihall  be  entered  in  the  jour- 
nal of  each  houfe  refpe£itively.  Thus  much  with  regard  to  the 
Conftitution  itfelf,  the  diftribution  of  the  legiflative  authority,  and 
the  reftraints  under  which'lt  is  exercifed. 

On  the  whole,  though  there  are  fome  parts  of  the  conftitution 
which  we  cannot  approve  ;  and  which,  no  doubt,  by  the  powers 
vefted  in  congrefs,  and  the  legiflatures  of  the  different  fta'tes,  for 
that  purpofe,  will  in  due  time  be  altered  or  correfled,  as  prudence 
ihall  di%te  ;  yet  there  is  much,  that  entitles  it  to  the  refpefl  of 
every  friend  to  the  freedom  and  happinefs  of  mankind  : — ^the  peo. 
pie  retain  th<S^  fupreme  power,  and  exercife  it  by  reprefentation : — 
th^  legiflative,  executive  and  judicial  powers,  are  kept  independ- 
ent and  diftin£i  from  each  other  : — the  executive  power,  is  fo  fet- 
tied  as  to  fecure  vigour  and  energy  with  actual  RESPONsini- 
LiTY,  in  the  perfon  of  the  Prefident,  who  fo  far  from  being  above 
(he  laws,  is  amenable  to  them,  in  his  private  chara£ler,  of  a  citizen. 
Tl'he  lii^e  is  drawn  with  accuracy  between  the  powers  of  the  gene, 
ral  government,  and  the  government  of  the  particular  ftiites,  fo 
that  j^o  diftru^  can  arife  to  difturb  the  harmony  of  their  union 
whi}e  the  powers  of  both  deriveq  by  representation  from 
THE  9EQPLE,  muft  effe^ually  prevent  any  difaAeemeut  or  dil'con^- 
tent  from  taKingj  plape. — rThus  a  principle  of  democracy  being 
carried  intp  eyery^  part  of  the  conftitution,  and  reprfcfentation, 
and  dire£i  taxation,  going  hand  in  hand,  the  profperity  of  the 
country  and  the  ftability  of  its  government,  will  keep  pace  with    . 
C*ch  Other,  ti  H  ^  * 


aS^ 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


We  cannot  take  leave  of  this  fubjeft,  better  than  in  the  energetic 
and  elegant  language  of  Dr.  Ramfey,  with  whofe  fentiments  we 
agree,  and  with  whofe  wifhes  We  unite. 

"  Citizens  of  the  United  States  !  you  have  a  well-balanced  con- 
ilitution  eflablifhed  by  general  confent,  which  is  an  improvement 
on  all  republican  forms  of  government  heretofore  eftabliihed.     It 
poflelTes  the  freedom  and  independence  of  a  popular  aifembly 
acquainted  with  the  wants  and  wifhes  of  the  people,  but  without 
the  capacity  of  doing  thofe  mifchiefs  which  refult  from  uncon. 
trouled  power  in  one  affembly^    The  end  and  obje£):  of  it  is  public 
good.     If  you  are  hot  happy  it  will  be  your  own  fault.     No  knave 
or  fool  can  plead  an  hereditary  right  to  fport  with  your  property 
or  your  liberties.     Your  laws  and  your  law  givers  muft  all  pro, 
ceed  from  yourfelves.     You  have  the  experience  of  nearly  fix  thou- 
fand  years,  to  point  out  the  rocks  on  which  former  republic^  have 
been  dafhed  to  pieces. '  Learn  wifdom  from  their  misfortunes* 
Cultivate  juflice  both  public  and  private.     No  government  will  or 
can   endure,  which  does  not  prote£):  the  rights  of  its  fubje£ls< 
Unlefs  fuch  efficient  regulations  are  adopted,  a$  will  fecure  pro- 
perty as  well  as  liberty,  one  revolution  will  fallow  another.     Anar- 
chy, monarchy,  or  deipotifm,  will  be  the  coni'equence.     By  juft 
laws  and  the  faithful  execvition  of  them,  public  and  privjkte  credit 
will  be  reftored,  and  the  tefloratibn  of  credit  will  be  a  mine  of 
wealth  to  this  young  country.     It  will  make  a  fund  for  agricul- 
ture, commerce,  and  manufa6lures,  which  will  foon  enable  the 
United  States  to  claim  an  exalted  rank  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth.     Such  are  the  refources  of  your  country,  and  fo  trifling  are 
your  debts,  compared  with  your  refources,  that  proper  fyftems, 
wifely  planned  and  faithfully  executed,  will  foon  fill  you;  exten- 
iive  territory  with  inhabitants,  and  give  you  the  command  of  fuch 
ample  cs^itals,  as.  will  enable  you  to  run  the  career  of  national 
greatncfs,  with  advantages  equal  to  the  oldefl  kingdoms  of  Europe, 
"What  they  have  been  flowly  growing  to,  in  the  courfe  of  near  two 
thouiand  years,  you  may  hope  to  equal  within  one  century.     If 
you  continue  under  one  government,  built  on  the  foUd  founda, 
tidns  of  public  juftice,  and  public  virtue,  there  is  no  point  of  na- 
tional  greatnefs  to  which  you  may  not  al'pire  with  a  well-founded 
hope  of  Ipeedily  attaining  it,     Cherifh  and  fupport  a  reverence 
for  government,  and  cultivate  an  union  between^ the  Eaft  and 
South,  the  Atlant^and  the  MifTiflippi,     Let  the  greatefl  good  of 
the  greatefl  number,  be  the  pole^flar  of  your  public  and  private 
deliberations.     Shun  wars,  they  beget  debt,  add  to  the  coinmon 
vices  of  mankind,  and  produce  others,  which  are  almofl  peculiar 
thcmlelves.      Agriculture,   manufa£iures,  and   Commerce,  are 


to 


your  proper  bufinels.     Seek  not  to  enlarge  your  territory  by  cm- 
queflj  it  is  already  fufficicntly  cxtenfive.     You  have  ample    fcope 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


«87 


for  the  employment  of  your  moft  tStxve  minds,Jn  promoting  your 
own  domeftic  happinefs.  Maintain  your  own  rights,  and  let  all 
others  remain  in  quiet  pofleflion  o^  theirs.  Avoid  difcord,  fadion, 
luxury,  and  the  other  vices  which  have  been  the  bane  of  com- 
monwealths. Cheriih  and  reward  the  philofophers,  the  ftatefemen> 
and  the  patriots,  who  devote  their  talents  and  time,  at  the  expence 
of  their  private  interefts,  to  the  toils  of  enlightening  and  dire£ling 
their  fellow  citizens,  and  thereby  refcue  citizens  and  rulers  of  re- 
publics from  the  covtmr'  ,  and  too  often  merited,  charge  of  ingra- 
titude. Pra£li  .ndu.  frugality,  tempei  '  n^oderation,  and 
the  whole  lovely  train  ot  republican  virtues.  Baniih  from  your 
borders  the  liquid  fire  of  the  Weft-Indies,  which,  while  it  entails 
poverty  and  dileafe,  prevents  induftry,  and  foments  private  quar- 
rels. Venerate  the  plough,  the  hoe,  and  all  the  implements  of 
agriculture.  Honour  the  men,  who  with  their  own  hands  main- 
tain their  families,  and  raife  up  children  who  are  inured  to  toil, 
and  capable  of  defending  their  country.  Reckon  the  neceflity  of 
labour  not  among  the  curfes,  but  the  bleffings  of  life.  Your  towns 
will  probably  ere  long  be  engulphed  in  luxury  and  effeminacy.  If 
your  liberties  and  future  profpe£b  depended  on  them,  yoUr  career  of 
liberty  would  probably  be  fhort ;  but  a  great  majority  of  your 
country,  muft,  and  will  be  yeomanry,  who  have  no  other  depen- 
dence than  on  Almighty  God  for  his  ufual  blefling  on  their  daily 
labour.  From  the  great  excefs  of  the  number  of  fuch  independent 
^rmers  in  thefe  States,  over  and  above  all  other  clafles  of  inha- 
bitants, the  long  continuance  of  your  liberties  may  be  reafonably 
prefumed.l*  *  ' 

"  Let  the  faaplefs  African  fleep  undifturbed  on  his  native  fhore* 
and  give  over  wilhing  for  the  extermination  of  the  ancient  pro- 
prietors of  this  land.  Univerfal  juftice  is  univerfal  interefl.  The 
moft  enlarged  happinefs  of  one  people,  by  no  means  requires  the 
degradation  or  deftruflion  of  another.  It  would  be  more  gloriou^ 
to  civilife  one  tribe  of  favages,  than  to  exterminate  or  expel  a  fcore* 
There  is  territory  enough  for  them  and  for  you.  Inftead  of  in- 
vading their  rights,  promote  their  happinefs,  and  give  them  no 
reafon  to  curfe  the  folly  of  their  fathers,  who  fuffered  your'i}  to  fit 
down  on  a  foil  which  the  common  Parent  of  us  both  had  previoufly 
afligned  to  them :  but  above  all,  be  particularly  careful  that  your 
own  defcendents  do  not  degenerate  into  favages.  Diffufe  the 
means  of  education,  and  particularly  of\religious  inftru£lion, 
through  your  remoteft  lettlements.  To  this  end,  fupport  and 
ftrengthen  the  hands  of  your  public  teachers.  Let  your  voluntary 
contributions  confute  the  difhonourable  pofition,  that  religion  can- 
not be  fupported  but  by  compulfory  eftabliihments.  Remember 
that  there  can  be  no  political  bappinclii  without  liberty ;  that  there 


»$• 


OENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


ein  bt  «kO  liberty  ml^iout  morality :  and  that  there  can  be  no  mOb 
rality  without  religion." 

"  It  i«  now  your  turn  to  figure  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  in 
the  annaU  of  the  world.  You  poiTeit  a  country  which  in  left  than 
•  century  will  probably  contain  fifty  millions  of  inhabitants.  You 
have,  with  a  great  expence  of  blood  and  treafure,  refcued  your, 
fclves  and  your  pofterity  from  the  dominion  of  Europe.  Perfe^ 
the  good  work  you  have  begun,  by  forming  fuch  arrangements  and 
inftitutions,  as  bid  fair  for  enfuring,  to  the  prefent  and  future  ge- 
nerations, the  bleflings  for  which  you  have  fuccef%fuUy  con- 
tended." 

"  May  the  Almighty  Ruler  of  the  Univerfe,  who  has  raifed  yovt 
to  independence,  and  given  you  a  place  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth,  make  the  American  Revolution  an  era  in  the  hiftory  of  the 
world,  remarkable  for  the  progefllve  increafe  of  human  hap« 
pineis !" 

Having  coniidered  the  Conftitution  in  its  theory,  it  now  remains  ' 
to  contemplate  it  as  reduced  to  pra£lice ;  or  rather  the  government 
arifing  out  of  it :  and  here  the  United  States  prefent  to  our  view, 
«  pifture  very  different,  from  any  we  behold  in  the  various  coun* 
tries  of  Europe. 

In  the  United  States  we  fee  the  people  raifed  to  their  due  im« 
portance,  reforting  to  firft  principles,  averting  their  own,  inde-i 
pendance  and  forming  a  government  for  themfelves ;  and  when 
eleven  years  experience  had  convinced  them  of  its  infufficiency  to 
fecure  the  important  ends  for  which  they  defigned  it,  we  again  be'' 
hold  them  laying  it  afide,  and  difcarding  the  contemptible  argun 
menta  that  would  render  innovation  formidable,  raifing  a  new  and 
more  perfeft  fyflem  in  its  place,  publifhijrig  it  in  their  own  name 
and  giving  it  energy  and  efFe£l,  by  their  own  willing  fubmifllon  to 
the  laws  and  regulations  it  enjoins-— >here  then  we..contemplate  the 
government  fpringing  from  its  right  fource ;  originating  with  the 
people,  and  exercifed  under  the  guidance  of  a  conftitution  formed 
agreeable  to  their  fovereign  will.  On  the  contrary,  if  we  carefully 
examine  the  Conftitutions,  or  what  are  fo  called,  in  Europe,  wO 
ihall  find  that  they  have  had  their  origin  in  governments,  prior 
formed  by  conqueft  and  ufurpation  ;  and  that  what  appearance  of 
order  they  have  afTumed,  what  portion  the  people  poifefs  in  them, 
or  what  provifion  they  make  for  the  fecurity  of  their  liberties  or 
property,  have  all  been  gradually  procured  by  the  people,  ftrug. 
gling  againft  the  feverity  and  opprelllon  of  the  feudal  fyflem* 
Such  was  the  origin  of  our  Magna  Charta,  Habeas  Corpus  A£fc,  and 
Bill  of  Rights,  and  fuch  has  been  the  origin  of  the  fmall  portion 
of  liberty,  which  the  other  European  nations  poflefs.  It  is  to 
America  we  mufl  look  for  the  firft  and  bright  example,  of  a  nation 


Of  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


«8d 


fitting  clown  in  peace,  caufing  a  defe£kive  government  to  paA  away 
without  a  groan,  and  erefting  another  in  its  ftead  more  benecfiial^ 
and  more  congenial  with  its  wi(he|* 

The  goodnefs  of  a  government,  muft  be  eftimated  by  the  (hare 
which  the  people  at  large  have  in  it,  the  benefits  they  derive  from 
it,  and  the  fmall  portion  of  individual  liberty  and  property  fur- 
rendered  for  its  fupport.  If  we  apply  this  criterion  to  the  go. 
vernment  of  the  American  empire,  we  (hall  find  that  it  has  a 
ftrong  claim  to  our  approbation,  th^  whole  of  it  may  juftly  be  con- 
fidered  as  in  the  hands  of  the  people.  Its  beneficial  influenopj 
may  be  fairly  concluded  from  the  rifing  importance,  and  rapid 
improvements  of  the  United  States  ;  and  the  fmall  portion  of  pro. 
perty  furrendered  for  its  fupport  will  appear  evident,  if  we  c<mi- 
fider  the  following  eftimates  laid  before  the  Houfe  of  Repref«nt»- 
tives,  , 

EXPENDITURE. 
Vttaateoftbe  Expen£lure  for  the  Civil  Lux  of  the  UniteJ  Stipes,  tom 
getber  with  the  Itieidental  and  Contmgent  Etcpeneet  of  the  feweral  De- 
fartmentt  and  Offices,  for  the  Tear  17940 

Presidents.  « 


For  compenfation  to  the  Prefident  of  the  United 

States  -  > 

Ditto  to  the  Vicc-Prefident 

Judges. 

Compenfation  to  the  Chief  Juftice 
Ditto,  to  five  aflbciate  Judges,  at  3,500  dollars 
per  annum  each  -  . 

Ditto,  to  the  Judges  of  the  following  diftrifts,  viz. 

Maine  - 

New  Hampfbire 

Vermont  -         '« 

Maflachufetts  -  .  . 

Rhode  Ifland  "  •  -  • 

Connecticut  -  ~. 

New  York  -  .         '      - 

Ncwjerfey  «  - 

Penn(ylvania  •  ,    , 

Delaware,  -  » 

Maryland  -         \.     -     * 

Virginia  -  . 

Kentucky  -  "      . 

North  Carolina  -  /   - 

$outh  Carolina  * 

Georgia  ... 

Attorney  General  -  -  - 


Dob.        Dels. 


25,000 
6,000 


4,000 

4,000 

>,oo« 

80Q 

1,200 

800 

1,600 
»,5<» 

XjOOO 

;,6qq 
800 

ii500 
x,8oo 
1,000 
1,500 
1,800 

1.500 


30.00^ 


43>2«o 


•4« 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


l"i: 


il|l 


\ 


ill';,:! 


MEMBIKI    or    TUB   •■NATI    AND    HOUSE    Ot    RBrRBIIKTATlVllff 

AND    THBIK    OmCERS. 

Confittfiaum  t$  ihi  Mmiert  tf  Ccnjre/s,  efiimating  tie  attenJatut  of  the 

mhohfoifjix  montit. 

Speaker  of  the  Houfe  of  R^refentatives  at  twelve 

>   dollars  per  daiy  ••  -  a)i90 

One  hundred  and  thirty-four  members,  at  fix  dol- 
lars per  day  ...  146,730 

Travelling  expences  to  and  from  the  feat  of  go- 
vernment «  -  •'  35,000 

Secretary  of  the  Senate  for  one  year's  falary  f  1,50a 

Additional    allowance   eftimated  for  fix  < 
months,  at  two  dollars  per  day  [^    365 

1,865 

Principal  clerk  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Senate,  for 

365  days,  at  three  dollars  per  day  •  1)095 ' 

Two  engrofling  clerks  to  ditto,  at  two  dollars  per  ^ 

day  each,  for  365  days  -  -  1,460 

Chaplain  to  the  Senate,  eftimated  for  fix  months, 

at  500  dols.  per  annum  -  -  350 

Door-keeper  to  the  Senate,  one  year's  fabry  500 

iVfiiftant  door-keeper,  do.  do.  -  -  450 

Clerk  to  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  one 

year's  falary  »  - 

Additional  allowance,   eftimated  for  fix 

months,  at  two  dollars  per  day 


{ 


1,500 
365 


1,865 


Principal  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the 
Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  for  365  days  at  3 
dols.  per  day  1,095 

Two  engrofling  clerks  at  two  dollars  per  day  each, 
for  365  days  -  ■  -  -  i)46o 

Chaplain  to  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  efti- 
mated for  fix  months,  at  500  dols.  per  annum  1250 

Serjeant  at  Arms  for  the  fame  time,  at  4  dols.  per  day  '  730 

Door-keeper  to  the  Houfe  of  Reprdentatives,  one 

year's  falary  -  ->  -  500 

Afliftan^  door-keeper  do.  do.  .  .  4110 


•1 85,89* 


pkfAs  VNtT^A  STArik 


»ii 


TrBASUAY    DxrARTMINT. 

Secretary  of  the  Treafury    '         - 
Two  principal  derki  at  800  dollars  each 
Five  clerks  at  500  dollars  each  -  • 

Meflengtr  and  office-keeper 

Comptroller  of  th6  Treafui-y 

Principal  clerk         '  -  •  •> 

Thirteen  derki  at  500  dollars  each 

M effenger  and  office-keeper  •  • 

Treafinrer  -  -  -  - 

Prliidpalderk 

Two  derks  at  500  dollars  each 

Melfenger  and  office-keeper 

Auditor  of  the  Treafury         .... 
Principal  clerk  -  -  - 

Fourteen  clerks  at  500  dollars  each 
Salary  of  the  meffenger 

Conuniflioner  of  the  revenue 

Principal  and  fix  other  clerks,  on  the  bufinefs  of 
the  revenue,  li^ht  houfes,  general  returns,  and 
flatonents,  &c.  ... 

Meffenger  and  office  keepdr  •  <- 

Regifler  of  the  treafiiry  •  . 

Three  clerks  on  the  itnpofl,  tonnage,  and  excife 
accounts  ... 

Two  ditto,  on  the  hooks  and  records  relative  to 
the  receipt  and  expenditures  of  public  monies 

Two  ditto,  on  the  duties  affigned  to  the  regifler, 
by  the  a£ts  concerning  the  regiflering  and  re- 
cordingj  enrolling  and  licenfing  fhips  or  vcflels 

Three  ditto,  for  drawing  out,  checking,  and  if. 
fuing,  and  taking  receipts  for  certificates  of  the 
domeflic  and  aflTumed  debts 

Three  ditto,  on  the  books  of  the  general  and  par. 
ticular  loan  offices,  comprehending,theinterefl, 
accounts,  and  chinked  dividends,  at  thc^evecaJl 
loan  offices  ^  .  . 


Dols. 

Dols. 

8,500 
i,6oo 

8,500 

850 

a,^60 
860 

7,850 

6,500 

850 

1 

10,800 

2,400 
600 

1,000 

100 

4,100 

2,400 

8oq 

7,000 

250 

J 

1 

»o,45o 

8,400 

3»500 

« 

250 

6,15© 

2,O0O 

1,500 

1,000 

1,000 


*.50o 


t,50€lL 


I  1 


M« 


GENERAL  DSSCRIPTtaU 

Doli. 


Six  clerks  on  the  books  an  J  records  which  relite 
'to  the  public  creditors,  onthefeversi  defcrip- 
tions  of  (lock  and  trantfers 

Two  ditto,  on  the  books  and  records  of  rigi Acr- 
ed debt,  including  the  payment  of  its  interAft 

One  ditto,  to  complete  the  arrangement  of  the 
public  fecuritiea  in  books  prepared  for  their 
reception    in    numerical  order 

Two  ditto,  on  the  books  of  the  late  government 

One  tranfcribing  clerk 

Two  office-keepers  incident  to  the  feveral  offices 
of  record,  at  250  dollars  per  annum  each 


DSPARTMINT    or    StATI. 


The  Secretary  of  State 

Chief  Clerk 

Four  clerks,  at  50O' dollars  each 

Clerk  for  foreign  languages 

Office-keeper  and  meffenger 


3i0OO 


t,ooo 


500 
1,000 

£0O 

500 


C 


3»500 

800 

a,0QO 

»5o 


Mint  of  th&  United  States, 

Dire£^r  of  the  Mint 

Aflayer  -  -  -        . 

Chief  coiner  -  -  - 

Engraver  «»  -  - 

*  Three  clerks,  at  500  dollars  each 
The  Director  ediniates  ten  or  twelve  workmen  at 
65  dollars  per  week  -  ^  - 


s^ooo 
1,500 
i,5<»o 
1,500 

i>600 
3.385 


X>oIs« 


iSfOoo 


53>750 


6,800 


ii,»85 


*  The  dire£lor  obrerves,  that  three  clerks  we  cfttmated  to  provide  againft  a  con. 
tingency;  but  of  the  three  eftimated  for  laft  year,  only  one  had  been  employed, 
and  that  at  400  dollars  per  annum,  excepting  three  months  laft  winter,  for  which 
one  other  was  paid  at  the  rate  of  500  dollars  per  annum. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

•48 

Dels. 

Dolt. 

DlVARTMENT    Qt   WaR. 

> 

The  Secretary  of  the  Deptrtment 
Principal  clerk             ... 

8,000 
800 

•> 

Six  clerks,  at  500  dollars  each             -             • 

3,000 

s 

Meflenger  and  ofHce>kecper             •             • 

«60 

Accomptant  of  the  \v»r  department 
Seven  clerks,  at  500  dollars  each 

s,2oo 

3.500 

7.o;o 

4,  ,00 

Lkvd  OrrjctRi. 


For  New  Hampfliire 
Maflachufetts 
Rhode  Ifland 
Connefticut 
New-York 
New-Jerfay 
Pennfylvania 
Delaware 
Maryland  % 

Virginia  ¥ 

North  Carolina 
$outh  Carolina 
Georjgia  ^p 


too 
>,oop 
>»S0© 

700 

>»5'J0 

600 

a  cob 

>.500 

s,ooo 

a, 000 

700 


i?,7$o 


»3,«50 


GOVERKMENT  OF    THE  WeJ.TERN  TsRRITOXY. 

DifiriS  North  Weft  of  the  River  Ohio, 

Governor,  for  his  falary  as  fuch,  and  for  difcharg- 
ing  the   duties  of  Superintendant  of  Indian 

Affairs,  Northern  Department                 -  2,000 

The  Secretary  of  the  faid diftrift                -  750 

Three  Judges  at  800  dols.  each           -           -  2,400 

(Stationary,  office-rent,  &c.             -              -  350 


':i' 


T-    5,500 


I  I  a 


111  li 


1 1    rnii. 


fi 


illlllli 


ill 


ill! 


?44 


GJ^.^J^A^  pSSC^J,PTICl^ 


PoU*        Ctf, 


DiJlriSt  Seut^  Wejh  afthe.Riwr  Ohio, 

Governor,  for  his  falary  as  fuch,  and  for  dif- 
charging  the  duties  of  Superintendant  of  In- 
dian AjRfairs,  Southern  Department  SjOQO 
Secretary  of  the  faid  di{lri£l             -              •  T50~' 
Three  Judj^es  at  BoQ  dels,  each             -  2,400 ' 
Stationary,  office-rent,  &c.             •             -  jj^p 


$»59? 


Pensions  granted  by  the  late  Goveiinment. 


Ifaac  Van  Voert,  John  Paulding,  and  David 
Williams,  each  a  penfion  of  ^OO  dollars  per 
annum  purfuant  to  an  a£l  of  Congrefs  of 
23d  Nov.  1780  - 

Dominique  I'Eglize,  per  aA  of  Congrefs  of 
8th  Auguft,  179a  -  - 

Jofeph  Trayerfe  per  ditto 

Youngef^  children  of  the  late  major-general 
Warren,  per  aft  of  the  1  ft  July,  1780 

Samuel  ^^Kenzicj  Jofeph  Bruflels,  and  John 
Jordon,  per  aft  of  1 0th  Sep.  1783,  entitled 
to  a  pcnfion  of  40  dollars  each  per  annum 

£liz.  Bergen,  per  aft  of  21ft  Auguft,    17^1 

Jofeph  De  Beauleau,  per  aft  of  5th  Augyft 
1782  «  -  - 

Richard  Cridley,  per  afts  of  17th  Nov.  «77S| 
and  26th  Feb.  1.781 

Lieut.  Col.  Toufard,  per  aft  of  27th  Oft.  1 78$ 


12Q 


120 

53  33. 

100 


444  40 
360 

•  8,367  7$ 


Grant  to  Baron  Steuben,  &c. 

His  annual  allowance  per  aft  of  Congrefs  3)5?0 

Annual  allowance  to  the  widow  and  orphan 
children  of  Col.  John  Hsrding,  per  aft  of 
27th  February  1793  -  450 

Annual  allowance  to  the  orphan  children  of  Ma- 
jor Alexander  Trueman,  per  fame  aft  300 

Annual  allowance  for  the  education  of  Hugh 
Mercer,  fon  of  the  late  major-general  Mer- 
cer, per  aft  dated  ad  March^  ^793  ~         499 


3.6£« 


air  T^jB  UNITEm  STATES, 


DoU. 


For  the  Incipemtax.  and  Contingbiit 

BXFEMCES     RBtATIVE     TO     THE      ClVI|. 

List  EsTAitisHMENT*. 
Secretary  of  the  Senate,  his  eftimate  '  t      3)000 

Clerk  of  th«  i^oufe  of  Reprefen^tiycf ,  hi|l  do.    7,000 


•45 

Ctt. 


» 0.090 


Treasury  Department. 

Secretary  of  the  Treafury,  per  eftimate 

Comptroller  of  the  Treafury,  per  do. 

Treafurer,  per  do. 

Commiflioner  of  the  Revenue,  per  do. 

Auditor  of  the  Treafury,  per  do. 

Regifter  of  the  Treafury  (including  books  for 
the  public  ftocks)  per  do. 

Rent  of  the  Treafury  -  -  - 

Ditto,  of  a  houfe  taken  for  a  part  of  the  office 
of  the  Regifter  -  -  - 

Ditto,  of  a  houfe  for  the  ofEce  of  the  Com- 
miflioner  of  the  Revenue,  and  for  part  of  the 
office  of  the  Comptroller,  and  part  of  the 
office  of  the  Auditor 

Rent  of  a  houfe  for  the  office  of  the  Auditor, 
and  a  fmall  ft;ore  for  public  papers 

Wood  for  the  department  (Treafurers  except- 
ed) candles,  &c..  ... 


500 
800 
400 
300 
500 

a,ooo 
650 

940 


266  66 


440 


i.aoo 


.7,896  66 


Department  of  State. 
Including  the  expence  which  will  attend  the 
publication  of  the  laws  of  the  firft  feffion 
of  the  third  Congrefs,  and  for  printing  an 
edition  of  the  fame  to  be  defti1but<rd  accor- 
ding to  law  .  .  •  . 


•2,061 


67 


Mint  of  the  United  States* 
The  Direflor  eftimates  for  the  feveral  expen- 
ces  of  the  mint,  including  the  pay  of  a  re- 
finer, when  employed,  for  gold,  filver,  and 
copper,  and  for  the  completion  of  the  melt- 
ing furnaces  •  -  >   ■       ■' 


2,700 

*  Under  thii  head  are  comprehended  fire-wood  and  ftationary,  together  with 
p^mtin(>  work,  and  all  the  contingent  expence*  of  the  two  hoofe*  of  Congrefi,  rent 
and  office  f  xpenfes  of  the  three  feveral  department!,  viz,  Trnuiry,  State  and  War> 
and  alfo  for  the  Mint  of  the  United  Sutcs. 


'iiirii! 


i  i!ll,-' 


Wj 


i;!i:i 


m 


ill:' 


•46 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 
Defartment  of  War. 


Secretary  at  War,  per  flatement 
Accomptant  to  the  war  department 


Cts. 


1,200 


*3.2S8  33 


Total  Dollars     397,201     6 


An  additional  EJlimateyfor  making  good  deficiencies  for  theftipport  <^ 
the  Civil  tLiJl  eJlabliJkmtnt,Jor  aiding  the  fund  appropriated  for  the 
payments  of  certain  o§tcers.of  tht  Courts^  Jurors  and  Witneffes^feir 
thefupport  of  the  Light-houfesy  and  for  other  purpqfes, 

i!  Dols.  Cts, 

To  laake  good  deficiencies  for  the  fupport  of  the 
Civil  Lift  for  the  year  1 793. 

Extra  clerk-hire,  in  the  o(Bc&  of  the  Secretary  of  ■  '  •> 

State,  in  preparing  documents  for  Congr^fs      600 

For  an  index  to  the  laws  of  the  ad  Congrefs        200 


Soo 


The  Secretary  at  War,  his  eftimates  to  make  good 
fo  much  ftiort,  eftimated,  for  contingent  ex- 
penccs  for  the  year  1793,         -         • 

Additional  compenfation  from  1  ft  Oft.  »793>  to 
31ft  December  following,  to  certain  public 
oiHcers,  by  aft  paffed  the  fecond  of  March, 

«793*- 
Auditor  oi  the  Treafury,  at  500^  dols.  per  ann. 

Commiflioners  of  the  Revenue,  ditto 
Comptroller  of  the  Tieafury,  at   500  dols.  per 

annum  -  -  -  - 

Regiftcr  of  the  Treafury,  ditto 


205   76 


»2S 

125 


300 


62  50 
6a  50 


'375 


1,380  76 


•  By  the  faid  aft,  this  additional  compenfation  commenc;£d  the  firft  of  April. 
,793,  the  two  quarters  preceding  the  firft  Oft.  i793«  w*'*  P»»^  °"*  °^  ^^  ^""f; 
4,169  dollars,  gr«tted  in  the  appropriation  of  1,589,044  76-100  dollars  for  the 
purpofe  of  difcharging  claims  admitted  in  due  courfc  of  fettlemeat  of  the  Trct^ 
Liy. 


PiF  |:^£  UNITED  STATES,  44^ 

Mxpenecs  of  Cotnmifioners  of  Loans  for  Cierk-hire  find  Stationary^ 
from  \ft  March  1793,  to  31/8  December  1794. 
The  accounts  of  many  of  the  faid  commifltoners  having  been 
tratifmitted  to  the  ti^eafury,  under  an  idea  that  legiflative  provi* 
fton  will  be  mtdt  for  defraying  the  faid  expences,  the  following 
ftatement,  extrafted  from  their  faid  accounts,  fo  far  as  the  fame 
have  been  rendered,  will  fhew  the  amount  thereof  at  each  loan- 
oSce,  viz. 

Pols.  Cts. 
Nbw-Hampsh;rb,  Eftimate  697     i 

Massachusetts, 

Account  rendered  in  the  month  of  March 
I .  Do.  from  ift  April  to  30  June 
Do.  from^ift  July  to  30th  Sept. 
Eftimate  from  ift  October  to  31ft  December, 
the  fame  as  the  preceding  quarter 


3a6  12 
816  97 
865  85 

865  85 

68 

83 

190 
381 

74 
48 

5,874  79 


RHODE-Iit'ANO. 

Account  rendered  from  ift  March  to  31  ft  do. 
Ditto  from  ift  April  to  30th  June 
£flimate  from  ift  July  to  3 ift  Dec. 


Connecticut. 
Account  rendered  from  ift  March  to  30th 

June         -         *         -         -         -         -         408  94 
Do.  from  ift  July  to  30th  Sept.         -  256  52 

Eftimate  from  ift  0£l.  to  31ft  Dec.  -  256  52 


64»     5 


New-York. 
Account  rendered  from  ift  March  to  3ift 

March  .... 

Do.  from  ift  April  to  30th  June 
Do.  from  ift  July  to  30lh  Sept. 
Eftimate  from  6th  0£l.  to  31ft  Dtc. 

t 

New-Jerset. 
Accoun^  rendered  from  ift  March  to  31ft 

March         ..... 
Do.  from  ift  April  to  30th  June 
Do.  from  ift  July  to  30th  Sept.  , 
Hiftiraate  from  ift  Oft.  to  31  Dec. 


5»S 

»,430  38 
1,303  81 

1,303  81 


921  9ft 


26 

8 

54 

5» 

54 

5a 

4.- 55  3 


S21 


't\ 


I'll 


m 


M^i 


Pennsylvania. 


Accduht  rendered  froiii  tft  March  to  31(1  do.     154   16 


EfUmaite  from  i(i  April  to  31(1  Dec.         -     I131)  44 


Account  rendered  from  ift  March  to  3  ill  do. 
Eftimate  frbm  ift  April  to  31ft  Dec. 

Maryland. 
Account  rendered  from  id  to  31(1  March 
Eftimate  from  <ft  April  to  3* ft  Dec. 

Virginia. 
Account  rendered  from  ift  to  3tft  March 
Do.  from  ift  April  to  30th  June 
Do.  from  ift  July  to  30th  September 
Efumate  from  tft  Oft.  to  31ft  Dec.         '    ^ 

North-Carolina. 
Eftimate  from  ift  March  to  31ft  Dec.  1793 

South-Carolina. 
Account  rendered  from  ift  to  31ft  March  . 
Do.  from  ift  April  to  30th  June 
Do.  from  ift  July  to  30th  September 
Eftimate  from  ift  0£l.  to  31ft  December    • 

Georgia. 
Eftimate  from  ift  March  to  31ft  Dec.  1793 
For  clerk-hire  and  ftationary  of  the  feveral 
ftate  commiffioners  of  loans,  from  ift  Jdnu- 
ary,  1794,  to  the  31ft  of  Decern,  follow- 
ing, eftimated  on  a  reference  to  the  claims 
exhibited  and  referred  to  in  the  above 
ftatement,  at         -         -         -         - 

Clerks  o/'Courtji,Juries, Witness es,&c. 

The  fund  arifing  from  fines,  forfeitures  and  pc> 
nalties,  having laft  year  proved  infufficient  for 
the  difcharge  of  the  accounts  of  clerks ,  Skc.  to 


1,541  62 


25 
225 


110  50 
99«  50 


»5<> 


i;ioa 


397  16 

74»  »9 
^49  5 

649  5 


a,a^e  4^ 
800 


127  47 
877  50 
380  43 
380  43 


1,265  83 


940 


23,622  25 


As  Ctii 


,54*  <5a 


»50 


i;ioa 


1,2^6  4^ 


•40 


13,622  25 


THE  t/NlTkb  STATES, 

Vrliicli  they  were  appointed,  a  fuitt  for  the  pre- 
fent  year  is  eftimated,  in  order  to  provide 
againft  a  fimilar  contingency,  of    .    • 

For  the  maintenance  and  fupport  of  Hght-houfei 
beacons,  public  pitrs  and  {leakage  of  chan- 
nels, bars  and  (hoals,  and  for  occafionMl  im- 
provements in  the  cpi^ruftion  of  kmterns^ 
and  61  the  lamps  and  mMeri^s  ufed  there- 
m  -  - 

To  make  good  a  deficionlcy  in  the  eflimate  for 
1792,  for  the  fame  objefts        ... 

r  or  the  expences  towards  the  fafe-keeping  and 
profecuting  of  perfons  committed  for  offences 
againft  the  United  States        .        .        .        . 

For  the  purchafe  of  hydrometers  for  the  ufe  .of 
ithe  officers  of  the  Cuftomis  and  Infpcflors  of 
Revenue  for  the  year  1794        •        -        ' 


JFOR  THE  CoiNAGE  OF  COPPER  AT  THE  MiNT 
OF  THE   UNITEb  StAtE^. 

To  replac^  (p  much  advanced  at  the  Bank  of  the 
United  States,  fbr  the  purpofe  of  ah  importa- 
tion of  copper,  utider  the  fuperintendehcy  of 
the  Direftor  of  the  Mint 
To  pay  f6r  copper  purchafed  in  the  year  17^3 
For  the  purchafe  of  ditto  1794  - 

Arrears  of  Penfion  due  to  the  Widow  and  Or- 
phan children  of  Col.  John  Harding, 

For  theit  allowance  from  ifl  of  July  1792,  td 
the  31(1  of  Dec.  {793,  per  aft  of  Congrefs,  dat^ 
ed  Feb.  27,  1793,  at  450  dollars  per  annum 

Arrears  of  Penfion  due  to  the  Orphan  childreti 
of  Major  Alexander  Truman 

For  the  allowance  from  ift  July,  179a,  to  the 
31ft  Dec.  1793,  per  a£t  of  Congrefs,  dated 
27th  Feb.  1793,  «t  300  dollars  per  annum 

For  the  indemnification  of  the  eflimate  of  the 
late  major  general  Green,  for  certain  bonds 
entered  into  by  him,  during  the  late  war, 
upon  the  principles  of  the  aft  of  Congrefs  for 
that  purpoie,  dated  27th  April,  179a 

K  K 


349 
Dolfc      Ddi, 


ia,ood 


sb,6oo 

4,060 
■    ■    '  >4,ooo 

4,cdo 


1,500 


Si^o^ 


io,bob 

7»35«> 

7»350 


84,700 


675 


fM 


450 


»»»aS 


lili' 


i  i  I 


'  i 


«J5« 


GEtfEkAL  BESCRIPtlOit^ 


JW  i  balance  (lated  by  tbe  Auditor  dS  the  Treat- 
fury  to  be  due  to  faid  eftate,  in  which  is  in-^ 

'  ckided  intereft  d^te  on  bonds  flrom  their  dates^ 
to  12th  April  1793        A        4        *    •    A 

To  defray  the  eicpeiKes  inddtnl  to  the  floating 
and  printing  the  public  accoiuils  for  theyeai* 
1793,  in  compliance  wkh  the  order  of  th^ 
Houfe  of  ReprefentativcS|  of  jotth  Dec,  fj^^i 

For  the  di&harge  of  fuch  demands  againft  the 
United  States,  not  otherwifie  provided  for,  as 
ihall.  have  been  afeertained  and  admitted  in 
due  courfo  of  fettlement  at  the  treafury,  and 
which  are  of  a  nature  according  to  the  u£rg« 
thereof  to  require  payment  in  fpecie        •* 


Dols*    thU. 


33.**7 


goo 


S»066 


5i8oo 


Total^^  ^47^699)  79 


I  iP'i" 


J^imateofthe  Expeucei  of  the  iVar  Departmatt,  for  theyttw  1794. 

AMOUNT    OF    PAY, 

DoU,  Ctj* 

General  Staff        -         .     "  -       "-         -          -          ^   14>779 

The  fir  ft  fub-legion        -  -        -        -        -        -      7i».«aS 

fecond  fub-legion          -  -        -        -   ,-         70,  sad 

third  fub-legion        •  -        -        -        -            7,i,fta8 

fourth  fub-legion          -  -        -        -        •*         78^8- 

Subfiftencc        -        -        -  -        -        -        -        3»*»567  7$ 

Forage        -        -        -        -        -        -         -        -        J^j^S*^ 

Cloathing        -        -        -  -        *        -        -           i4a,000 

Equipments  for  the  Cavalry  -        -            j-                7»3*4-   i 

Horfes  for  the  Cavalry,  -            -             -               16,000 

Bounty              -              -  -            «■            -             5»O0O 

Hofpital  department        -  -        -        -        -        -    20,00a 

ORDNANCE    DE'PAltl^MENT.  ^^ 

For  the  falaries  of  ftore-kcopcrs  at  the  different  Arfc- 

nals '       -        -        3>9»2 

Rents        .-----.         -  1,083 

Labourers,  Ac.         -        -        -         -        -        -         -     I1720 

The  expences  of  new  carriages  for  230  pieces  of  brafs 
field  artillery,  at  the  different  arfenals  of  the  United 
States,  averaged  at  140  dollars  each         -         -  32,100 


^0T  THS  UNITED  STATES, 

The  «xpences  of  new  carriages  for  1 34  iron  cannon, 

garrilbn  carriages,  averag^  at  50  dollars  each 
The  expence  of  ao  mortar  beds,  at  40  dols.  each 
Repairs  of  i4,0QQarms  at  two  dollars  each 
Clearing  of  ia,ooo  do.  at  25  cents,  in  the  different  ar- 

fenals  .  .  -  * 

Repairs  of  fortifications  at  Wefl  Point 
The  expence  of  caiMng  5Q  brafa  field  pieces  out  of  the 

uieleis  mortars  -  •  7 

One  hundred  tons  pf  lead,  at  8.  8-3  dols,  per  hun* 

dred  ■•  ^  »  - 

Seventy-^ve  tons  of  gun>powder,  at  20  dols.   per 

hundred  ^  <*  ^ 

One  thou(and  rifled  muikcts,  at  12  dolsj  each 
Equipments  for  cavalry  ^  * 

Ten  thoufand  knapfacks,  at  5Q  cents  each  « 

Ten  thoufand  cartridge  boxes,  at  one  dollar  each 
Two  thoufand  tents,  at  iq  dollars  each 
One  hundred  horfenfan's  tents,  at  20  dollars  each 
Twenty  officers  marquees,  at  150  dollars  each  • 

For  a  magazine  and  buildings  proper  to  conflitute  a 

magazine  an4  ?r|enal  above  Albany,  in  the  ftate  of 

New  Yorl^  .  -  - 

!^or  the  purchafe  of  ground  for  ditto  •. 

for  the  lame  objeQs  in  a  i'uitable  polition  above  the 

flUs  of  Delaware  -  -  ■» 

Defoniive  prote^on  of  the  frontiers 
For  defraying  the  expences  of  the  Indian  department 
Quarter  Mailers  department  -  •• 

Contingencies  of  War  department 
Invalid  Penflone^s  -  *  - 


Dols. 


Cts. 


6,700 
800 

28,000 

3,000 
10,000 

»7>333  ,34 
30,000 

12,000 

8,250 

5,000 

10,000 

20,000 
2,000 
3,000 


6»OOQ 

1,000 

6,OOQ 

» 39,000 

50,000 
150,000, 

30,000 

8p?239  55 


m 


Total.     Dollars     1,45 7 9835  69 

Circumflances  having  rendered  it  neceffary  to  attend  to  the  de-r 

fence  of  the  frontiers,  as  well  as  the  fortifications  of  the  principal 

ports  of  the  United  States,  a  confiderable  addition  mufl  be  made  tq 

this  eftimate  for  the  prefent  year. 

'  TOTAL    EXPENDITURE. 

Qn  the  firfl  of  thcfeeftimates  relating  to  the  civil  lift, 
or  expenditure  for  the  fupport  of  government  du- 
ring the  year    1794,  including  the   incidental  and  / 
contingent  expences  of  the  fcveral  departments  and 
offices                ^                -                -                ,         397,201     6 

'    K  K  2  * 


km 


% 


m 


m 


A5> 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTIOJ^^ 


On  the  fecond  relating  to  certain  deficiencies  in  for- 
mer appropriations  for  the  fupport  of  government, 
to  a  provifionin  aid  of  the  f^nd  heretofore  eftabliih- 
cd  for  the  compenfation  of  certain  officers  of  the 
courts,  jurors,  witnefles,  &c.  to  the  maintenance  of 
light-houles,  beacons,  buoys  and  public  piers,  and 
to  certain  other  purpofes  therein  fpecified — 

The  third  relating  io  the  department  of  War,  compre- 
hending the  probable  expenditure  of  that  depart- 
ment for  the  year  1 794,  including  certain  ext'^io.  - 
dinaries  for  buildings,  repairs,  arms  and  mii^  >ry 
ftores,  amounting  to  202,783  dollars  and  34  cents^ 
and  a  fum  of  80,239  dollars  and  55  cents,  for  pen- 


Dols.      Gtl. 


147,689  78 


(ions  to  invalids, 


-  -     »,457»*35  ^9. 

<■  I  "*  '     ■■■■■■■■< 

To^al  amouifit     2,002,741  53 


FINANCES. 

I 

The  funds,  out  of  which  appropriations  may  be  made  for  the 
foregoing  purpofes,  are— >tft.  The  fum  of  600,000  dollars  referved 
annually  for  the  fupport  of  government,  out  of  the  duties  on  im- 
ports and  tonnage,  by  the  a£):  making  proviiion  for  the  debt  of 
the  llniied  States,  and  which  will  accl-ue  in  the  year  i794.-r-adv 
The  furplus  of  revenue  and  income  beyond  the;  appropriations 
heretofore  charged  thereupon,  to  the  end  of  the  fame  year  1794> 
The  ftatement  herewith  fubmitted,  fhews  a  furplus  to  the  end  of 
1793,  of  2,534,212  dollars,  and  £[2  cents,  which  it  is  believed  may 
be  relied  upon,  .    .  , 


StatemeiU  oftht  Revenue  of  the  United  States,  and  jff^opriation*  charged 
therem^  to  the  end  of  the  year  I793> 


BEVENUI. 

,    .  .  •'■''/ 

Proceeds  of  the  duties  on  imports  and  tonnage,  and 
of  fines,  penalties  and  forfeitures,  from  the  com- 
mencement  of  the  prefcnt  government  to  the  31ft 
of  December  1791  r  ■        -•       '       -  - 

Proceeds  of  duties  on  fpirits  diftilled  within  the 
United  States,  for  half  a  year,  ending  the  31ft  of 
Dec.  1791,  agreeable  to  accounts  fettled  at  the  trea- 
fury  »  -  -  ■  - 


Doh.    Cts. 


6.534>263  ?4 


»4»i849  98 


0F  THE  UNftkD  STATES' 


'M 


Dols, 


Ctt. 


Proceeds  of  duties  on  imports  and  tonnage^  and  of 
fines,  penalties,  and  forfeitures  for  the /ear  i79P> 
agreeable  to  accounts  fettled  at  the  treafury  4)^^5>559 

Proceeds  of  duties  on  fpirits  didilled  within  the 
United  States  in  the  year  179s,  agreeable  to  Re- 
counts fettled  at  the  treafury  294,344  35,  to  which 
add  the  difference  between  the  faid  fum,  and  the 
amount  eftimated  for  1792)  for  accounts  remain- 
to  be  fettled  105,655  dollars  and  65  cents  400,000 

Proceeds  of  duties  on  imports  and  tonnage,  and  of 
fines,  penalties  and  fo|:feitures  for  the  year  1 793, 
eftimated  nearly  the  fame  as  for  the  year  179a        4,617,510 

proceeds  of  duties  on  fpirits  diftilled  within  the 
United  States^  in  the  year  1793,  leftimated  at  the 
fame  as  for  the  year  179a 

jCafli  received  into  the  treafury  to  the  end  of  the 

1791,  from  fines,  penalties  and  forfeitures,  and 
for  balances  _  . 

jCaiih  recibivedintp  the  treafury  to  the  end  of  the  year 

1792,  for  arms  and  accoutrements  fold,  fines  and 
penalties,  balance  of  accounts  fettled,'  aiid  on  ac- 
count of  the  dividend  delared  by  the  bank  of  the 

United  States,  to  June  30,  179^  -  21,860  8^ 

Cafli  received  into  the  treafury  during  the  year  1 793, 
un  account  of  patents,  636  dollars  of  cents  and 
half  cents  coined  at  the  mint,  1,154  3-100  ^Pi- 
lars, balances'  due  lindfcr  the  government  8,448, 
58-1O0  doUai's ;  and  on  oii  account  of  dividends 
declared  by  the  bank  of  the  United  States,  from 
the  ift  of  July,    1792,  to  the  30th  of  June,  1793, 


40OjO0O 


".335  93 


38^500  dollars  ^_ J  -  - 

Eftimatedproduift' of  the  dividend  to  be  declared 
from  the  ift  of  July  to  the  31ft  of  Dec.  1793,  be- 
yond the  intereft  payable  to  the  bank  on  the  loan 
of ,  two  millions  -  - 


48,732  61 


10,000 


16,801,112  23 


-     APPROPRIATIONS. 

Dates  of  Afls. 

1789,  Aug.  20.  For  treaties  with  the  Indians 
Sept.  29.  For  the  fervice  of  the  year  1 789 

1790,  Mar.  26.  Forthe  fupportof  government  for 

the  year  1790 


Dols.       Cts. 

20,000 
693,000 

754,658  99 


H4 


q£N£M4l  P^SCHI^T^^N, 


'a'      l' 


Dolt.    Cm. 
120,000 


1790,  July  I.    For  intjcrcourre  vitb/oreign  nations, 
for  the  ycn$  1790,  1791,  «nd  1792 
For  ratiiifyin|(  the  claims  of  Johii 
M'Cord  -  -  -  tf309  71 

July  2a.  For  treajties  with  certain  Indian  tribes       ao,obo 
Aug.  4.  For  ipltercfl  on  th^  debts,  foreign  and 
domcftic,  for  the  year  179I1  cli- 
mated 9(  -  -  2^060,861  40 
For  ditto    ditto  lyfj         *  1,849,194  74 
for  ditto    ditto  179J                -        2,849,194  73 
For  the  eflablifl^ment  of  cutters  10,000 
10.  For    finifliing    the  light-boufp  on 

Portland-head  -  i>50P 

Fpr  the  relief  of  difabledfoldicrs  and 
fe^men,  and  certain  other  perfonsi  j;48  57 

IS.  For  fundry  objefts  -  933,21$}  97 

For  the  reduction  of  the  public  debt, 
being  furplus  of  revenue  to  the  end 
of  the  year  1790  li^l^t^ifS  ^Q 

I7yi,  Feb.  II.  For  the  fi^p|>ort  of  government  du- 
ring the  year  1731,,  and  for  other 
purpofes  -  -  740>33a  <[q 

March  3.  For  a  recognition  of  the  treaty  with 

Morocco  -  -  ?P>POQ 

For  compenfations  to  the  officers  of 
the  judicial  courts,  jurors,  and  wit- 
lielTes,  fad  for  other  purpofes ;  be. 
jngnetprpoeed^of  Rnes,  penalties^ 
and  forfeitures,  to  the  end  of  the 


year  1791 
For  rafing  and  adding  another  reei- 
iment   to  the  military  eftabliih- 


^055  33 


gunent   to  tne  military 
xnent,  and  for  making  farther  pro- 
vifion  for  the  prote6kion  of  the 
frontiers 
Dec.  31.  For  the  iupport  of  government  for 

the  year  1 79a 
1792,  April  2.  For    finishing  the  light-houfe    on 
Baldhcad  - 

For  the  mint  eflablifhment 
13.   For  compenfating  the  corporation  of 
truftces  of  the   public   grammar 
fchool  and  academy  of  Wilmington         ^t5$i  ^4 


312,686  20 
1,059)222    81 

4,000 
7,00a 


Of  THE  UNITED  STaTE^. 

Mwy  t.  F«r  th*  procefltion  of  the  frontiers, 
and  other  purpofei        -^ 

For  intereft  at  400,000  dollar*  receiv<< 

ed  on  account  of  a  loan  horn  dhe 

bank    of   the    United   State*   of 

S^StSod  dolUn^  to  Dee.  $tf    1793 

i.  For  fundry  objeAs        «        .        « 

For  compenfating  the  fervic^s  of  the 
fete  Col.  Oeor^  Gibl'on 

For  an  advance  on^aocountof  the  clkim 
of  John  fi^o^im  Cutting 
vjf$t  Febii  91  For  imtercourfe  wit%!  foreign  nations 
tor  flie  yfear  tf^^        -        -        - 
a8.  For  the  ferVice  6f  the*»year  i79'3 

For  intereft  on  a  loan  of  8oo,coo  dol- 
lars from  tfi«  Bank  of  the  X3ni\itd' 
State8,.to  31ft  Dec.  1793 

For  defraying  the  expence  of  cldi4i'a 
of  courts,  jurors  and  witnefles,  be- 
in^  the  net  proceeds  of  fines,  pe- 
nalties and  forfeitures,-  to  the  end 
of  the  year  1^91  ... 
March  2.  For  treaties  with  the  Indian  tribes 
north  weft  of  the  river  Ohio 

For  the  relief  of  Elijah  Boftwick 

For  defraying  certain  fpccific  de-. 
mands        -        •         - 


Dob.    Ct«. 

673,500 


a«.75S  ♦» 
*4f497  9^ 

1,000 

2,000 

40,ootf 


«*»31l 


301  46 


100,000 


»45  4» 

59.»07  4» 


14,266,899  41 


Balance  being  the  eftimated  furplus  of* 
revenue  to  the  end  of  the  year  1 793, 
CoUe&ed  and  to  be  colle£led,  beyond 
(he  appropriations  charged  thereon  2,534,212  82 


Dols.       16,801,112  23 


/The  produft  oTthe  duties  on  imports  and  tonnage,  for  the  pre- 
fent  year,  is  eftimated,  according  to  the  afcertained  amount,  in  th» 
preceding  year.  This  eftimate  is  juftiHed  by  the  abftra£l  herewith 
alfo  fnbmitted,  exhibiting  the  produf^  for  the  two  firft  quarters  of 
the  prefent  year,  as  founded  on  returns  received  at  the  treafury^ 
l^eing  2,568,870  dollars  and  22  cents,     The  produd  for  the  two 


hi 


m^ 


m  ■ 


m 


ill  I 


:f'| 


ill 


•5$ 


Mmkinifig  Quarters  is  not  computed  at  high  u  thi  •  at  the  two 
firft,  becaufe  circumftahces  afid  information  render  it  pfd^^able; 
that  it  will  bfe  lefs,  and  that  the  drawbacks  payable  within  the 
lad,  will  be  more  conftd^rable  than  thofe  payiible  within  the 
firft  half  year.  The  dcertatined  produ£fc  of  r793,''theuatei  of 
duty  being  the  fam«,  is  deemed  the  fafeft  guide.  Some  favings 
upon  the  fum  appropriated  for  different  purpofes  may  render 
this  eftinuted  furpUis  more  confiderable  than  it  flated :  but 
while  the  extent  of  thefe  favings  cannot  be  deemed  very  great, 
their  amount  (thefe  purpofes  not  being  yet  fuHy  fatisfied)  tan- 
not  be  pronounced.  If  the  produftof  the  year  1794,  fhould  equal 
that  of  the  prefent  year,  the  fund  will  be  more  than  fuflicient  for 
the  appropriation  propoied  to  be  charged  upon  it.  If  thi)  cannot 
entirely  be  counted  upon,  it  is  hoped  that  a  reliance  may  be  en- 
tertained of  its  proving  at  leaft  adeqiute. 

jihflraS  of  the  New  jimouni  of  Duties  on  Jmporit  and  Tonnage,  whUi 
bovf  atcrutd  in  the  United  States  during  thefirfi  andfecond  Quarters 
of  the  Tear  1795. 


STATES. 

ijt  dr.  Ending  ^\Ji. 

»d  Qr.  ending 

TeiMi  ameunt. 

iUrck  17^3, 

3»lk  June 

1 

Dols.            Cents. 

DoU.         Cent!. 

Dols.           Cents. 

N.  Hampfliire 

. 

26,393  «<5        , 

26,3^^  26 

Maffachufefts 

7,823    ^2    3.4 

340,621     5  3.4 

348,444  58   1-2 

Rhode  Ifland 

1,665   53 

67.078  9'3 

68,744  45 

Conne£licut 

«6,394  47 

70,507  »4 

96,902  31 

Vermpnt 

- 

m 

New  York 

122,419  49 

532,542  45 

654,961    94 

New  Jerfey 
Pcnnlylvania 

9H  31 

1,879     4 

a>8o3  35 

157.5*3  93 

586,000 

743.5*3  93 

Delaware 

,     '29     7    . 

2,319  71 

2,448  78 

Maryland 

49.5"  54  3-4 

161,987  28  3-4 

211,499  83  i-i 

Virginia 
Kentucky 

40.993  '5 

104,182   62    1-2 

»45.»75  77  »-« 

N.  Carolina 

*5.37«  75  3-4 

16,696  93 

,'  42,068  68  3*4 

S.  Carolina 

91,040  54 

106,547   64 

197,588  18 

Georgia 

«7.9*3  23 

2,367    67 

30,290  90 

V 

Dcdua  N.  Hamp. 

551,721  54  1-4 
1,893  4«  I-* 

2,019,124  44 

2.570.84598  ^-4 

Vermont. 

- 

82  33 

1,97575  1-2 

Net  amount. 

54.9,828  II  3-4 

2,019,042  II 

2,568,870  22  3-4 

But  there  is  a  provifxon  alfo  to  be  made  for  the  payment  of  in-- 
tereft  on  the  balances  found  by  the  commiilioners  for  fettling  ac- 


f  anmtar. 

Cents.' 

S5I 

H  45 
>a  3» 

1-2 

5i  94 

>3  35 

«3  93 

^8  78 

^983 

15  77 

i-a 

1-2 

>8  68 
i8  18 

3*4 

^0  90 

4598 

i-4 

75  75 

1-2 

y    ■ 

Counts  between  the  United  and  individual  States,  in  favour  of  ccrtun 
Uates.  The  annual  Aim  of  intercft  upon  thofe  balances,  it  1  aSiQ-j^S 
dollars  and  8  cents,  computed  according  to  tlie  proportions  by 
which  intereflt  is  a'djuded  on  the  aflfumed  debt.  If  Congrefs  (hall 
think  proper  tb  make  the  requifite  provifion  out  of  the  dutieson  im- 
ports and  tonnage,  it  will  be  neceffacy  to  its  cfBcacy,  that  a  pri^ 
ority  be  fecured  to  it  t  an  objeft  which  will  require  attention 
in  making  Uic  appropriations  above  contemplated*  Itiscon- 
^dered,  that  there  will  be  dill  no  hazard  of  deficiency ;  and  if 
there  fhould  be  any^  it  would  fecm  moH  proper,  that  it  fhould  fall 
on  the  appropriation  for  the  current  fervicc,  to  be  fupplitd,  till 
further  provifion  can  be  made,  by  a  loan* 

A  provifion  for  paying,  during  the  year  1794,  intcreft  on  fuch 
part  of  the  domeflic  debt,  as  may  remain  unlubfcribcd,  will  como 
under  a  like  confidcratioht  ' 

It  appears  pro^T,  UktJWifc,  to  notice,  tliat  no  provifion  has 
yet  been  made,  for  pitying  the  yearly  intcreft,  on  the  two  million 
loan  had  of  the  bUnk  of  the  United , Stages..  The  bank  has 
hitherto  difcountcd  the  amount  of  that  iiitereft  out  of  its  divi« 
d^nds  on  the  ftock  belonging  to  the  Uhitea  States,  but  Tor  want 
of  an  approbation  the  bufinei's  cannot  receive  a  regular  adjufl- 
tUtnt  at  the  trealiiry.  An  appropriation  of  fo  much  of  the  divi- 
dends as  m9)r  hfi  fieccflary  towards  the  payment  of  the  inhered 
will  obviate  the  difficulty.— -The  fecond  inftalment  of  that  Ipan 
has  been  comprifed  in  the  foregoing  view ;  becaufe  it  is  imagined 
that  Congrefs  may  judge  it  expedient  to  provide  for  its  payment 
out  of  the  foreign  fund,  as  they  did  with -regard  to  the  fifft  in- 
ftalment. The  ftatement  herewith  alfo  communicated,  exhibit^ 
the  prefent  fituation  of  that  fund,  (hewing  a  biilance  unexpended 
of  five  hundred  and  feventy-feven  thoufand,  two  hundred  and 
eighty-four  dollars,  and  fifty-fix  cents,  liable  to  the  obfi^vation 
at  the  bottom  thereof. 


State  of   Monies  trans/erred  to  thtUniud  States^  out  of  the 

proceeds  of  Foreign  JLoanSi 
To  this  fum  paid  to  France  for  the  ufc  of 

St  Domingo  -  -  DolS. 

Payment  to  France  of  3  millions  of  Hvres,  ^ 

purfuant    to   an    agreenicnt  with    M. 

Ternaat  -  -  - 

Ditto  for   mifcellaneous  purpofcs  paid  to 

M.  Tenant  -  -  -  - 

Inftalment  due  to  France,  September   3d, 

*793»  »j50o,ooo  livres 

No.  V.  L  t 


Dr. 
^26,020 


544.500 


49,400 


272,250 


i  ■(! 


s^^ 


GENERAL  tfESCRIPTlM 


Inftalmpnt  due  to  France  November  ^tb^ 

*793>  i)000,oo6  livrei. 
On  which  there  hn&  bccii  j^d  t>ots,  1 78^879  35 
Balahcc  to  be  paid  •*         «  2^620  65 


181,500 


Payirient  Aiade  to  foreign  of-' 

ficers         -  . 

Referved  to  be  paid 


Dol$.     66,089  ff 
ia5,aa7   13 


»9».3»6  9* 


This  fum  expended  in  pur- 
chafes  of  the  public  debt^ 
:   viz, 

1793,  Feb.  4, 
Ditto  19, 
Sept.      2, 


DoU,       r  0,000 

234,901   89 
5,000 


Inflalment  to  the  bank  of  the  United  States 
Balance  fubjed  to  further  difpofitioa 


334,gdi   8(/ 
200,000 
577,284  5G 


Dols.     3,077,173  35 


By  this  funi  drawn  by  the  trcai'urcr  on  the  commiffioners  in  Am* 

ilerdam. 

'  ,  ,  ■  ■    '   .  -    • 

.   -.      ,  Cr, 

Florins  5*649>62*     8-*2,3d5,769  13 

Frotn  which  deduft 
the  amount  of  bills 
L    fold  to  the  bank  of  ..  ^ 

,  the  United  States^ 
afterwards  furren- 
dered  4955000     ^—     200,000 


1,154,621   a-8 


1,105,769  »3 


By  this  fum  applied  in  Europe  to  the  payment  of 
interefl,  for  which  provifion  was  made  out  of 
domeftic  funds,  and  thereby  virtually  drawn  to 
the  United  States,  viz. 

Intercft  from  the  ifl; 
of  Feb.    1791,   to 
the    ill    of    Dec,    .J 
1793,  paid  and  to  » 


.<r* 


?  ' 


0F  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


be  paid,  Florins  2,940,790   13 
from  which  deduft 
this  fum  remitted 
from  henpe  $36,565      4 


florins 


«5? 


■1;     I 

:.  f 


2,404,225       9*31364-11  971,40422 


90 1  Sij 

000 
284  5G 

»73  35 

in  Am-» 

>, 


Pols,    a>077»»73  35 

—. -r— ^ 

3ut  in  judging  of  the  expediency  of  making  the  provifion  inti- 
mated, it  is  neccffary  to  take  into  confideration,  that  pn  the  firft 
of  June  1 794,  a  fecond  inftalment  of  1,000,000  of  florins,  of 
the  (papital  of  the  Dutch  debt,  became  payable  ;  for  which,  by  the 
h&,  advices,  it  appeared  problematical,  oy^ing  to  the  fituation  of 
the  affairs  of  Europe,  whether  provifion  could  be  made  by  a  fur- 
ther loan.  This  circumftance  is  an  obftacle,  to  the  immediate  ap- 
plication of  the  reftdue  of  the  foreign  fund  according  to  its  dcfti- 
ngition— -that  being  the  only  refoUrce  yet  provided,  out  of  which 
the  inftalment  of  the  Dutch  debt  can  be  paid,  if  a  farther  loan 
cannot  be  procured  in  time.  Mpre  decifiye  information  on  the 
point  may  every  day  be  expelled. 

In  the  m'^an  time,  no  inf:onver^ien^e  can  enfue  frohn  applying 
a  portion  of  that  refidue  |;o  the  payn>ent  of  the  tnflalitient  of  the 
two  million  loan— r-the  degree  in  which  it  ^iU  intrench  qpoi^  the 
means  in  pofleflion  for  fatisfying  |the  enfi^ini^  inftalment  of  the 
Dutch  debt,  being  rafily  fufceptible  of  a  fubftitute.  And  there 
will  be  time  enough  fo^  providing  ope,  if  a  loan  Ihould  not  be 
obtained. 

By  an  arrapgement  made  with  the  bank,  tlie  intereft  of  the  firft 
inftalment  ceaied  the  laft  of  December  1792,  though  the  payment 
could  not  legally  b^  conl'ummated  till  July  following, 

A  proviiion  fof  payn^ent  on  the  fecond  inftalment  at  the  end 
of  the  prefent  year  will  continue  this  dcfirable  courfe,  and  work 
a  public  faving  ;  though,  owing  to  the  lopg  credits  given  for  the 
duties,  anticipations  of  their  proceeds,  by  temporary  loans,  n^ay 
\)e  neceflary  to  |he  being  prepared  for  the  exigences  of  the  cur- 
rent fervice. 

Thus  the  pfefenf  eligible  fituatiop  of  the  United  States,  com- 
pareJ  to  that  of  Great  Britain,  or  Europe  at  large,  as  it  refpcfts 
taxes  or  comributi  as,  for  the  payment  of  all  public  charges,  ap- 
pears manifeft. 

♦  The  precife  account  of  fumi  thus  paid  for  intercfl:,  car.not  be  definitively 
pronounced  till  the  completion  of  the  lettlement  of  foreign  accounts,  now  going 
9D  at  the  trcafury. 

1^  4<    2 


t^ 


iii 


m 


s.       ! 

Ik. 

« 


a6p  Q^J^EMAl  DSS.CRJPTJON 

In  the  United  States,  the  average  proportion  of  his  earnings, 
which  each  citizen  pays  per  annum,  for  the  fi^pport  of  the  civil, 
military,  and  naval  eftablifhments,  and  for  tHe  difcharge  of  the 
intereft  of  the  public  debts  of  his  country,  Sec.  is  about  one  dol- 
lar and  a  quarter.  In  Great  Britain,  the  taxes  of  thefe  objefts, 
on  an  average,  ai^punt  t©  above  two  guineas  per  annum  to  each 
perfon.  iiencc  it  appears,  that  in  the  United  "States  they  enjoy 
*^*  M^^f"^*  of  *  free  government  and  mild  laws,  of  perfonal  li- 
3*^.''*^y»j'"'^.P^°*®^'°"  °f  P''°P'''ty5  fo^  nearly  one  tenth  part  of 
the  fi^m  which  is  paid  in  England. for  the  purchafe  of  fimilar  be- 
nefits, too' generilly  without  the  attainment  of  them.  The  Ame- 
rican citizen  likewiie  has  the  profpeft  of  the  taxes,  which  he 
J)ays,  finall  as  they  are,  being  lelfened,  while  the  fubjefts  of  allthq 
old  European  governments  can  have  no  cxpc£latiou  but  of  their 
bur^eps  being  inprcafed. 

SOCIETY, OF  THE  CINCINNATI. 

This  Society,  inftituted  immediately  on  the  clofe  of  the  war, 
in  1783,  has  made  fo  much  noife  both  in  Europe  and  America, 
and  has  derived  fuch  dignity  and  importance  from  the  charafters 
who  compofe  it,  that  it  is  thought  proper  to  infert  the  inftitutioit 
at  large,  for  the  information  of  "the  uninformed,  and  for  the  grar 
tihcation  of  the  refpe£table  iT|embers  of  the  Cincinnati,  who  wifli 
to  have  their  friendly  and  charitable  intentions  fully  underftood 
by  all  claifes  of  their  fellow  citizens. 

It  originated  with  General  Knox,  who,  with  the  good  inten-, 
lion  of  reconciling  the  minds  of  his  military  brethren  to  the  prir 
vate  life  on  which  they  were  foon  to  enter,  projefted  the  plan. 
Knox  imparted  his  propclals  to  certain  officers.  They  were  af- 
terward communicated  to  tl^e^'lcvcral  regiments  of  the  rcfpeftivo 
lines,  and  an  officer  from  each  was  appointed,  who,  with  the  ge- 
nerals, fliould  take  the  fame  into  confideration  at  a  meeting  to  be 
held  on  the  10th  of  May,  at  which  Baron  Stuben,  the  fenior 
officer  prefent,  prefidcd.  At  their  next  meeting  on  the  13th,  the 
plan,  having  been  reviled,  was  accepted.  The  iubflancc  of  it  was 
— *'  The  officers  of  the  American  army  do  hereby,  in  the  moft 
folemn  manner,  alTociate,  conftitute,  and  combine  thcmfelves,  into 
one  Society  of  Friends,  to  endiire  as  long  as  they  fhall  endure,  or 
ANY  OK  THEIR  ELDEST  MALE  POSTERITY  ;  and  iu  failure  there- 
of, THE  COLLATERAL  BRAICcReS,  WHO  MAY  BE  JUDGED  WOR- 
THY OK  BECOMING  ITS  SUPPORTERS  AND  MEMBERS. Thc  offi- 
cers of  the  American  Army,  having  generally  been  taken  from 
the  citizens  of  America,  poffelo  high  veneration  for  the  charafter  of 
that  liluftrious   Roman,  Lucius   Quintius  Cincinkatus,  and 


thcrc- 

W  I)  K  - 

ic  ofH- 

from 

iftcr  of 


being  refplye4  to  follow  Jiis  cjK?m|^le,  by  retfirnipg  to  tlijcir  citi- 
^senhiip,  they  tKipK  ttiey  may  with  propriety  4enom|pat«  themf 
(clvcs  The  Society  of  the  Cipcii^nati.  .  The  following  principles 
jhall  be  in|imutab^e--Tan  inc^llant  attention  to  pre&rye  inviolate 
the  .exalted  riehts  and  liberties  of  human  paturq,  for  which  they 
have  fought  j>nd  blcd^ — A^n  unalterjible  ,deteripination  to  promote 
and  cherish  between  the  relpe^ive  flutes,  union  and  national  iio- 
nour — rTp.  render  permanent,  cordial  affcclion,  and  the  fpirit  of 
brotherly  kindpefs  among  the  olRccr^s- — jnd  to  extend  afts  of  b*;- 
peficence  toward  thofe  pfilcers  and  their  families,  who  nfia^y  un- 
fortunately be' under  the  ricceflity  of  receiving  it.  The  .general 
fociety  w:ill,  (or,the  lake  of  frequent  communications,  be  diyidcd 
into  {late  focieties ;  a,nd  thqfe  again  into  luch  diilrids  as  ihallbe 
direCled  by  the  ftate  ipcieties.  The  ftste  fbcieties  fhall  meet  on 
the  fourth  of  July  annually,  ^nd  the  genera,l  fociety  on  the  ,firft 
Monday  in  May  annually,  lb  long  ,as  they  flial?  deem  it  neceflaryj 
and  afterw.ard  at  leall  once  in  every  three  years.  The  ftate  foci- 
ctics  to  have  a  prefident,  vice-pre/idcnt,  I'ecretary,  treafu*:er,  and 
affiftant-treafurer.  The  meeting  of  the  general  fociety  ihall  cpn- 
fift  of  its  oflicers,  and  a  reprefentation  from  each  ftate  fociety,  in 
number  not  exceeding  five,  whole  experices  Ihall  be  borne  by 
their  refpeftive  ftate  focieties.  In  the  general  meeting,  the  pre- 
fident, yice-prefident,  I'ecretary,  afliftant-fecretary,  trealurer,  and 
afliftantrtreafurers-general,  fhall  be  chofen  to  ferve  until  the  next 
jneeting.  Thofe  officers  who  are  foreigners,  art-  u  be  confidered 
as  members  in  the  focieties  of  any  of  the  ftates  in  v/Iiich  they  may 
happen  to  be.  As  there  are  and  will  at  »U  lime?  i.e'mer  in  the 
rcfpeft^ye  ftatps  epiinent  for  their  abilities  and  ->".(  ritiijim,  whole 
views  may  be  direfted  to  the  fame  laudable  objeJLs  with  thofe  of 
the  Cincinnati,  it  fhall  be  a  rule  to  admit  f  'i  tharafters,  n^  ho- 
norary members  of  the  fociety  for  their  own  lives  only  :  provid- 
ed that  the  number  of  the  honorary  members  do  not  exceed  a  ra- 
tio of  one  to  four  of  the  officers  and  their  dcfcendants.  The 
lociety  ffiall  have  an  order,  by  which  its  members  ffiall  be  known 
and  diftinguiffied,  which  ffiall  be  a  medal  of  gold  of  a  proper  fize 
to  receive  the  propofcd  emblems,  and  to  be  lulpended  by  a  deep 
blue  ribbon,  two  inches  wide,  edged  with  white,  dcfcriptivc  of 
the  union  of  America  and  Franco." 

The  fociety  at  the  laid  meeting  dircfted,  tliat  the  prelideni -ge- 
neral ffiould  tranfmit,  a:  loon  as  might  be,  to  each  of  the  follow- 
ing charaftcrs,  a  medal  containing  the  order  of  the  fociety,  viz, 
the  chevalier  dc  la  Luzerne,  tlie  Sieur  Gerard,  the  count  d'Efta- 
ing,  the  count  de  Grafl'c,  the  count  de  Barras,  the  chevalier 
'I'Eftouchcs,  the  count  de  Rocliainbcau,  and  the  gcnti  als  and  co- 
•oucls  in  the  army  ;  and  Iliould  accjuaint  them,  that  "the  lociety 


*ft6t 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


.III' 


I 


m 


mm 


db  Ihemfclvcs  the  honor  to  confider  them  as  members."  They 
alfo  rcfolved,  that  the  members  of  the  feveral  ftate  fopietics  (houI4 
kflTsmble  a»  foon  as  might  be  for  the  choice  of  their  officers  ; 
^'  that  general  Heath,  baron  3teuben,  and  general  KnoX|  be  a 
committee  to  -w^h  on  the  cotpmaiider  in  chief,  \vith  a  copy  of  the 
inflitution,  and  requeft  him  to  honor  the  fociety  by  pbcing  hi^ 
name  at  the  head  of  it."  They  likewife  defired  general  Heath,  to 
tranfn^it  copies  of  the  i^ditutibn  with  the  proceedings  thereon, 
to  the  commanding  officer  of  ^\w  foi|thern  army,  the  fenior  offi- 
cer in  each  ftate,. from  Pennfylvania  to  Georgia  inclufivc,  and  to 
the  commanding  o(^cer  of  the  Rhode-Ifland  line,  requefting  them 
to  take  fuch  meafures  as  may  appear  to  them  ncceffary  for  expe- 
diting the  eflablifhment  of  their  ftate  focietieSy  Circular  letters 
were  accordingly  written  ;  and  the  plan  of  the  Cincinnati  carri-. 
ed  into  execution,  without  the  leaft  oppofition  being  given  to  it 
by  any  pne  ftate,  or  body  of  men  in  any. 

A  pamphlet  was  at  length  publiflied,  figncd  Cass i us,  dated 
Charlefton,    Ofto'oer  lo,  1783,  entitled,    ConHderations  on  the 
Society  or  order  of  Cincinnati ;  with  this  motto",    "  piow  ye  the 
trumpet    in   Zion."     It  was  thought  to  have  been  written    by 
yEdanus  Burke,  Efq.  one  of  the  chief  juftices  of   South    Caro- 
lina ;  and  is  well  executed.     The    author   undertook    to   prove 
that  the  Cincinnati  erefted  two  diftinft  orders  among  the  Ame- 
ricans— rift,  a  race  of  hereditary  nobles,  founded  on  the  military, 
together  with  the  powerful  families,  and  firft-rate  leading  men  in 
♦he  ftate,  whofe  view  it  would  ever  be,  to  ruk:  and  2dly,    The 
people  or  plebians,  whofe  only  view    was,  not  to  be  opprcffed  ; 
bqt  whofe  fate  it  would  be  to  luffer  oppreffion  under  the  inftitu- 
tion.     Remarking  upon  the  reafon  for  the  members  being  called 
the  Cincinnati,  he  exclaims — "  'As  they  were  taken  from  the  citi- 
zens, why  in  the  name  of  God  not  be  contented  to  return  to  ci- 
tizcnfliip,  without  ufurping  an  hereditary  order  ?  or  with  what 
propriety   can    they  denominate   themfelves    from   Cincinnatus, 
with  an  ambition  fo  rank  as  to  aim  at  nothing  lefs,  than  Otium  cum 
Dignitate,  retirement  and  a, peerage?   Did  that  virtuous  Roman^ 
havInjT  fubducd  the  enemies  of  his  counii-y,  and  returned  home 
to  tend  his  vineyards  and  plant  his  cabbages,  confer  an  hereditary 
order  of  pcrragc   on  himfelf  and  his   fellov/  foldiers  ?   I  anfwer 
No  ;   it  wns  more  than  he  dared  to  do.     When  riear  the  end  he 
fays, — With   regard  to  myfelf,  I  will  be  candid  to  own,  that  al- 
though I  am  morally  certain   the   inftitution  ',vill  entail  upon  us 
the  evils  I  have  mentioned  ;  yet  I  have  not  the  moft  diftant  idea. 
that  it  will  come  to  a  diffolution.     The  firft  clafs,  or  leading  gen- 
try in  tiie  ftate  [of  South  Carolina]  and  who  will  always  hold  flu'. 
government,  will  find  their  intercftin  fupporting  a  diftinftlon  ihai 


OF  TH£  UNiTEJy  STATES, 


•63 


will  gratify  their  ambition,  by  removing  them  far  abov«  their 
fellow  citizens.  The  middling  order  of  our  gentry,  and  fubftan- 
tial  landholders,  may  fee  its  tendency  ;  but  they  can  take  no  ftep 
to  oppdfe  it,  haying  little  to  do  with  government.  And  the  low- 
er clafs,  with  the  city  popuhce,  will  never  reafon  on  it  till  th|cy 
feel  the  fmart,  and  then  they  will  have  neither  the  power  uor  ca- 
pacity for  a  reformation. " 

The  alarm  became  general,  the  extreme  jealoufy  of  the  new 
republics,  fufpeAcd  danger  from  the  union  of  the  loaders  of 
their  late  army,  and  efpeclally  from  a  part  of  the  Inftituiion 
which  held  out  to  their  poflerity  the  honor  of  being  admitted 
members  of  the  fame  fociety.  To  obviate  %11  gcounds  of  jealoufy 
and  fear,  thf  general  meeting  of  the  fociety  recommended  an 
alteration  of  their  inftitution  to  the  flato  foctetieSj  which  had. 
been  adopted.  By  this  recommendation  it  was  propofed  to  ex- 
punge    £V£RY    THING  THAT   WAS    HBlRZOITARY,  and    tO  rctaifi 

litt'e  clfe  than  their  original  name,  and.a  focial  charitable. inili- 
tution  for  perpetuating  their  perfonal  friendfhip,  and  relieving 
the  wants  of  their  indigent  brethren.- 

The  Institution  of  the  Society,  as  altered  a7td  amended  at  their 
^r/i  General  Meeting  at  ^HiLADELf  HI  A,  May^  1784. 

*'  IT  having  pleafed  the  fupreme  governor  of  the  univerfe  'i0 
give  fuccefs  to  the  arms  of  our  country,  and  to  eilabli(h  the' 
United  States  free  and  independent :  Therefore,  gratefully  to 
commemorate  this  event — to  inculcate  to  the  lateft  ages  the  duty 
of  laying  down  in  peace,  arms  affumed  for  public  defence,  by 
forming  an  inftitution  which  recognizes  that  moflr  important 
principle — to  continue  the  mutual  friendlhips  which  commenced 
under  the  preffure  of  common  danger,  and  to  effcftuatc  the  a^ 
of  beneficence,  diftated  by  the  fpirit  pf  brotherly  Lindnefs,  to- 
wards thofe  officers  and  their  families,  who  unfortunately  may 
be  under  the  neceffity  of  receiving  them;  the  officers  of  the 
American  army  do  hereby  conftitute  themfelves  into  A  fociety  of 
friends:  and,  poifeffing  the  highefl  veneration  for  the  chara&cr 
of  that  illuilrious  Roman,  Lucius  Quintius  Cincinnatus,  denomi- 
nate themfelves  the  society  of  the  Cincinnati., 

Sect.  I.  *  The  perfons  who  conftitute  this  foe  Jp,  are  all 
the  commiffioned  and  brevet  officers  of  the  army  and^pvy  of  the 
United  States,  who  have  ferved  three  years,  and  who  left  the 
fervice  with  rcoutation :  all  officers  who  were  in  aftual  fcrvice  at 
the  conclufion  of  the  war;  all  the  principal  ftafF-officers  of  the 
continental  arrny ;  and  the  officers  who  have  bean  deranged  by 


I 


n 


m 


!   .jfl*; 


im 


'!!illJi;'i 

i'l 


i      'II 


-II;-. I 


'I  'I 

mw 


2      «^4 


dMjtlA£  hiYck  jf^i^^ 


tht  feViSrtl  rfeliltitlbrts  dr  CbriferiJfi,  updrt'tlie  dJfftrenV  reroftW* 
of  tite'i^ri^y.  '  '■■  ' 

•i^iTdV.  11.  '*  Th^fe' i,lrc-  iffb  KdrtfUted  i'nto  thU'fodety,  the 
hlil  trid  prefent  rfnnift^rs  of  ^fi  rfio'il  citrifiiah  majftifiv  t6  the 
Uhke^  States ;  afl  th«  g^^rah  and  cdlbMti  off  regiMcfnts  and 
legidnv  of  ah^  land  fdrCt^s;  all  tkt  adrhinis  and  captiaii'ni  of  the 
navy,  ranking  as  coU>ncls,  who  have  co-operated  with  the  ai-thics' 
of  the  United  States  m  thdr  e^ttrtioni  fdr  liberty;  «n^iWch  other 
perfoni  aft'havd  been  admitted' by  the  reifpfe<E):i(^e  ft;lte-tneetitigi^. 

Skc.  III.  •  The  Ibeiety  Jhall  havelpffefititfnt.Vicft-tfrfelTidcnt, 
fecretary,  s^nd  aflillant  fecrfetary. 

SicT.  IV,  *  There  (hall  be  a  meeting  of  the  focie'iy,  at'lcaft 
once. in  three  years,  on  the  firft  Monday  iii  Mdy,ilt  iUih  pUc^  as 
the prefident  ihall  appoihtt.  .  n... 

*  The  faid  meeting  i^a)l  oonfift  of  the  afbi^ifaio  offtccV^,  whofe 
cxpenced  fhall  be  equally  borne  by  the  ftate  funds^  and  a  r^pre* 
fentation  from  each  ftate. 

>The  bufmers  of  thie  ;*cheTal  meeHng  fhall  be-ii-ld  i-egulatc  the 
diftribution  of  furplus  funds;  to  appoint  oliicers  for  th'e  enfuing 
term — and  to  conform  the  bye-laws  of  flate  meetings  to  the  ge- 
neral objcfts  of  tiie  inftitutibh; 

Sect.  V.     *  The  focieiy  ftiall  be  dividtdlnto  ftitfe-meetings : 

«chr  meeting  fliall  have  a  prcfidcnt,.  vice*p«fid?pt,  fecrctary 
4j  treafurer,  refpeftivcly  to  be  chdten  by  a  majority  of  votes 
annually. 

Sect.  VI.  *  The  (late  meetings  fhall  be  on  the  anniverfary 
of  independence.  They  fhall  concert  iuch  meafun;s  as  may 
conduce  to  the  benevolent  purpofes  of  the  fociety;  and  the  fe- 
veral  ihtc  meetings  fhall,  at  luitable  periods,  make  applicatioa 
to  tlicijr  refpefUve  legiflaturcs  for  grants  of  charters. 

Sect.  Vll.  *  i»ny  member  removing  from  one  ftatc  to 
another,  is  t.i  be  f  .fidered,  in  all  refpe^s,  as  belonging  to  the 
meeting  of  th^  illate  in  which  '.e  {hall  aiSlually  re^de. 

Sect.  V.m.  *  Ti»e  ftate-meeting  ihall  judge  of  the  qnalifi- 
cation  of  its  members,  admonilit,  and,  if  neceltary,  expel  any  one 
who  may  conduft  himfelf  unworthily. 

Sect.  IX.  *  The  Picretary  of  each  ftate-mccting  (tiall  rcgillcr 
the  name|r  of  the  members  refident  in  each  ftate,  and  tranlinit  a 
copy  thci«tf  to  the  fecretary  of  the  foelety. 

Sect.  X.  *  In  ordei"  t  >  form  funds  for  the  relief  of  unfor- 
tunate members,  their  widows  and  orphans,  each  ofiicer  fhall 
deliver  to  the  treafurer  of  the   {late-meeting,, one  month's  pay. 

Sect.  XI.  'No  donation  Ihall  be  received  but  from  the  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States. 


bs  THE  t/^ITEli  sfATE^,  i6$ 

Sect.  XII.'  'The  funds  of  each  flate-mcetirtg  (halt  be  loaned 
to  the  (late,  by  pcrmiflion  of  the  Icgillzture,  and  the  interefl  only^ 
knnually  be  applied  for  the  purpofet  of  the  Ibcicty ;  and  if,  in 
procefs  6F  time,  difficulties  (hould  occur  in  executing  the  inten- 
tions of  this  fociely,  the  legidatureiK  of  thci  fevcral  flatcs  (hall  be 
fcntitled  tu  make  fuch  equitable  difpofltion  as  may  be  moft  torref- 
pondent  with  the  origiilal  defign  of  the  Conftitution. 

Sect.  XIII.  *The  fubjeas  of  His  nioft  Chriftian  majefty^ 
inembers  of  this  foelsfy,  iriay  hold  meetings  at  theif  pleafure,  and 
form  regulations  for  their  police,  conformable  to  the  obj?£i:s  of  the 
inftitutiori,  and  to  the  fpirit  of  their  government. 

SecT.  XIV.  'The  fociety  (hall  have  an  order;  which  fliall 
be  an  eagle  of  gold,  fufpended  by  a  deep  blue  ribbon,  edged  with 
white,  defcriptive  of  the  union  of  America  and  France,  bearing 
6n  it^  breaft  the  emblems  defcribed,  as  follows. 

'The!  pHncipal  figure  to  be  Cincinnatus,  three  finators  prc> 
fenting  him  with  a  fword  and  other  military  enligns ;  On  a  field 
in  the  back  ground  his  wife  Handing  at  the  door  of  the  cottage  i 
near  it  a  ploughj  and  other  inftruments  df  hufbandry.  Round 
the  whole,  omnia  reRqitit  fervare  rempuhUcam.  On  the  revcrfe,  the 
fun  Hfing,  a  city  with  open  gates,  and  vcflels  entering  the  port  ; 
Fame  crowning  Cincinnatus  with,  a  wreath,  infcribed,  virtutis  pranu^ 
km.  Below,  hands  joining,  fupporting  a  heart,  with  the  mdtto, 
ffio  perpetiid.  Round  the  whole,  Societas  Cincinhalorttnt  ihfiituia 
A.  D.  t^^.* 


AGkiCULTURE. 

'i'  k  B  three  important  objeAs  of  attention  in  the  United  States 
<ire  agriculture,  commerce,  and  manufaflures.  The  richncfs  of 
the  foil,  which  amply  rewards  the  induftrious  hufbandman  :  the 
temperature  of  the  climate,  which  admits  of  ftead/  laboui  ;  the 
chcapnefs  of  land,  which  tempts  the  foreigner  from  his  native 
home,  lead  us  to  confider  stgriculture  as  the  prefent  great  leading 
intereft  of  that  country.  This  furnilhes  outward  cargoes,  not 
©nly  for  all  their  own  fhips,  but  for  thole  alfo  which  foreign  na- 
tions fend  to  their  ports ;  or  in  other  words,  it  pays  for  all  their 
importations  ;  it  fuppiies  a  great  part  of  the  clothing  of  the  inha- 
bitants, and  food  for  them  and  their  cattle.  What  i*  confumcd 
at  home,  including  the  materials,  for  manufafturing,  is  four  or 
five  times  the  value  of  what  is  exported. 

The  number  of  people  employed  in  agriculture,  is  at  leaft  three 
parts  in  four  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  Si^tes ,  ioiac  fay 


M 


M 


!' 


'■ill''' 


i 
i 


«i« 


CENEkAL  DESCRlPTtOlf 


more.  It  follows  of  courfe  that  they  form  the  body  of  tlie  mllU 
tia»  who  are  the  bulwark  of  the  nation.  The  valuie  of  their  pro- 
perty occupied  by  agriculture,  is  many  times  greater  than  thd 
property  employed  in  every  Qjlher  way.  The  fettlement  of  wafte 
lands,  the  fubdivitlon  of  farms,  and  the  numerous  improvement! 
in  hufbandry,  annually  increafe  the  pre-eminence  of  the  agricul- 
tural intered.  The  refources  they  derive  from  it^  are  at  all  timet 
certain  and  indifpenfably  neteiTary :  befides,  the  rural  life  prow 
{notes  health,  by  its  a^ive  nature  ;  and  morality,  by  keeping  the 
people  from  the  luxuries  and  vices  of  the  populous  towns.  la 
fliort,  agriculture  is  the  fpcing  of  their  commerce^  and  the  parent 
of  manufa£itures4 


lliii'^!'' 


m. 


'lit 
ill' 


r'l 


COMMERCE^ 

The  vaR  extent  of  fea-coaft,  which  fpreads  befcn-e  the  confe- 
derated ftates;  the  number  of  excellent  harbours  and  fea-port 
towns  they  ppflefs ;  the  numerous  creeks  and  immenfe  bays^ 
whitdi  indent  the  coafl :  and  the  rivers,  lakes,  and  canals,  which 
peninli?late  the  whole  country ;  added  to  its  agricultural  advan- 
tages and  improvements,  give  this  part  of  America  fuperior  ad- 
vantages for  trade<  Their  commerce,  including  their  exports^ 
imports,  (hipping,  manufaftures,  and  fifhcries,  may  properly  be 
conHdefed  as  forming  one  interefl.  This  haS  been  confidered  a« 
the  jp^reat  objc£l,  and  the  moft.  important  intereft  ol  the  New 
England  States; 

Since  e6mmerce  has  ever  been  confidered  as  the  handmaid  of 
agriculture,  particularly  in  America,  where  the  agricultural  inter-* 
eft  fo  greatly  predominates  ;  and  fince  neither  can  flourifh  with* 
out  the  other,  j  oUcy^and  intereft  point  out  the  neceffity  of  fuch 
a  fyftem  of  commercial  and  agricultural  regulations,  as  will  ori- 
ginate and  efFe£lually  preferve  a  proper  connefiion  and  balance! 
between  them. 

The  coniUmption  of  fifli,  oil,  whale-bone,  and  other  articles 
obtained  through  the  filheries,  in  the  towns  and  countries  that 
arc  convenient  for  navigation,  has  become  much  greater  than 
is  generally  fuppofed.  It  is  computed  that  no  lefs  than  five 
thouiand  barrels  of  mackarel,  falmon,  and  pickled  codfifh,  are 
vended  annually  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia :  add  to  them  the 
dried  fifh,  oil,  fperitiaceti  candles,  whale-bone,  Ac.  and  it  will 
be  found  that  a  little  fleet  of  floops  and  fchooncrs  are  employed 
in  the  bufincfs. 

The  demand  for  the  forementioned  articles  is  proportionably 
great  ih  tlie  other  parts  of  the  union,  efpecially  in  Bofton  and  th« 


Ot  THE  UNITED  STATES,  467 

Itrge  commercial  towns  thit  lie  a)ong  the  coaft  north-eaftward, 
which  enter  largely  into  the  (ifhing  trade,  and  the  velfels  employ- 
ed in  tranfporting  them  proportionably  numerous.  The  incrcal'e 
of  their  towns  and  manufaftures  will  increafe  the  demand  for 
thefe  articles,  and  of  courfe  the  number  of  coafting  veflels.  In 
the  prefent  ftate  of  their  navigation,  they  can  be  in  no  doubt  of 
procuring  thefc  fupplies  by  means  of  their  own  veflels.  This  will 
afford  encouragement  to  the  bufinefs  cf  (hip-building,  and  increafe 
the  number  of  their  feamen,  who  mud  hereafter  form  an  impor- 
tant part  of  the  defence  of  ^heir  country.  Add  to  tliefe, 
their  profpefts  from  the  fur  trade  of  Canada.  The  vaft  fct- 
tlements  which  are  making  at  Pittsburgh,  Ger'*U^,  and  in  other 
parts  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Canada  ;  the  advat.  ages  of  their 
inland  navigation,  by  means  of  the  lakes,  the  northern  branches 
of  the  Ohio,  the  Potomak,  the  Sufquchannah  and  the  Hudfon, 
with  many  other  circumftances  depending  not  only  on  the  Otu- 
ation,  but  likewile  on  the  climate,  proximity,  &c,  mull,  in  a  few 
years,  put  a  large  fhare  of  the  fur  trade  into  their  hands,  and 
procure  them,  at  leaft,  a  proportionable  (hare  of  the  large  profits 
thence  arifmg,  which  Canada,  fince  the  year  1 763,  has  enjoyed 
almofl  exclufively.  Thefe  advantages,  however,  are  (till  but  in 
profpe£l ;  and  mud  remain  fo  until  the  Britilh,  agreeable  to  the 
treaty  of  peace,  (ball  have  evacuated  the  forts  at  Niagara,  the  large 
fettlements  of  the  Heights,  and  that  of  MichiUimakinak.  Al- 
though the  Britifh,  by  the  tireaty  of  peace,  are  to  enjoy  with  the 
Americans  the  portages  of  the  navigation  of  the  lakes,  yet,  fhould 
a  difpute  arife,  it  will  not  be  convenient  for  the  former  to  con- 
teft  it ;  for  the  northern  and  north-eftern  parts  of  the  continent 
included  in  the  Britiih  limits,  are  much  colder,  n^ore  n^ountain- 
ous  and  poorer  than  the  United  States,  and  have  no  rivers,  but 
fuch  as  are  full  of  rapids  and  falls  :  confequcntly,  this  trade  can- 
not be  carried  on  by  the  Canadians  with  the  fame  facility  nor  ad- 
vantage  as  by  the  Americans.  Still  England  will  have  left  the 
exclufive  right  to  the  communication  from  Montreal  with  the 
High-lands,  through  the  large  river  of  the  Qttowas,  which  flows 
into  the  river  St.  Lawrence  at  the  lake  of  the  Two  Mountains, 
nine  miles  from  that  city ;  but  its  rapids  and  falls  render  this 
way,  if  not  impra&ic^ble,  at  lead  always  very  expenfive  and 
precarious. 

The  quantity  of  furs,  deer  and  elk  (kins,  annually  imported 
from  the  northern  parts  of  America  to  England,  is  prodigiou?. 
In  1784,  the  amount  of  fales  for  furs  was  more  than  two  hundred 
^nd  forty.five  thoufand  pounds.  It  has  not  equalled  this  lum, 
every  year  fince,  but  has  Seldom  ,  varied  more  thaii  from  ten   to 

M  M  2 


'  m 


a6i( 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


iiiiiiiil' 


liipi' 


iiiiiiiili: 


twenty  thoufand  pounds.— When  we  conf^der  the  number  of 
animals  deflroyed  to  furnifh  fuch  extenfive  produ£is,  the  mind 
feels  itlelf  loft  in  contemplating  the  vi^ft  tra£i  of  country  that 
could  afford  an  habitat! pn  for  then). 

The  following  is  a   Correal  ftatement  of  the  nuni^:;r  of  furs, 
&c.  expofed  to  fale  in   London,  in  the  prefent  year,   1794,  and 


"1 

>tri>ibii  mny    uc   laKCl^   as  x 

for  ten  years  part. 

la^r  average  01  i{ip  annua^  in  porxauu 

^91,4';  3  raccoon 

^  9,580  fox 

'    «3'354  t'wr 

740  wolverin 

27,670  martit^ 

30,600  mufgualh 

.   ' 

i45,7?o  beaver 

7,798  rabbit  and  ^vhite  hare 

35,89  T  otter 

10,785  kidd 

■1' 

6,700  fiftier 

161,371  deer. 

;.•:' 

11,760  cat 

470  elk 

32,540  minl^ 

720  feals               » 

h  ■. 

9,790  wo^f 

983  lamb. 

To  thefe  muft  be  added  a  fmall  quantity  of  furs,  and  about  fix 
or  eight  thoufand  f'-cr  not  yet  fold,  the  veflcl  having  been  de- 
layed on  her  paflka^  "a  this  enumeration,  the  quantity  im- 
ported by  thf  Hudlon-s  Bay  Company  is  not  noticed.  Of  thefe 
wc  fliall  fpeak  whi  n  tn  aiing  of  that  part  of  the  Briti(h  fettle- 
mcnii. — TI>c  chief  of  thele  fui<5  are  paid  for  in  Englifti  manu- 
factures.— Not  more  than  a  fourth  part  of  them,  beaver  and  deer 
ikins  excepted,  if  fo  much,  are  done  any  thine  mort  to  in  England 
than  beat,  lorted,  and  re-packcd ;  a  great  portion  are  re-fhiped 
to  Germany,  and  diiperled  through  the  various  parts  of  the  Em- 
pire, France,  &c. — -Some  are  (hipped  from  London  dire£b  for 
France,  and  fome  to  RufTia,  China,  &c.  at  immenfe  profits. 

This  valuablejrade,  which  is  carried  on  through  Quebec,  wil'^ 
a  great  part  of  it  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  as  foon  as 
the  fortifications,  which  the  Britifh  poffcfs  in  their  northern 
territories,  fhall  be  r^ftored.  To  this  confideration,  rather  than 
to  the  pretended  compalfion  fpr  the  Royalifts,  may  be  attributed 
the  delay  of  that  reftitutioK.  The  period  when  this  reftitution 
tnufi  be  made,  is  ho^vever  arrived :  a  period  which  the  Britifh  go- 
vernment have  long  anticiprted  with  forrow.  Such  are  fome  of 
the  commercial  refources  and  profpc^s  of  the  ynited  States. 

But  for  various  realons,  the  advantages  for  trade  which  nature 
has  fo  liberally  given  the  Americans,  have  never,  till  fince  tliQ 
^{lablifhment  of  the  prcleut  government,  been  properly  improved. 
Before  the  revolution.  Great  Britain  claimed  an  exclufive  right 
to  the  trade  of  ht;r  American  colonies.  This  right,  which  fhe  in- 
flexibly maintained;  enabled  her  to  f        *'  own  price,  as  well  oi^ 


/ 

Of  TH£  UNITED  STATES.  ,         ^^ 

the  articles  which  fhe  purchafed  from  them,  as  upon  thofc  of  her 
own  manufaftures  exported  for  their  confumption.  The  carrying* . 
frade,  too,  was  prelervcd  almoli  exclufivcly  in  her  own  handa^ 
which  afforded  a  temptation  to  the  carriers,  that  was  often  too 
powerful  to  be  withftood,  to  exa6l  exorbitant  commifllons  and 
freights.  Although  wc  will  not  even  hazard  a  cpnjeflure  how 
much  Great  Britain  enriched  hcrlelf  by  this  exclufive  trade  with 
her  colonies,  yet  this  we  may  fa) ,  that  by  denying  them  the  pri- 
yilege  of  carrying  their  pwn  produce  to  foreign  markets,  Ihe  de- 
prived them  of  the  opportunity  of  realizing,  i  n  their  full  extent, 
^he  advantages  for  trade  which  nature  has         -n  them. 

The  l^te  war,  ^hich  brought  about  the  j  tion  from  Great 

Britain,  threw  the  commercial  affairs  of  /  Into  great  con- 

fufion.  The  powers  of  the  ol4  confederation  were  unequal  to 
the  complete  exccutiqn  of  any  meafures,  calculated  efFeflually  to  . 
recover  them  from  their  deranged  fituation.  Through  want  of 
power  in  the  old  Congrefs  to  cojlefl  a  revenue  for  the  difcharge  of 
their  foreign  and  domeflic  debt,  their  credit  was  deftroyed,  and 
trade  of  confequence  greatly  embarrafTed.  Each  (late,  in  her  de- 
fultory  regulations  of  trade,  regarded  her  own  intereft,  while  that 
of  the  union  was  neelc^ed.  And  fo  different  were  the  intereftt 
of  the  feveral  flates,  that  their  laws  refpefling  trade  often  clafh- 
ed  with  each  other,  and  \yere  produ£^ive  of  unhappy  confequen- 
jces.  The  large  commercial  States  had  it  in  their  power  to  opprefs 
their  neighbours ;  and  in  fome  inftances  this  power  was  dire£ll/ 
or  indireflly  exercifed.  Thefe  impolitic  an4  unjuflifiable  regu- 
lations, formed  on  the  imprcfRon  of  the  moment,  and  proceeding 
from  no  uniform  or  permanent  principles,  excited  unhappy  jea- 
loufies  between  the  clafhing  States,  and  occafioned  frequent  flag- 
nations  in  their  trade,  and  in  fome  inftances,  a  fecrecy  in  their 
{Commercial  policy.  3ut  the  wife  meafures  which  have  been 
adopted  by  Congref?,  undef  the  prefent  efficient  government  of 
the  United  States,  have  extricated  them  almofl  entirely  from  thefe 
embarrafTmcnts,  and  put  a  new  and  pleating  face  upon  their  pub- 
lic affairs.  Iiivefted  with  the  adequate  powers,  Congrefs  have 
formed  a  fyflem  of  commercial  regulations,  which  enable  them  to 
meet  the  oppofers  of  their  trade  upon  their  own  ground ;  a  fyflem 
which  has  placed  their  commerce  on  a  refpe£lable,  uniform,  and 
intelligible  footing,  adapted  to  promote  the  general  interefls  of 
the  union,  with  the  fmalleft  injury  to  the  individual  States. 

The  countries  with  which  the  United  States  have  had  their 
chief  commercial  intercourfe  are  Spain,  Portugal,  France,  Great 
Britain,  the  United  Nethherlands,  Denmark,  and  Sweden,  and 
fheir  American  pofTefTions,  RufTia,  &c.  &c.  &c.   and  the  articles 


\m 


m 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


I 


1.25 


IftilM    |2j5 
■tt  Bi   ■2.2 

Sf   LS,    12.0 


■biku 


Fh0lDgra[Jiic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTIR,N.Y.  I4SM 

(71«)«72-4S03 


V 


v^ 


GM^MMAl  DESCRIP: 


of  MpOBt  which  «0|i|Ultt|c^  at  pnfent,  the  W0t  of  thtt  cmnn^erct 


0»«i,  K1TAI.I,  4c. 

Copper  Or« 

Skimmers  and  ladles 

Kg 

Anchors 

8|ieet 

Crapnails 

M«nDft|^ure4 

Mu0cets 

]ff  on,  the  toil 

Cutlaflet 

"\ 

^% 

ICnivet  and  ^rks 

■ 

Skot  for  caonoii 

Chefts  of  carpenters  too^ifc 

■     -^  ia^-   ■■■         ■ 

Nails 

llfil  rods,  ilbCf 

Waggon  boxes 

.      .           *^«>P» 

Pots,  kettles,  and  othqr  qi(Unga 

1 

Axes 

/Cannot) 

1 

1 

Hqet 

SwiveU 

praVriaiplKilivei 

Shot  for  cannoi\ 

3cythes 

Lead,  Sheet 

Locks  and  Wts 

Pig 

^veU 

§M 

NAVAt 

STOKER. 

■ 

Hemp 

Rofin 

^ 

Cablet  and  cordage 

Turpentine 

ritek 

Sail  clol^ 

T««r 

L 

SAOViaioNa. 

Itice 

Dried  fi(h 

flour 

Pickled  fiik 

Ship  ftuff 

Cheefe 

\ 

Rye  meal 

Lard 

Indian  meal 

Butter 

buckwheat  meal 

Saufages 

'  Oat  meal 

Carcafes  of  mutton 

'      Muftard 

Neats  tongues 

Bread 

Oyfters  pickled 

9eef 

Potatoes 

4 

Pork 

Onions 

Crackers 

Other  vegetables. 

Hams  and  bacon 

Reeds 

Venifon  and  mutton  hamsr 

..ili^' 


*p 


MoUiTea 

Madeira  and  otkAr  win* 

Rum,  Ameriean 

Bottled  ditto 

Rum,  Weft  India 

Vinegar 

Brandy 

EiTence  of  Spruce 

Brandy^  Peach 

Beer 

Gin 

Ale 

Ditto 

Porter 

Ditto 

Dioo  holtled 

Cordials 

• 

* 

LiVft  atocKi 

Horned  Cattle 

Deer 

Horfes 

Hogs 

Mules 

Poultry 

Sheep 

iilttei,  Mki^iciNxi,  Ac* 

Glauber  falts  Saflafras  wood  <Hr  mmH, 

Pink,  China  and  fnake  root     Gen&ng,  Ac*  Ac* 
Saffafrasbark 


excieskiit. 

Caflia  and  einriamoii 

.       Cocoa- 

Cloves 

Chocolate 

Pimento 
Pepper 
Sago 
Teas 

■  - 

Brown  fug^ 
lioaf  fugar 

Other  fugar* 
Raifins 

Conee 

- 

ORAXK 

•  |IDS    AMft    rUM] 

Wheat 

Rye 

Bdrley 
Indian  com 

■.-.•    , 

Madder 
.    Garden  fecdt 
Hiiyfeed 
Muftardfeed 

Oats 

Buckwheat 

Cotton  feed 
tlakfeed 

Peas  andheant 

SKIPS'  *ir^    ttJRI* 

Buffalo  and  cow  hide* 
Molroccoh' 

>, Reaver 
"      .Mwtin 

V  .  ;  t,,   ,  i.  *, 


^i^.c 


t^ 


^i  Ji^liT  itki  msckppt 


k-.. 


^' 


CSkhu  and  Furs.  eonHnuM.J 

Ctif  m>air.      r  Mink 

Moufeandeik     .  MufquaAi 

Deer  (kins  Call 

Seals  ,  -  ^ox 

'  Bear,  wolfi^  and  tygeir  '  '   Wolveren 

Otter  ,    Sq[uirrel,  and 

Ratcoon,  .  Sundry  otlier  ikini  and  fur& 

Saddles,  men^'  Shoes,  men^*  atid  ^omens' 

Bridles  Boot»    ,                             > 

Whips,  Bootlegs 
Coadi  and  other  carriage!' hamefs  Leather  tanned  and  drefled 
Waggon  and  cart  geers' 


TIMBER    WORlt. 


Framesof^jveflelii^^^   . 

filOWS' 


Frsnaes  of  houfes 

windows  and  doors' 


AOUSK    rVRMiTVRB. 


Ml 

m 

I  IIP  w 


tables 

qiopks      , 

Bedilead* 

Clock  ^afes 

Deik*  ^ 

-    Ghefts 

Bureaus 

Chairs,  Windfor      t 

Sophas  and  fettees- 

Chairs,  Ruih 

5 

'^                    ^  ■ 

CARI|-|[AGSS. 

Coaehei^ 

Phaetons,  ftc. 

Chariots^                  v 

Waggons  and  cart^ 

wooft. ' 

Staves  «nd  heading 

Boxes  and  brakes 

Shingly, 

Blocks 

Shook  caiks 

Oirs 

Ca&» 

^  Oars  rafterS' 

laths 

Trunnels 

Hoops 

'^  Cedar  and  oak  knees' 

Hoop-polet 

Breaft  hooks        ^j^>^ 

Mafts 

tParlings 

Bowfprit» 

An<^hor  ftocks 

Booms 

•  CJedar'pofti-"-'^'^ '•'-''^'■^'"  • 

Spars 

■Otk  boards  and  plank  ^ 

THE  irifitEl^  WAtESi  ., 

Pine  balk 

Pine  boards  and  plank 

Maft  hoop's 

Axe  helves 

Truft  hoops 

Yokes  and  bowes  for  oxeA 

Lock  ftocks 

Worm  tubs 
^  „  ,         Wheel  bari-ows 

Mohogany,  Ipgwood,  *St,c,    Waggon  and  cart  wheeli 
dak,  pine,  &c.  [kory,  Ac;  Spokes  and  FelHel 
Cords  of  Oak,'  pine,  hit-     Spinning  wheels 
Ditto  of  oak  bark  Tubs;  pails,  &c. 

Oak  biilrk,  ground  ^owls^  di(hes^  platters,  Atf^ 


m 


iland  fpikes 

Pumps  , 

Other  boards  and  plank 

Scantling 

jj  f  Oak,  pine,  &ci 

*|  <  Ditto,  ditto 

V^  [^  Mahogany 

Lignum  vitae 
Logwobd  and  nicaraguja 


Aflies;  pot    t 

A(hes,  pearl 

Apples  . 

Bricks 

Boats 

Bellow»  foi-  fiiiiths 

Brimftone 

Blocking  ot  lampblack 

fiayberrieS 

Cider 

Ditto  Wtled 

Chalk 

CoctQii 

Candle%  myrtle  viraie 

Wax 

Tallow 

Spermaceti 
Coals 

Craneberries 
Corks 
Corn-fans 
buck  Ruffia 
Canes  and  walking-fticks  Feathers 
American  cotton  8k  wool-cards  Flints 
Flax  Grindftones 

Glafs  ware  Nankeens 


aVNORIEir 

Nutti 

Oil  whale 

Oil  fpcrmaceti 

Oil  linfeed  < 

Spirits  of  tuipentiiie 

porcelain  or  duaft  war^ 

j^owder,  gun 

Powder,  bait 

Pomatum 

Paints 

Pipes 

Printing  preffel 

Printing  types 

Plaifter  of  pwril 

Soap     , 

Starch 

Snuff    ' 

Steel  . 

Silk,  raw 

Silver,  oldl 

Salt 

Stone  ward 


Vol.  I. 


Nn 


•^4         \        OEHERAh  DESCniPtl 

fSwHfkna  ttHatmnkJ 

Dftto  for  windows  Ditto  ounufafturefl 

Honey 


«i. 


Hops 

Hay 

Hats 

Horns 
Homtipi 
Indigo 
Lime 


Tallow 

Twine 

Towdoth 

Toys  for  children 

tin 

t>itto  manuftfture4 

Vamifli 

Whalebone^  Ac. 


Yellow  or  queen's  ward        Wax,  bees 
Tobacco   ~  Myrtle,  &c. 

The  proportion  of  their  exports,  and  their  value  to  the  nation! 
before  mentibned,  and  to  their  dominions  refpe^Uvely,  as  they 
ffbodinthe  year  1791,  isasfoUowSi* 


svMMARY  Or  i^pORTs,  Ending  Sept.  J  I,  1791. 

Doli. 


CUs 


tB  the  dominions  of  lluifia        -  -  • 

To  the  dominions  of  Sweden 
To  the  dominions  of  Denmark  •  •« 

Ttf  the  dominions  of  the  United  Netherlands      « 
To  the  dominions  of  Great  Briuin  -        • 

To  the  Imperial  ports  of  the  Auftrian  Netherlands 

and.  Germany  -  •■ 

To  Hamburgh  Bremen,  and  other  Haafe  towns        - 
To  the  dominions  of  France  -  - 

To  the  dominions  of  Spain    .     * 
To  the  dominions  of  Portugal  *  .  « 

To  the  Italian  Ports  -  -  a 

To  Morocco  .         -  •• 

To  the  £aft  Indies,  generally  .  - 

To  Africa,  generally  -  -    '        - 

To  the  Weft  Indies,  gjcnerally  •> 

To  the  North  Weft  Coaft  of  America 
To  Europe  and  the  Weft  Indies  fdr  a  market 


3iS70 
21,866.    z 

a77»«73.  53 
1,634,815.    6 

7*953i4i».  %x 

362,010.  fl(t 

64»aS9'  *5 
4,298,762^  i6 

1,301,286.  gl5 

«»«3>^696»  47 

31,726.  94I 

3,660.  50 

318,628.  4^ 

168,477.  92 

69»434-  S^i 
31380. 

«*9»«74.    5 


To  the  above,  add  the  amount  of  two  quar- 
terly returns  afterwards  received  from  Char- 
lefton,  Sou^h  Carolina. 


} 


»7*57i.55<'  45 
817,651. 


18,399,201  45 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


•75 


The  exports  of  the  year  ending  joth  September  i79t»  apount* 
^d  in  value  to  twenty-one  miUtdns,  five  thoufand  five  hundred 
»nd  fixty-eight  pomi4s»  frpni  which  time  th«y.h«ve  been  |[ndu* 
ally  on  thf;  increafc. 

The  export*  of  the  year  ending  50th  September  1793,  aalkount* 
pd  to  a6>ooo,ooo  of  dollars,  being  an  excefs  of  5,ooO|OOQ  above 
the  preceding  year. 

The  exports  of  the  year  ending  50th  September  1 794,  exceede4 
^o,OQO/>QO  of  dollars, 

Mr.  Tench  Coxe  in  his  Fiew  of  tit  Umud  Sfata,  fays,  that 
**  Lefe  than  half  the  ihips  and' vefliels  belonging  to  the  United 
States,  are  fufficient  to  tranfpprt  all  the  commodities  they  coiv* 
fume  or  hnpojt." 

Thje  imports  of  America,  confiftmoftly  of  articles  oowhicb 
^uropeui  fhduftry  has  been  exhaufted,  an  idea  of  their  extent, 
jM  well  as  of  that  of  tb*  American  navigation,  depending  on  their 
commerce,  will  appear  by  the  following  tables,  containing  abr 
^nCts  of  duties  on  the  imports,  and  on  the  tonnage  of  veflcls  en* 
fcred  into  the  different  poru  of  the  United  States,  ii|  the  ye|f 


/ 


SUMMARY 


Nm  9 


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ikij0r 


It  may  be  i^teifiry  here  to  notice  the  prtncipil  refiriAioii^; 
impofitiona^  and  prohtbitioni  fuftained  by  the  United  States  ini 
their  trade  with  the  different  European  kingdoms,  in  contrail 
with  thofe  fufbined  by  theifi  in  their  trade  with  the  Britifli 

Dominions;  ^    -v  J..^.  '5;  1     ;...    ( 

Of  their  commercial  6bje£b,  SrAfi)  receiveri/avorably,  their 
bread,  (lufF,  falted  ^(h,  wood,  (hips,  tar,  pitch,  and  turpei^tine. 
On  their  meals,  however,  ••  well  as  on  thofe  of  other  foireign 
countries,  when  re-exported  on  their  Colonies,  they  have  lately 
impofed  duties,  of  from  half  a  dollar  to  two  dollars  the  barrel, 
the  duties  Iwin^  (d  proportioned  to  the  current  price  of  their  own 
flour,  as  that  both  together  are  to  make  the  conftant  fmn  of  nine 
dollars  per  barrel 

They  do  not  difccfurage  the  rite,  pot  and  pearl  afli,  falted  provi- 
fions,  or  whale  oil  of  the  United  States ;  but  thefe  articles  being 
in  fmall  demand  at  their  markets,  are  carried  thither  but  in  a  imall 
degree.  Their  demand  for  ric^e,  however,  is  increaflng.  Nei- 
ther tobacco,  nor  indigo  are  received  there.  Amerijcan  comi^erce 
is  permitted'  with  their  Canary  Iflands,  under  the  fame  con- 
ditions. 

The  Spaniards,  and  their  colonies,  are  the  aftual  confumers  of 
what  they  receive  from  the  United  States. 

The  navigation  of  the  United  States  is  free  witii  the  kingdom 
of  Spain  ;  foreign  goods  being  received  there  in  their  fhips;  on 
the  fame  conditions  as  if  carried  in  their  oWn,  or  in  the  Veflt^ls  of 
the  country  of  which  fuch  goods  are  the  manufa&ure  or  produce; 

Portugal  receives  favouraUy  American  grain,  bread,  falted 
fifh,  and  other  falted  proviAons,  wood,  tar,  pitch  and  turpentine; 

For  flax-feed,  pot  and  pearl-afli,  though  not  difcQuraged  there  is 
little  demand. 

American  fliips  pay  20  per  cent,  on  being  fold  to  Portuguefe 
fubje£b,   and  are  then  free  bottoms. 

Foreign  goods,  except  thofe  of  the  Eall  Indies,  are  received  on 
the  fame  footing  in  American  veflels,  as  in  their  ownj  or  any 
•thers }  that  is  to  fay,  on  general  duties  of  from  twenty  to  twenty^ 
eight  per  cent,  and  confequently  their  navigation  is  unobftrudied 
by  them.    Tobacco,  rice  and  meals  are  prohibited. 

The  Portuguefe  and  their  colonies  confume  what  they  receive 
from  the  American  States. 

Thefe  regulations  extend  to  the  Azores,  Madeira,  and  the  Cape 
de  Verd  iflands,  except  that  in  thefe,  meals  and  rice  are  received 
freely. 

France  receives  fiivourably  American  bread  ftuff,  rice,  wood^ 
pot  and  pearl  afties. 

A  duty  of  five  I'ous  the  kental,  or  nearly  four  an  half  cents  is 


lixs  of 


receive 


>W^: 


THM  USiTED  $TATM9^ 


tli 


,1  •■- 


\Ai  OB  American  jUr^  vitch,  tnd  tuipcmiiie.  Whal«  dUt  ptf 
fix  livret  the  kenul,  and  tfc  the  only  foreigii  whale  oik  admtttedi 
Of  the  ftatea,  2||idigo  paya  ftve  livrei  on  |he  kcntpl  \  their  owii 
two  and  an  half:  but  a  diilS^rence, of  fM*lity»  ftUl  more  than  ft 
^ffercnce  of  duty,  preventa  ita  feeking  that  market. 

Salted  beef  ia  received  freely  for  i«-e\poration,  but  if  for 
iiome  confumption,  it  paya  fiye  livrea  the  kentiu.  Other  fiilted 
proviflona  pay  that  duty  in  all  calec,  and  falted  filh  it  «iade  laic* 
ly  to  pay  the  prohibitory  one  of  twenty  livrea  in  the  kenu^ 

American  fliipa  are  free  to  tearry  to  Franiee  all  foreigh  goods 
which  may  be  carried  in  their  Own  or  any  other  veflela^  except 
tobaccoea  not  the  growth  of  the  ftatea  i  and  they  pahicipate  lnritH 
the  French  (hipa  in  tho  excluAve  carriage  of  Vrhale  oila  and  to- 
baccoea. 

.  During  their  bonnier  goVemnlfcnki  the  tobafcco  was  under  a 
monopoly  t  but  paid  no  duties,  and  AmericSn  (hipa  were  fireely 
ibid  in  their  porta,  and  converted  iilto  nStional  bottomi.  Ihk 
firft  natioMl  aflembly  took  from  American  fliipS  thia  privilege  t 
they  emancipated  tobacco  from  ita  mOnopc^y,  but  fUbjeAed  it  t6 
duties  of  eighteien  livrea  fifteen  foua  the  kentsl,  fcarried  in  their 
bwn,  and  twenty-five  livrea  if  tarried  in  Ahieriisin  vefTcli)  a  dif^ 
ference  more  than  equal  to  the  freight  of  the  article; 

The  French  nation  have  however  offered  to  enter  inio  i  new 
treaty  of  coihmerce  with  the  United  Sutes  on  more  liberal  terms 
and  in  the  mean  time  have  relaiked  feme  of  the  above  reftraihti 
snd  feveritieai 

GssAt  BmiTJiiii  receivea  frdtn  the  (iat^i  pot  iln^  pearl  alhes 
frecj  while  thofo  of  other  nationa  pay  a  duty  of  two  ihiliingaand 
three-pence  the  kental.  There  is  an  equal  diftinftion  in  favour 
of  their  bar  iron,  of  whith  article^  however^  they  do  not  pit>- 
duce  enough  for  their  own  ufe4  WoOda  are  free  from  America^ 
iXrhilft  they  pay  fome  fmall  duty  from  other  coutatrie*.  Theiir 
tar  and  pitch  pay  itdi  fterling  the  barrel;  from  Other  aliea 
countries  they  pay  about  a  penny  and  a  third  morei 

Their  tobacco,  for  Britifli  confumption,  pay  is.  3CL  Aerlihg 
the  pounds  tuflom  snd  excife^  befideS  hcaVy  ekpences  of  Collec- 
tion. And  ricci  in  the  fame  cafej  pays  7s.  4d.  fterling  the  hun- 
dred weight ;  which,  rendering  it  too  ddir  aa  an  article  of  com* 
men  foodj  it  ia  confequentljr  ufed  in  very  fnull  quantity. 

The  falted  fifh^  and  other  falted  pxovifiona  of  the  United  StateS| 
except  bacon,  are  prohibited;  Bacon  and  Whale  oil  are  under 
prohibitory  duties ;  fo  are  the  ^alns;  mealsj  and  bread,  as  to  Our 
internal  confumptiena  unlefs  in  times  of  fuch  fcarcity  aS  auy  raiib 

©01    . 

Vol.  1. 


ll 


i«a 


GtNBAAl  bMSCklPftim 


''<%^ 


"im 


the  price  of  wheat  to  508.  fterling  the  quarter,  and  otfaer^inf 
and  meals  in  proportion. 

American  fliips,  though  purchafed  and  navigated  by  Britifll 
fubje^,  are  not  pehhiited  to  be  ufed,  even  in  our  own  trad* 
with  them. 

While  the  veflels  of  other  nations  are  fecured  by  ftsfhding  laws, 
which  cannot  be  altered,  but  by  the  concurrent  will  of  the  thre« 
branches  of  the  EHtifh  legillature^  in  bringing  hither  any  pro^ 
duce  or  manufalbire  of  the  country  to  which  they  belong,  which 
may  be  lawfully  carried  in  any  Veifels,  American  Ihips  with  the 
fame  prohibition  of  what  is  foreign,  are  further  prohibited  by  t 
ftariding  law  ( 1  a  Can  II.  aS.  §<  3,)  from  bringing  hither  all  and 
any  of  their  own  domeftic  produdions  and  manufaftures.  A  fub"* 
fequent  zBt^  indeed,  has  authorifed  the  executive  power  to  per» 
mit  the  carriage  of  their  produftions  in  tlMir  own  bottoms,  at  its 
fele  defcretion }  and  the  permiflion  has  been  given  from  year  to 
year  by  proclamation,  but  fubje£l  every  moment  to  be  withdrawn 
en  its  iingle  will,  in  which  event,  American  veffsls  having  any 
thing  of  the  kind  on  board,  ftand  interdiSed  from  the  entry  of  all 
Brittik  ports.  The  difadvantage  of  a  tenure  which  may  be  fo 
luddenly  dtfconttnued  Was  experienced  by  the  American  mtr* 
chants  on  a  late  occaflon,  when  an  official  notification  that  this 
kiw  would  be  ftriftly  enforced,  gave  them  juft  appreheafions  for 
the  fate  of  their  veflels  and  cargoes  which  they  had  difpatched  of 
deftined  to  the  pons  of  Great  Britain.  The  ibinifter  indeed, 
frankly  exprefled  his  perfonal  conviftion  that  the  words  of  the 
order  went  farther  thui  was  intended^  at.d  fo  he  afterwards  offi- 
cially informed  them ;  but  the  embarraffineata  of  the  moment 
were  real  and  great,  and  the  poffibility  of  thri;  renewal  lays  their 
commerce  to  this  country  under  the  fiime  fpecies  of  difeourage* 
ment  as  to  other  countries,  where  it  is  regulated  by  a  (tngle  le-* 
giflator ;  and  the  diftinftion  is  too  remarkable  not  to  be  noticed, 
^at  the  navigation  of  the  American  States  is  excluded  from  the 
fecurity  of  fixed  laws,  while  that  fecurity  is  given  to  the  naviga- 
tion of  otherSk 

American  veflels  pay  in  our  ports  is,  gd.  fterting  per  ton, 
light  and  trinity  dues,  mor«  than  is  paid  by  our  own  fliips^  except 
in  the  port  of  London,  where  they  pay  the  feme  as  Britifh. 

The  greater  part  of  what  we  receive  from  them  is  re-exported 
to  other  countries,  under  the  ui'elefs  charges  of  an  intermediate 
depoiit  and  double  voyage.  From  tables  publiflied  in  London, 
Mid  compofed  from  the  books  of  our  cuftom-houfes,  it  appears 
tiKat  of  the  indigo  imported  here  in  the  year  »778— 4— 5)  one 
third  was  re-exported ;  and  from  a  document  of  authority,  we 


■■.>*' 


^f  THE  UNITED  STATMS, 


tS) 


le«m  that  of  the  rice  and  tobacco  imported  here  before  the  wari 
four-fiths  were  re-exported.  The  quantities  fent  here  for  re-ex- 
portation fince  the  war,  are  confiderably  diminiihed,  yet  lefs  fo 
than  reafon  and  national  ihitereft  would  diftate.  The  whole  of 
their  grain  is  re-exported  when  wheat  is  below  5ps,  the  quarter, 
and  other  grains  in  proportion. 

The  principal  fa^,  relative  to  the  queftion  of  reciprocity  of 
commercial  regulations,  between  Qreat  Britain  and  the  United 
States  of  Amerif:a,  have,  by  a  gentleman  who  had  accefs  to  every 
lleceflfary  information  for  the  purpofe,  been  thrown  into  the  form 
of  a  table,  whi<ch  ^e  will  iiifcrt,  in  order  that  the  citizens  of  one 
country,  and  the  fubje6U  of  the  ofher,  may  have  a  (lear  and  dif' 
(inft  yievy  of  the  fubje£l. 


PREAT    B|l(TAIlif 

Prohibits  American  vefTels 
from  entering  into  the  ports  of 
feveral  parts  of  her  doipinions, 
viz.  the  Weft  Indies,  Canada, 
Nova  Scotia,  New  firunfwick, 
Newfoundland,  Cape  Breton, 
Hudfon's  Bay,  Honduras  Bay, 
and  her  Eaft  |ndia  fpice  markr 
et.    ■ '^  ' 

She  impofes  double  light  mo- 
ney on  American  veffeU  in  moft 
of  her  ports. 

She  prohibits  the  navigating 
«/  StUim,,  of  American  veiTels 
by  native  or  other  feamen. 

She  prohibits  the  employ, 
ment  of  American  built  (hips 
by  her  own  citizens,  in  many 
branches  9^  tra4c>  upoi^  any 
terms. 


She  charge^  a  duty  on  Ame- 
rican fail  cloth,  made  up  in  the 
United  States  for  Britilh  ftiips. 

She  prohibits  the  impoictati- 
on  of  goods  from  feveral  parts 
of  her  dominions  into  others, 
in  American  veffels,  upon  any 
terms. 

^he  jprohibitt  the  importation 

O9 


THE    PNITBD    STAtBS 

Admit  Britiih  veiTels  intoali 
their  ports,  fubjed:  to  a  tonnage 
duty  of  44  cents,  or  24  fterling 
pence,  more  than  Ame«-ican  vef- 
fels, and  an  addition  of  one  tenth 
to  the  amount  of  the  impoft  ac«> 
cruing  on  their  cargoes. 


They  do  not  impofe  extra 
light  money  on  Britifh  veifels 
in  any  of  their  ports. 

They  admit  ^he  navigating  of 
Britifh  veifels  by  natiye  or  other 
feamen,  ad  UHtunt, 

They  admit  the  employment 
of  Britilh  built  ftiips  by  £ngli{h 
fubje£ts,  in  every  branch  of 
trade,  upon  the  terms  of  44  cents 
extra  per  ton,  and  one  tenth 
extra  on  the  impoft  ariiing  from 
^heir  cargoes. 

They  do  not  charge  a  duty  ox\ 
Britifti  fai^  cloth,  made  up  in 
G.  Britain  for  American  ihips. 

They  admit  the  importation 
of  goods  from  any  part  of  thei^ 
dominions  into  another,  in  Bri- 
tifh veftels,  on  the  terms  of  44 
cents  per  ton  extra  on  the  veflel., 

They  admit  the  importation  of 


\ 


gMNEMAL  PSSCRIJ^T'lO. 


QftlAT  BXITAIK, 

fooidf  into  Great  Britain,  by 
American  veflielt,  from  any 
other  country  thain  the  Vnitea 
States. 

She  prohibit^  the  iinportat^on 

B'  to  Great  Britain  from  the 
nit^  Stately  by  American  vei[- 
^els,  of  all  goods  not  produced 
^  the  United  States, 

She  prohibits  the  iinportation 
91  any  goods  pnyioufly  broj^ght 
into  t^  United  States,  from 
the  laid  States  into  Great  Bri- 
tain, %vtijL  in  Qriti(b  yeflel^. 

Sheptphibit^the  e^ortation 
^f  feveral  articles  from  Great 
Britain  to  the  United  States. 

;    I       (       t '.        r  ',  jt   I      ■•    I  . 

U 

She  lays  duUes  of  varioui  ratei^ 
upon  the  exportatioa  of  many, 
articles  ^o  the  United  States. 

She  prohibits  the  importation 
of  all  manufa€bures  from  the 
United  States,  invo  h^r  European 
4<n|^i.i\io(is,  and  her  colonies,  un^ 
lel^  it  be  fpme  very  fimple  pre- 
parations and  deco£tions,  requi- 

Jue  to  h^r  ^V^Y*  ^^??^PJ8»,  ^^^ 
manufaftures. 

She  impoles  yery  confider- 
able  duties  upon  fome  of  the  ag~ 
licnltuml  produflions  of  the 
United  States,  and  excludes  o- 
thcrs  by  duties  equal  to  their, 
yaiue. 


THS    UNITI9    ST^TI^. 

gopds  into  the  United  StateS|  ii\ 
BritiCh  veQels,  from  ^ery  fo^n- 
^ry  wfhat^ver, 

They  do  not  prohibit  the 
importation  into  'the  Unitei^ 
States  from  Great  liritain,  b^. 
Britifli  veffels,  of  any  goods  not 
produced  by  Great  Britain. 

They  do  not  prohibit  thci 
importation  of  any  goods  pre- 
vioufly  brough^  into  Great  Bri- 
tain, from  that  kingdom  into 
the  United  Stages,  ii^  eijt^er  Bri- 
tiCh or  American  bottoms. 

Th^  4^  not  prohibit  the  f  x- 
por^tion  of  any  article  fron^ 
the  United  States  to  Great  Bri- 
tam, 

lliey  4or^otUy  a  duty  on 
the  exportation  of  any  articlo 
Whatever  to  Great  Britain. 

They  do  not  prohibit  ^he  im- 
portaltion  of  any  manufaftur^ 
whatever  from  Great  Britain. 


They  impofe  moderaliiB  du- 
ties, lower  than  any  other  fo^ 
reign  nation  by  a,  3,  and  4  for, 
one;,  on  the  profiucf.  and  manu- 
JaSures  of  Great  Britain^  ex- 
cept in  a  very  few  inftances, 
and  exclude  fcarccly  any  arti- 
cles by  duties  equal  to  their 
yalu<u 


$he  prohibits,  for  conlideri>         They  prohibit  none  of  the 
able  terms  of  time,  fome  of  thfe    agricultural  produ£lions  of  G.' 
principal   agricultural  proauc-     Britain  or  her  dominions, 
^ous  of  the  United  States,  and 
others  at  all  times. 


THE  IjfliJffEh  STATiS, 


«l 


i 


thei 


f 


f}ltSAT    BRITAIM 

f 

|t  is  underftood  that  by  trea- 
ty flic  grants  fome  favours, 
^hich.  are  not  extended  to  th^ 
United  States. 

She  prohibits  the  importation 
fsf  fome  American  articles,  in 
American  Ihtps,  or  any  but  Brir 
tilh  (hips,  into  her  £uropean 
4ominions. 

She  does  not  permit  an  Ame- 
rican citizen  to  import  goods 
into  fome  of  her  dominions, 
and  to  fell  them  there,  even  in 
Britifh  veffels.  In  other  parts 
of  her  dominions,  Ihe  lays  an 
extra  tax  on  him,  or  his  fales. 

She  impofes  heavy  duties  on 
certain  articles  of  the  produce 
qf  the  American  fiiheries,  and 
inl'upportable  duties  on  others, 
in  fcNne  parts  of  hen  dominions ; 
and  in  other  parts,  (he  prohibits 
their  importation. 

She  prohibits  the  confump. 
^ion  of  fome  American  articles, 
of  which  (l^e  permits  the  im- 
portation. ' 

*  She  prohibits  the  importa- 
tion of  American  articles  from 
forei  n  countries,  into  the  Bri- 
tifh  dominions,  even  in  her  own 
jbipf. 


THI    UMITBD    ST4Titl 


They  treat  Great  Briui|i  af 
favourable  as  any  nation  ^hatr 
ever,  a»  tp  (hips^  imports^  and 
exports^  an4  ii>'a^  other  fe- 
fpe6ls.  *' 

They  dq  not  prohibit  the  im- 
portation of  any  Britilh  article 
in  Briti(h  veiTels,  or  any  but 
American  veffels^ 

They  permit  a  Britilh  WtiSL 
to  import  goods  into  all  their 
ports,  in  jiny  ve(rels,  and  to  fell 
them  therp  >/ithout~any  eytr^ 
tax  on  him,  or  his  fales. 


They  impofe  only  (ivc  per 
cent,  on  <the  produce  of  the 
Briti(h  (ilheries,  which  duty  is 
drawn  back  on  exportation  and 
admit  every  article  derived 
from  than. 

They  do  not  prohibit  the 
confumption  of  any  Briti(h  ar- 
ticle whatever. 

They  do  not  prohibit  the  im* 
portation  of  Briti(h  articles 
from  '^ign  countries  in  any 
(hips. 


Befides  thefc  adv^ptagjes,  which  Great  Britain  derives  from  the 
pmmerce  of  America^  ^here  is  no  country  that  contributes  fo 
much  to  the  fupport  of  htr  navy  as  the  United  States,  by  the  em- 
ployment they  give  to  her  (hips.  From  Auguft  1 789,  to  Auguft 
1790^  no  lefs  than  230,000  tons  of  Briti(h  veiFcls  cleared  from 
thefe  States;  which  much  exceeds  the  quantity  of  ve(rels  (he  em- 
ployed the  fame  year  in  the  Ruffian  trade.— The  whole  Baltic  trade 
of  Great  Britain,  with  all  the  countries  of  the  various  powers 
that  lie  within  the  Sound,  important  as  it  is  to  her,  does  not  (ill 
more.  JHer  trade  with  Holland,  France,  Spain,  and  Portugal, 
4oes  not  altogether  employ  as  many  veiTels.—- Her  whole  fi(heriet 
American  colonial  tra4e|  and  Weft  India  trade,  do  not  employ 


.  i 


|W 


CMK^RAl  ^ESCiirPT2 


*»>,; 


and  .loa4  moTfi*  A^d  bow,  it  may  be  aflud,  arf  Um  Untte4 
States  requited  for  thus  ftrengthening  the  acknowledged  bulwark 
of  Great  Britain,  by  annually  giving  a  complete  lading  to  the 
Vnequalled  quantity  of  230,009  tons  of  her  private  veflfels  f 
Their  fliips  arp  feized,  tind  detained,  in  the  regular  courfe  of  her 
trade ;  and  their  feamen  are  iitsprcfied  from  their  fcrvi^,^  ii;i.  px-. 
der  to  fight  againft  their  friends  and  allies ! 

Tub  United  Nsthcivi.amps  prohibit  the  picMedbeefj^ pork,^ 
meals  aqd  bread  of  all  forts,  coming  from  the  United  |Statea»  an4 
lay  prohibitory  duty  on  their  fpirits  diftilled  from  grain. 

All  other  of  their  produAions  are  received  on  varied  duties, 
which  may  be  reckoned  on  a  medium  at  about  three  per  cent. 

The  -United  Netherlands  confume  but  a  fmall  proportion  of 
what  they  receive  from  America :  the  refidue  is  partly  forward- 
ed for  confumption  to  the  inland  parts  of  Europe,  and  partly  re- 
Ihipped  to  the  other  maritime  countries.  On  the  latter  portion 
they  intercept  between  the  Americans  and  the  confumer,  fo  mucl) 
of  the  valuQj  as  is  abforbed  by  the  charges  attending  an  interme- 
diate depofit. 

Foreign  goods,  except  fome  Eafi  Indi^  article!,  are  received  by 
them  in  veQiels  of  any  nation.  . 

American  ihips  may  be  fold  and  naturalised  there  w:ith  excep- 
tions of  one  or  two  privileges,  which  fomewl^i^  leffen  their 
value. 

Denmark  lays  confiderable  duties  on  the  tobaqco  and  rice  of 
the  United  States,  even  if  carried  in  their  own  velTels,  an4 
half  as  much  more  if  carried  in  theirs,  but  the  exa£l  amount  of 
thefe  dutiea  is  not  perfe^ly  known  here.  They  lay  fuch  as 
amount  to  prohibitions  on  American  indigo  and  corn. 

Sweden  receives  favourably  grains  and  meals,  (alted  provii 
ficns,  indigo,  and  whale  oil,  from  the  United  States. 

They  fubje£l:  their  rice  to  duties  of  fixteen  mills  the  pound 
Vcight,  carried  in  their  own  velfels,  and  of  forty  per  cent^  addi* 
tional  on  that,  or  s 2,4 10  mills,  carried  in  American  or  any 
Others.  Being  thus  rendered  too  dear  as  an  article  of  common 
food,  little  of  it  is  confumed  with  them.  They  coinfume  more  of 
their  tobaccoes,  which  they  take  circuitoufly  through  Great  firi* 
tain,  levying  heavy  duties  on  them  alfo ;  their  duties  of  entry, 
town  duties,  and  excife,  being  four'dollars,  thirty-foiir  cents  the 
hundred  weight,  if  carried  in  their  own  veifels,  and  of  forty 
per  cent,  on  that  additional,  if  carried  in  American  or  any  other 
Teffels. 

They  prohibit  altogether,  American  bread,  fifli,  pot  a|id  pear( 
«(hes,  flax-feed,  tar,  pitch,  and  turpentine,  wood,  except  oak  tim" 
her  uad  maft)  and  all  foreign  maaufiSurcs. 


/ 


t/Ntt£D  STAfkB, 


^1 


Unit«4 
mlwark 
;  to  the 
^eilbU  ? 
e  of  her 
c^  ift  PT-. 

ef^pork» 
itea,  an4 

d  duties, 
r  tent, 
ortion  oi 
forward- 
partly  rc- 
;r  portion 
•,  fo  mucl| 
[1  intetmc-. 

:jcciv<4  by 

rith  excep- 
jffen   their 


'  ttnder  fo  ntaivy  reftHftiont  and  (irdhibitidii^,  th^  iiivigttloMi  of 
America  with  them,  is  reduced  abHoft  to  nothing. 

With  thd  lieighbourt  tt  tlM  Statci*^  id  Mder  iA  thin((t  tbuhIa 
harder  prefent»  itfelf. 

Spaim  and  PoKtOoAt  fefufe  (o  fhof«  parts  of  Aitietka  vrf(|ch 
they  govemi  all  direft  intercourfe  with  any  people  but  them- 
felv(BS.  The  commodities  id  mutual  demand  between  them  and 
their  neighbours  muil  be  carried  to  be  exchanged  in  fome  port  of 
the  dominant  c<Hiatry,  and  the  tranfportation  between  that  and 
the  fubjeft  ftate,  mud  be  in  a  domeftic  bottom. 

Franc B,  by  a  ftanding  law,  permitted  her  Weft  India  poffef- 
fions,  prior  to  the  war,  to  receive  dire^y,  vegetables,  live  pro« 
Vifions,  horictS)  wood,  tar,  pitch,  turpentine,  rice  and  maiae,  frten 
the  States,  and  prohibited  their  other  bread  fluff ;  but  a  fufpein^ 
fion  of  this  fnrohibitioii  having  been  left  to  the  colonial  legiilatureft 
in  times  of  fcarcity,  it  was  fufpended  oceafionally,  but  latterly 
Without  interruption* 

American  frefh  and  falted  provi&ons,  except  pork,  was  t«ceiv- 
ed  in  their  iflands  under  a  duty  of  three  colonial  livres  the  kent-' 
al,  and  their  veffels  were  as  free  as  their  own  to  carry  their 
commodities  thither,  and  to  bring  away  fum  and  molaflfes. 

Great  Britain  admits  in  her  iflands,  American  vegetables, 
live  provifions,  horfes,  wood,  tar,  pitch,  turpentine,  rice,  and 
bread  ftuff,  by  a  proclamation  of  the  executive  power,  limited 
always  to  the  termi  of  a  year.  She  prohibits  their  falted  fifli, 
and  othtr  falted  provifions :  fhe  does  not  permit  their  vefTels  to 
tarry  thither  their  own  produce.  Her  veffels  alone  may  take  itv 
from  them,  and  bring  in  exchange,  rum,  molaffds,  fugar,  coffee, 
cocoa-nuts,  ginger,  and  pimento.  There  are,  indeed,  fome 
freedoms  in  the  ifland  of  Dominica,  but  under  fuch  circumftances 
as  to  be  little  ufed  by  the  Americans.  In  the  Britifh  continent 
tal  colonies,  and  in  Newfoundland,  all  their  produftions  are  pro- 
hibited, and  their  Veffels  forbidden  to  enter  the  ports ;  the  go* 
vernors  however,  in  times  of  diflrefs,  have  power  to  permit  t 
temporary  innportation  of  certain  articles  in  their  own  bottoms, 
but  not  in  thofe  of  the  Americans. 

American  citizens  cannot  refide  as  merchantior  fa8:ors  within 
any  of  the  Britifh  plantations,  this  being  exprefsly  prohibited  by 
the  fame  flatute  of  la  €ar.  II,  c.  18,  commonly  called  the  Na- 
vigation aft. 

In  the  Dantfh-Aitteriean  poffeflions,  a  duty  of  five  per  cent* 
«  levied  on  the  com,  com*meal,  rice,  tobacco,  wood,  falted  fifh, 
indigo,  horfet,  mules,  and  live  flock  of  the  United  States,  and  of 
ten  per  cent,  on  their  flour,  felted  pork,  and  beef,  tar,  pitch,  and 
turpentine. 


m 


V 


tMKBMAi  bfisckii^fii 


In  the  American  iflfndf  of  the  Umitio  NBTUtRLAN0t 
^wiDiN^  their  veflelt  and  prwuce  <le  received,  fubjett  to  du4> 
ties,  not  fo  heavy  •§  to  have  been  comjUained  of }  but  they  ite 
heavier  in  the  Dutch  pofleffibns  on  tha  continent. 

Td  fum  up  thefe  R^riBionSf  ib  ftr  ai  they  ar^  important :  *  , 


•  / 


lit  Evaori. 


American  Ifread  (luff  i«  at  moft  times  xiiidit  prohibitory  duties? 
in  England,  and  confiderably  dutied  oh  ekpcntatiipn  ftcm  Spain 
to  her  colonies. 

Their  tobaccoes  are  heavily  dutiCd  in  England,'  SWedeh*  and 
France,  and  prohibited  in  Spain  and  Portugal. 

Their  rice  is  heavily  dutied  in  England  and  S^i^eden,'  and  pr&f 
hibited  in  Pottugah 

Their  fifii  and  fatted  pro'^ifions  are  pfv^ibifed  in  England,  and 
imder  prohibitory  duties  in  France. 

Their  whale>oils  are  prohibited  in  England  and  Portugal. 

And  theiriveffels  aife  denied  nacuraliiation  in  England^  and  of 
hte  m  Frances 

Ih  Tui  West  lNDiC». 

All  intercourfe  is  pi'ohibited  with  the  poffefli'ons  of  Spain  and 
l^ortugal. 

Their  (alted  proyifibns  and  fi(h  are  prohibited  by  Eng^nd. 

Th^ir  falted  pork,  and  bread  OaxtEy  except  maise,  are  received 
under  temporary  laws  only,  in  the  dominions  of  if  ranee,  andi 
(heir  falted  fifb  pays  there  a  V^eighty  duty. 

Ihr  TH£  ARTICLE   OF  NAVfGATION. 

The  carriage  of  their  own  tobacco  is  heavily  dutied  in  Sweden, 
and  lately  in  France. 

They  can  carry  no  article,  not  of  their  own  prpduftion,  to  the 
Brltiih  ports  in  Europe. 

Nor  even  their  own  produce  to  her  Amexican  poflbflions. 

Such  being  the  reftriftions  on  the  commerce  and  navigation, of 
the  United  States,,  the  queftion  is,  in  what  way  they  may  beil  be 
removed,  modified,  or  countera£bed  ? 

As  to  commerce,  two  methods  occur.  By  friendly  arrange' 
ments  with  the  fevcral  nations  with  whom  thefe  reftridions  exift: 
or,  By  the  feparate  a£t  of  their  own  legiflatures  for  countervail* 
ing  their  efFe£is. 

There  can  l^  no  doubt,  but  that  of  thefe  two,  friendly  arrange^ 
mcnt  is  the  moil  eligible.      |n^ead  of  embarraffing  commerce 


THE  UNITED  STATES^ 


b8§ 


)iiliidler'|^e8  of  regulating  lawt,  duties  and  prohibitions,  could  it 
be  relieved  from,  all  its  ^ckl^  in  all  pa|-ts  of  the  world— <ould 
every  country  he  employed  in  producing  that  which  hature  has 
ybeft  fitted  it  to  prq^uce,  and  ^'h  be  free  to  exchange'  with 
others  qiutual  furplufles*for  mutual  wants,  the  greateft  nufs  pofli- 
'  bW  would  then  be  produced  of  thofe  things  which  contribute  to 
human  life  and  human  happinefs;  the  numbers  of  mankind 
would  be  incfcafei^  and  their  condition  bettered. 

Would  -evtsn  t  fingle  nation  begin  with  the  United  States  this 
fyftem  of  ff^  commerce,  it  would  be  advifcable  to  begin  it  with 
that  nation  ;  itnce.,st  is  one  by  one  only  that  it  can  be  extended 
to  alt.  Where  the  circumftances  of  either  paiiy  render  it  expe^ 
dient  to  levy  a  revejiue,  by  way  of  impoft,  on  commerce,  its  free- 
dom might  be  modified,  in  that  particular,  by  mutual  and  equiva- 
lent meafures,  preferving  it^ntire  in  all  others. 

Some  nations,  not  yet  ripe  for  free  commerce,  in  all  its  extent, 
might  ftill  be  willing  to  mollify  its  reftriftions  and  regulations  for 
them  in  proportion  to  the  advantages  which  an  intercourfe  with 
them  might  offer.  Particularly  they  might  concur  with  them  in 
reciprocating  the  duties  to  be  levied  on  each  fide,  or  in  compen- 
fating  any  exceis  of  duty,  by  equivalent  advantages  of  another 
nature.  .  Their  commerce  is  certainly  of  a  chamd^r  to  entitle  it 
to  favour  in  moft  countries.  The  commodities  they  offer,  ztt 
either  neceflaries  of  life,  or  materials  for  munufa£ture ;  or  con- 
venient fubje£U  of  revenue ;  and  they  take  in  exchange,  either 
manufaftures,  when  they  have  received  the  lafl:  finifli  of  art  and 
induftry,  or  mere  luxuries.  Such  cuftomers  may  reafonably  ex- 
pe£i  welcome,  and  friendly  treatment  at  every  market ;  cuftomers 
too,  whofe  demands,  increafing  with  their  wealth  and  population,, 
muft  very  Ihortly  give  full  employment  to  the  whole  induftry  of 
any  nation  whatever,  in  any  line  of  fupply  they  may  get  into  the 
habit  of  cdltng  for,  from  it. 

But  fhould  any  nation,  contrary  to  their  wifties,  fuppofe  it  may 
better  find  its  advantage  by  continuing  its  fyftem  of  prohibitions, 
duties,  and  regulations,  it  behoves  them  to  prote£&  their  citizenS) 
their  commejce  and  navigation,  by  counter-prohibitions,  duties 
and  regulations  alfo.  Free  commerce  and  navigation  are  not  to 
be  given  in  exchange  for  reftri8:ions  and  vexations  ;  nof  are  they 
likely  to  produce  a  relaxation  of  them. 

Their  navigation  involves  ftill  higher  confiderations.  As  a 
branch  of  induftry,  it  is  valuable  ;  but,  as  a  refource,  eifential. 

Its  value,  as  a  branch  of  induftry,  is  enhanced  by  the  depen* ' 
dence  of  fo  many  other  branches  on  it.     In  times  of  general  peace 
it  multiplies  competitors  for  employment  in  trani'portation,  anid 


tQO 


\ 


GENERAL  D£SCAlPTIi 


fo  keeps  that  at  its  proper  level }  and  in  times  of  war».  thil^l  J^ 
fay,  when  thofc  nations  who  may  be  their  principal  carriers^  fliall 
be  at  war  with  each  other,  if  they  have  not  within  themfelves  thtt 
means  of  tranfportation,  their  produce  muft  be  exported  in  bcU 
ligerent.  veflfels,  at  the  increafed  expence  of  war-freight  and  in* 
furance,  and  the  articles  which  will  not  bear  that,  muft  periih  ori 
.  their  handst 

But  it  is  as  a  t-efnurc^  for  defence  that  their  navigation  will 
admit  neither  negle£l  nor  forbearance.  The  pofition  and  circum- 
ftances  of  the  United  States  leave  them  nothing  to  fsar  on  their 
land,  and  nSthing  to  defire  beyond  their  prefcnt  rights*  But  on 
the  lea  they  are  open  to  injury^  and  they  have  there,  too,  a  >com- 
merce  which  muft  be  procefted.  This  can  only  be  done  by 
poflefiirg  a  refpeftable  body  of  citizen-seamen,  and  of  artiftt 
and  eftablifhments  in  readinefs  for  ihip^building* 

Were  the  ocean,  which  is  the  common  property  of  all,  open 
to  the  induftry  of  all,  fo  that  every  perfon  and  veflel  ihould  be 
free  to  take  employment  wherever  it  could  be  found,  the  United 
States  would  oeruinly  not  fet  the  example  of  appropriating  to 
themfelves,  exclufively^  any  portion  of  the  common  ftock  of  oc^ 
cupation.  They  would  rely  on  the  enterprize  and  a£livity  of 
iheir  citizens  for  a  due  participation  of  the  benefits  of  the  fea* 
faring  buiinefs,  and  for  keeping  the  marine  clafs  of  citizens  equal 
to  their  obje£b.  But  if  particular  nations  grafp  at  undue  ftiares^ 
and  more  efpccially  if  they  feize  on  the  means  of  the  United 
States  to  convert  them  into  aliment  for  their  own  ftrength,  and 
withdraw  them  entirely  from  the  fupport  of  thofe  td  whom  they 
belong)  defenfive  and  protcd:ing  meafures  become  neceffary  on 
the  part  of  the  nation  whofe  marine  refources  are  thus  invaded^ 
or  it  wfii  be  difarmed  of  its  defence  *,  its  produflions  will  lie  at 
the  mercy  of  the  nation  which  has  poflefted  itfelf  exclufively  of 
the  means  of  carrying  them,  and  its  politics  may  be  influenced 
by  thofe  who  command  its  commerce./  The  carriage  of  their 
own  commodities,  if  once  eftablifhed  in  another  channel^  cannot 
be  refumed  in  the  moment  they  may  defire.  If  they  lofe  the  Tea- 
men iind  artifts  whom  it  now  occupies,  they  lole^  the  prefent 
means  of  marine  defence^  and  time  will  be  requifite  to  raife  up 
Others,  when  difgrace  or  lofles  fhall  bring  home  to  their  feelings 
the  error  of  having  abandoned  them,  llie  materials  for^main- 
taiiiing  their  due  ihare  of  navigation  are  theirs  in  abundance  ',  and 
as  to  the  mode  of  ufing  <hem,  they  have  only  to  adopt  the  prin- 
ciples of  thole  who  thus  put  them  on  the  defenfive,  or  others 
equivalent  and  better  fitted  to  their  circumftances. 

The  following  principles  being  founded  -in  reciprocity,  appear 
p«rfe6llyjuft,  and  offer  no  caufe  of  complaiiit  to  any  nation. 


T?  Ttig  UNITED  ST  AT  is. 


%^i 


'lit.  Where  «  nation  im^ofes  high  dutie*  on  their  produftions,' 
AT  prohibits  them  altogether,'  it  may  be  paiper  for  them  to  do  the 
fame  by  theirs,  firft  burthening  or  excluding  thofe  produAions 
which  they  carry  there  in  competition  with  their  own  of  the 
fame  kind ;  feleifting  next  fuch  manufaftures  u  they  take  from 
them  in  grcatell  quantity,  and  which  at  the  fame  time  they  could 
the  fooneft  furnilh  to  themfelves,  or  obtain  from  other  countries ; 
impofing  on  them  duties  1  ighter  at  firft,  but  heavier  and  heavier 
afterwards,  as  other  channels  of  fupply  open.  Such  duties  hav- 
ing the  r.ffeft  of  indireft  encouragement  to  domeftic  manufa£iures 
of  the  fame  kind,  may  induce  the  manufafturer,  to  come  himfelf 
into  thefe  States  \  where  cheaper  fub(Vftence,  equal  laws,  and  a 
vent  of  his  wares,  free  of  duty,  may  eni'ure  him  the  higheit  profits 
from  his  (kill  and  induftry^  And  here  it  would  be  in  the  power 
of  the  ftate  governments  to  co-operate  eflientially,  by  opening  the 
rc(pur,ce^  pf  encouragement  which  are  under  their  controul,  ex- 
tending them  liberaliy  to  artifts  in  thofe  particular  branches  of 
manufa£lure,  fpr  which  their  foil,  climate,  population,  and  other 
circumftances  have  matured  them,  and  foftcring  the  precious 
efforts  and  progrefs  of  houfehold  manufafture  by  Ibmc  patrcmage 
fuited  to  the  nature  of  its  obje£b,  gu'ded  by  the  local  iriforma- 
tions  they  pofTefs,  and  guarded  againft  abufe  hv  f^'txr  prefence  and 
attentions.  The  oppreHions  on  their  asriculturc  in  foreign  ports 
would  thus  be  made  the  occafion  of  relieving  it  from  a  depen- 
dence on  the  counjciU  and  condud;  of  othf^rs,  and  of  promoting 
arts,  manufaftures,  and  population  among  themfelves. 

2d.  V/here  ^  nation  ^refufes  pertniiTion  to  their  merchants  and 
faftors  to,  refi4c  within  certain  parts  of  their  dominions,  they  may 
if  it  fhquld  bft  thought  expedient,  reful'e  refidence  to  theirs,  in 
any  and  every  part  of  the  ftates,  or  modify  their  tr^nfaflions.      ' 

3d.  Where  a  nation  refufes  to  receive  in  their  veflels  any  pro- 
tlu£iions  but  their  own,  they  may  refufe  to  re^reive,  in  tlieirs,  any 
but  their  own  produflions. 

4th.  Where  a  nation  refufes  to  confider  any  veflel  as  belong-' 
iug  to  the  United  States,  which  has  not  been  built  within  their 
territories,  they  ihould  refufe  to  confider  as  belonging  to  them 
any  ve{fel  not  built  within  their  territories. 

5th.  Where  a  nation  refufes  to  their  veflels  the  carriage  even 
of  their  own  productions  to  certain  countries  under  their  domina- 
tion, they  might  refufe  to  theirs,  of  every  defcription,  the  carr 
riage  of  the  fame  produAions  to  the  fame  countries.  «But  as  jui- 
.iicq  and  good  neighbourhood  would  diCtate,  that  thofe  who  have 
no  part  in  impofing  the  reftri&ion  on  them,  Ihould  not  be  the  vie- 


<T 


^1  GENERAL  DESCRfFTIO^ 

tiins  of  the  mcarures  adopted  to  defeat  Ua  effed,  it  may  be  prop. 
cr  to  confine  the  reftri^ona  to  veflcU  owned  or  navigated  by  any 
fubjefia  of  the  fame  dominant  power,  other  than  the  inhabitants  of 
the  country  to  which  the  faid  proUu£lions  are  to  be  carried.-- 
And  to  prevent  all  inconvenience  to  the  faid  inhabitanta,  and  to 
their  own,  by  too  fuddcn  a  check  on  the  /heans  of  tranfportation, 
they  may  continue  to  admit  the  veflcls  marked  for  future  exclu- 
fion,  on  an  advanced  tonnage,  and  for  fuch  length  of  time  only,  ac 
may  be  fuppofed  ncceflary  to  provide  againft  that  inconvenience. 

The  eftablifhment  of  fome  of  thefc  principles  by  Great  Britain 
alone,  has  already  loft  the  Americans,  in  their  commerce  with 
that  country  and  its  poIFeflions,  between  eight  and  nine  hundred 
veflela  of  near  40,000  tons  burthen,  according  to  ftatcments  from 
official  materinla.  This  involves  a  proportional  lofs  of  feamen, 
fhipwrights,  and  fliip  building,  and  is  too  ferious  a  lofs  to  admit 
forbearance  of  fome  effefiual  remedy. 

It  is  true  they  muft  exp^ft  fome  inconvenience  in  pra6)^icc,  from 
the  eftablifhment  of  difcriniinating  dutiea.  But  in  this,  as  in  fo 
many  other  cafes,  they  are  left  to  chufe  between  two  evils.  Thefe 
inconveniences  are  nothing  when  weighed  againft  the  lofs  of 
wealth  and  lofs  of  force,  which  will  follow  their  pcrfeve ranee  in 
the  plan  of  indifcrimination.— When  once  it  fhall  be  perceived 
that  they  are  either  in  th£  fyftem  or  the  habit  of  giving  equal  ad- 
vantages to  thofc  who  extinguifh  their  commerce  and  navigation, 
by  duties  and  prohibitions  as  to  thole  who  treat  both  with  libe- 
rality and  juftice,  libef-ality  andjufUce  will  be  converted  by^all  into 
duties  and  prohibitions.  It  is  not  to  the  moderation  and  juftice  of 
others  t^at  they  arc  to  truft/or  fair  and  equal  acccfs  to  market  with 
tiheir  produdlions,  or  for  their  due  fhare  in  the  tranfportation  of 
them;  but  to  their  mcaus  ^f  independence,  and  the  firm  will  to  ufe 
them.  Nor  do  the  inconveniences  of  difcrimiuation  merit  conA- 
dcration.  Not  one  of  the  nations  beforementiohed,  perhaps,  not 
a  commercial  nation  on  earth,  is  without  them.  In  their  cafe, 
one  diftinftion  alone  will  fuffice;  that  is  to  fay,  between  nations 
who  favour  their  productions  arid  navigation,  and  thofe  who  do 
not  favour  them..  One  fet  of  moderate  duties,  fay  the  prefcnt 
duties,  for  the  firft,  and  a  fixed  advance  on  thefe  as  to  fome  arti- 
cle, and  prohibitions  as  to  others,  for  the  Uft. 

Still  muft  it  be  repeated,  that  friendly  arrangements  are  prefer- 
able  with  all  who  will  come  into  them ;  and  that  they  fhould  carry 
into  fuch  awrangements,  all  the  liberality  and  fpirit  of  accommo- 
dation, which  the  nature  of  the  cafe  will  admit,  ^ 

France  has,  of  her  own  accord,  propofed  nejgociations  for  im- 
proving,  by  a  new  treaty,  on  fair  and  equal  principles,  the  com- 
mercial relations  of  the' two  countries.     But  her  internal  diftur- 


W  THE  UNITED  iSTATES. 


«93 


bwicei  Jiave  hither^  prevented  the  profecution  of  them  to  eifeft, 
^hough  America  has  had  repeated  aflurMicei  of  a  continuance  of 
^he  dii'pofition. 

Propol'aU  of  friendly  arrangement  have  been  made  on  the  part 
of  the  United  Statei,  by  the  prefent  government,  to  that  of  Qreat 
Britain,  but  being  already  on  as  good  a  footing  in  law^  and  a  better    • 
in  fa£l,  than  the  moil,  favoured  nation,  they  have  not  as  yet  dif* 
covered  any  dirpofui^n  to  attend  to  thofe  overtures. 

We  have  no  reafon  to  conclude  that  friendly  arrangements  will 
\fc  declined  by  the  other  nations,  with  whom  they  have  fuch  com-  . 
mercial  intcrcourfe  as  may  render  them  important.  In  the  mean 
while,  it  will  reft  with  the  wifdom  of  Congrefs  to  determine  whe- 
ther^ as  to  thofe  nations,  they  wiU  not  i'urceafe  neparte  regulations, 
on  the  reafonable  prefumption  that  they  will  concur  in  doing 
whatever  juftice  and  moderation  di£iate  ihould  be  done. 

•    MANUFACTURES.      ^ 

W  £  now  come  to  the  fubje£l  of  manufafiiures,  the  expedi- 
ency of  encouraging  of  which  in  the  United  States,  was  not  long 
fince  deemed  very  queftionable,  but  the  advantages  of  which) 
appear  at  this  time  to  be  generally  admitted.  The  embarraflfments 
which  have  obftru£led  the  progrefs  of  their  external  trade  with 
European  nations,  have  led  them  to  ferious  refle(6):ions  on  the 
necefltty  of  enlarging  the  fphere  of  their  domeftic  commerce ) 
the  reftri&ive  regulations  which  in  foreign  markets  have  abridg- 
ed the  yient  of  the  increafing  furplus  of  their  agricultural  produce, 
have  ferved  to  beget  in  them  an  earneft  defire,  that  a  more  ex- 
ten  five  demand  for  that  furplus  may  be  created  at  home  :  And  the 
complete  fuccels  which  has  rewarded  manufafturing  enterprife,  in 
fonie  valuable  branches,  confpiring  with  the  promiiing  fymptoms 
which  attend  lome  lefs  mature  clTays  in  others,  juftify  a  hope,  that 
the  obftacles  to  the  growth  of  this  fpecies  of  induftry  are  lefs  for- 
midable than  they  were  apprehended  to  be ;  and  that  it  is  not 
difficult  to  find,  in  its  further  extenfion,  a  full  indemnification 
for  any  external  diladvantages,  which  are  or  may  be  experienced, 
as  well  as  an  accefTion  of  refources,  favourable  to  national  inde- 
pendence and  fafety.  _ 

There  ftill  are,  ncverthelefs,  among  the  Americans,  many  re-, 
fpe£lable  patrons  of  opinions  unfriendly  to  the  encouragement  of 
manufa^ures. — The  following  are,  fubftantially,  the  arguments 
by  which  thefc  opinions  are  defended :  i 

"In  every  country,  fay  thofe  who  entertain  them,  agriculture 

,is  the  mofl  beneficial  zn^  produBive  objeft  of  human    induftry. 

This  pofition,  generally,  if  not  univerfally   true,  applies  with 

{(cculiar  cmphafis  to  the  United  States,  on  accouht  of  their  im- 


n$4  CENEkAL  DESCRIPTTd^  , 

vienftf  traAs  of  fertile  territory,  uninhabited  tnd  unimproved. 
Nothing  can  afford  fo  advanugeous  «n  employment  for  'capital 
and  labour,  aa  the  converfion  of  thia  extenfive  wildernefs  into 
cultivaud  farms.  Nothing,  equally  with  this",  can  contribute  tc^ 
At  pbpulation,  ftrength,  and  real  riches  of  the  country." 

**  To  endeavour  by  the  extraordinary  patronage  qf  govcrnmentt 
to  accelerate  the  growth  of  manufaAures,  is,  in  faA,  to  endea- 
vour, by  force  and  art,  to  transfer  the  natunil' llltirrent  of  induftry, 
from  a  more  to  a  lefs  beneficial  channel.  Whatever  has  fuch  9, 
tendoicy  mufl  neceiTarily  be  unwife  t  Indeed  it  can  hardly  ever 
|>e  wife  in  a  government  to  attempt  to  give  a  direAioq  to  the  in- 
duftry of  its  citizens.  This,  under  the  quick-fighted  guidance 
of  private  intereft,  will,  if  left  to  itfelf,  infallibly  find  its  T>wn 
way  to  the  moft  profitable  employment ;  and  it  is  by  fuch  employ, 
ment  that  the  public  profperity-  will  be  moil  efFe£lually  promoted. 
To  leave  induftry  to  itfelf,  therefore,  is,  in  almoft  ffvery  cafe,  the 
foundeft  as  well  as  the  fimpleft  policy." 

**  This  policy  is  not  only  recommended  to  the  United  States,  by 
confiderations  which  afFe£l  all  nations ;  it  is  in  a  manner  diflated 
to  them  by  the  imperious  force  of  a  very  peculiar  fituatiun.  The 
fmallnefs  of  their  population,  compared  with  their  territory,  the 
conftant  allurements  to  emigration  from  the  fettled  to  the  unfetfled 
parts  of  the  country;  the  facility  with  which  the  lefs  indepen- 
dent  condition  of  an  artifan  can  be  exchanged  for  the  more  inde< 
pendent  condition  of  a  farmer;  thcfe,  and  fimilar  caufcs,  confpire 
to  produce,  and  for  a  length  of  time  muft  continue  to  occafion  a 
fcarcity  of  hands  for  manufafturing  occupation,  and  dearnefs  of 
labour  generally.  To  thefe  difadvantages  for  the  profecution  of 
manufa£lures,  a  deficiency  of  pecuniary  capital  being  added,  the 
profpeft  of  a  fucccfsful  competition  with  the  manufaftures  of 
Europe  muft  be  regarded  as  little  lefs  than  defperate.  Extenfive 
manufafturcs  can  only  be  the  offspring  of  a  redundant,  at  leaft  of 
a  full  population.  Till  the  latter  (hall  chara£lerife  the  fituation 
of  thi^  country,  'tis  vain  to  hope  for  the  former." 

"  If,  contrary  to  the  natural  courfe  of  things,  an  unfcafonable 
and  premature  fpring  can  be  given  to  certain  fabrics,  by  heavy 
duties,  prohibitions,  bounties,  or  by  bther  forced  expedients,  this 
'will  only  be  to  facrificc  the  interefts  of  the  cofnmunity  to  thofe 
of  particular  clafles.  Befidcs  the  mifdire£i;ion  of  labour,  a  virtual 
monopoly  will  be  given  to  the  pcrfons  employed  on  fuch  fabrics ; 
and  an  enhancement  of  price,  the  inevitable  confequence  of  every 
monopoly,  muft  be  defrayed  at  the  expence  of  the  other  parts  of 
the  fociety«  It  is  far  preferable  that  thofe  perfons  (hould  be 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  earth,  and  thjit  we  (hould  pro- 
cure, in  e'xch^ge   for  its  produ&ions,  the    comnikodities   with 


OJ^HE  UNtTBD  STATES* 


•95 


whick  foreigners  are  able  to  fupply  ut^in  frcater  pcrfeAion,..«nd 
upon  better  term*."  > 

Thit  Tnode  of  reifoning  is  founded  upon  faAs  and  principles^ 
which  have  certainly  refpeAable  pretenAons.  If  it  had  governed 
the  coririuft  of  nations  more  generally  than  it  has  done,  there  is 
room  to  fuppofe,  that  it  might  have  carried  them  fafter  to  prof- 
perity  and  greatnefs  than  they  have  attained  by  the  purfuit  of 
maxims  too  widely  oppofitc.  Mod  general  theories,  ho\f  cver^ 
admit  of  numerous  exceptions,  and  there  arc  few,  if  any,  of  the 
political  kind,  which  do  not  blcnil  a  confiderable  portion  of  errof 
with  the  truths  they  inculcate. 

in  order  to  form  an  accurate  judgment,  how  far  that  which 
has  been  juft  (lated  ought  to  be  deemed  liable  to  a  fimilar  imputa- 
tion, it  is  neceflary  to  advert  carefully  to  the  confiderations  which 
plead  in  favour  of  manufactures,  and  which  appear  to  recommend 
the  fpecial  and  pofitive  encouragement  of  them,  in  certain  cafes, 
and  under  certain  realbnable  limitations. 

It  ought  readily  to  be  conceded,  that  the  tjultivation  of  the 
earth,  as  the  primary  and  mod  certain  fource  of  national  fupply ; 
is  the  immediate  and  chief  fource  of  fubfiftence  to  man;  as  the 
principal  fource  of  thofe  materials  which  conftitute  the  nutri- 
ment of  other  kinds  of  labour  ;  as  including  a  ftate  mod  favour- 
able to  the  freedom  and  independence  of  the  human  mind ;  one, 
perhaps,  mod  conducive  to  the  multiplication  of  the  human  fpe- 
cics ;  has  intrinfically  a  drong  claim  to  pre-eminence  over  every 
ether  kind  of  indudry. 

But  that  it  has  a  title  to  any  thing  like  an  exclufive  predilec- 
tion in  any  country,  ought  to  be  admitted  with  great  caution. 
That  it  is  even  more  prodti£tivc  than  every  other  branch  of  induf- 
try,  requires  more  evidence  than  has  yet  been  given  in  fupport 
of  the  pofition.  That  Its  real  intereds,  precious  and  important 
as,  without  the  help  of  exaggeration,  they  truly  are,  will,  be  ad- 
vanced, rather  than  injured,  by  the  d'le  encouragement  of  manu- 
faftures,  may  be  fatisfaftorily  demon  ^rated.  And  the  expedien- 
cy of  fuch  encouragement,  in  a  general  view,  may  be  (hewn  to 
be  recommended  by  the  mod  cogent  and  perfuafive  motives  of 
national  policy. 

It  has  been  maintained,  that  agriculture  is  not  only  the  mod 
produ£live,  but  the  only  produ£live  fpecies  of  indudry.  The 
reality  of  this  aflertion,  in  either  refpeft,  has,  however,  not  been 
verified  by  any  accurate  d'tail  of  fafts  and  Calculations;  and  the 
general  arguments,  which  lire  adduced  to  prove  it,  are  rather  fub- 
tle  and  paradoxical,  than  folid  or  convincing. 

Thofe  which  maintain  its  exdufiVe  produflivenefs  are  to  this 
cfFeft ;— Labour  bedowed  upon  the  cultivation  of  land  produces 


•96 


V, 


GENERAL  DESCRll^rfe^ 


"'iB'. 


m 


enowgh,  hot  only  to  repkee  all  the  neceflary  expences  incurred  iij 
the  bufinefs,  and  to  maintain  the  perfons  who  are  employed  in  it* 
but  to  afford,  together  with  the  ordinary  profit  on  the  ftock  or 
capital  of  the  farmer,  a  nett  furplus,  or  rent  for  the  landlord  or 
proprietor  of  the  foil.  But  the  labour  of  artificers  does  nothing 
more  than  replace  the  ftock  which  employs  them,  or  which  fur- 
nilhes  materials,  tools  and  wages,  and  yield  tht  ordinary  profit  upon 
that  ftock.  It  yields  nothing  equivalent  to  the  rent  of  land;  nei- 
ther does  it  add  any  thing  to  the  total  vatUe  of  the  nvhok  annual 
produce  of  the  land  and  labour  of  the  country.  The  additional 
value  given  to  thofe  parts  of  the  produce  of  land,  which  are 
wrought  into  manufaflures,  is  counterbalanced  by  the  value  of 
thofe  other  parts  of  that  produce  which  are  confumed  by  the 
manufafturers.  It  can  therefore  only  be  by  faving,  or  parfimony^ 
not  by  the  pofitive/ro//«5iwii5/}  of  their  labour,  that  the  clafles 
of  artificers  can  inany  degree  augment  the  revenue  of  fociety. 

To  this  it  has  been  anfwered,  that  inafmuch  as  it  is  acknow- 
ledged that  manufa£luring  labour  re-produces  a  value  equal   to 
that  which  is  expended  or  confumed  in  carrying  it  on,  and  con- 
tinues in  exiftence  the  original  ftock  or  capital  employed,  it  ought 
on  that  account  alone  to  efcape  being  confidered  as  wholly  un- 
produ^ive :  that  though  it  (hould  be  admitted,  as  alledged,  that 
the  confumption  of  the  produce  of  the  foil,  by  the  clafles  of  arti- 
ficers or  manufacturers  is  exa£tly  equal  to  the  value  added  by 
their  labour  to  the  materials  upon  which  it  is  exerted ;  yet  it  would 
not  thence  follow,  that  it  added  nothing  to  the   revenue  of  the 
fociety,  or  the  aggregate  value  of  the  annual  produce  of  its  land 
and  labour.     If  the  confumption  for  any  given  period  amounted 
to  i  given  funii  and  the  Increafed  value  of  the  produce  manufac- 
tured in  the  fame  period  to^zlltejum,  the  total  amount  of  the  con- 
fumption and  produ6lion  during  that  period  would  be  equal  to 
the  twofumsj  and  confequently  double  the  value  of  the  agricultu- 
ral produce  confumed.     And  though  the  increment  of  value  pro- 
duced by  the  clafles  of  artificers  -  (hould  at  no  time  exceed  the 
Value  of  the  produce  of  the  land  confumed  by  them,  yet  there 
would  be  at  every  moment,  in  confequence  of  their  labour,  a 
greater  value  of  goods  in  the  market  than  would  exift  indepen- 
dent of  it. 

The  pofition,  that  artificers  can  augment  the  revenue  of  a  fo- 
ciety only  by  parfimony,  is  true  iu  no  other  fenfe  than  in  one, 
which  is  equally  applicable  to  hulbandmen  or  cultivators.  It 
may  be  alike  afiirmed  of  all  thefe  clafles,  that  the  fund  acquired  by 
iheir  labour,  and  deftined  for  their  fupport,  is  not,  in  an  ordi- 
nary  way,  more  than  equal  ^o  it.     And  hence  it  will   follow^ 


bP  THE  i/N^TEb  $TAfk^i 


i9l 


iiial  augmentations  of  the  Wealth  or  capital  of  the  community, 
fexcept  in  the  inllance  of  feme  extraordinary  dexterity  or  (killi 
fcan  only  proceed,  with  rcfpeft  to  any  of  them,  from  the  (avings 
of  the  more  thrifty  and  pai-fimonious. 

The  annual  produce  of  the  land  drtd  labour  of  i.  fcountry  caii 
only  be  encreafed  in  two  ways— by  fome  improvement  in  the 
produHive  powers  of  the  ufeful  labour,  which  adually  exifts  with- 
in it,  or  by  fome  increafe  in  -the  quantity  of  fucH  labour :  that 
with  regard  to  the  firft,  the  labour  of  artificers  being  capable 
of  greater  fubdivifion  and  fimplicity'  of  operation  than  that  of 
cultivators,  it  is  fufceptible,  in  a  proportionably  greater  degree; 
of  improvement  in  its  prodiiSive  pozoersy  whether  to  be  derived 
from  an  acceflion  of  flcill,  or  from  the  applicatiori  of  ingenious 
machinery;  in  which  particular,  therefore,  the  labour  employed 
in  the  cultute  of  land  can  pretend  to  no  advantage  over  that 
engaged  in  manufa£l:ures :  that  with  regard  to  an  augmentation 
of  the  quantity  of  ufeful  labour^  this,  excluding  adventitious 
tircumftancesj  mufl  depend  eiTentially  upon  an  increafe  of  capitate 
which  again  muft  depend  upon  the  favings  made  out  of  the  re- 
venues of  thofe  Who  furnifh  or  manage  that^  which  is  at  ainy 
time  employed,  Whether  in  agriculture^  or  in  manufaftures,  or  ift 
any  other  Way; 

But  while  the  exclufive  produ£livehefs  of  agricultural  labbut* 
has  been  thus  denied  and  refuted,  the  luperiority  of  its  produc- 
tivenefs  has  been  conceded  without  hefitation.  As  this  concef- 
fion  involves  a  point  of  confiderable  magnitude,  in  relation  to 
maxims  of  public  adminiflration^  the  grounds  on  whith  it  refts 
arc  worthy  of  a  diflin£):  and  particular  examination; 

One  of  the  arguments  made  ufe  ofj  in  fupport  of  the  idea,  may 
be  pronounced  both  quaint  and  fuperficial :  it  amounts  to  this — > 
that  in  the  produ£lions  of  the  foil,  nature  co-operates  with  man ; 
and  that  the  efFeft  of  their  joint  labour  muft  be  greater  than  that 
of  the  labour  of  man  alone^ 

ThiS)  however,  is  far  from  being  a  neceflary  inference.  It  is 
Very  conceivable,  that  the  labour  of  man  alone  laid  out  upon  a 
work  requiring  great  fkill  and  art  to  bring  it  to  perfeftionj  may 
be  more  produftive  in  value,  than  the  labour  of  nature  and  man 
combined,  when  dire£led  towards  more  fimple  operations  and  ob- 
jefts  ;  and  when  it  is  recollcfted  to  what  an  extent  the  agency  of 
nature,  in  the  application  of  the  mechanical  powers,  is  made 
auxiliary  to  the  proiecution  of  manufaflures,  the  fuggeftion  which 
has  been  noticed  lofes  even  the  appearance  of-plaufibilityr 

It  might  alfo  be  obfcrvcd,  w.ith  a  contrary  view,  that  the 
labour  employed  in  agriculture  is  in  a  great  meafure  periodical 

Vol.  I.  '  Q  Q 


r 


\d 


It  f  'i 


m; 


i^' 


irgS 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


and  occaAonal,  depending  on  feafoni,  liable  to  various  and  long^ 
intermiifions;  while  that  occupied  in  many  manufaflures  i» 
conftant  and  regular,  extending  through  the  year,  embracing  in 
fome  inftances,  night  as  well  as  day.  It  is  alio  probable  thafr 
there  are  among  the  cultivators  of  land  more  examples  of  re- 
mifihefs  than  among  artificers^  The  farmer,  from  the  peculiar 
fertility  of  hi&  land,  or  (bme  other  favourable  circumftances, 
may  frequently  obtain  a  livelihood,  even  with  a  eonfiderable  de- 
gice  of  carelefsnefs  in  the  mode  of  cultivation ;  but  the  artifan 
clan  with  great  difHculty  effeft  the  fame  objeft,  without  exerting 
himfclf  pretty  equally  with  all  thofe  who  are  engaged  in  the  fame 
purfuit.  And  if  it  may  likewife  be  alfumed  as  a  fa£l^  that  manu- 
fa£lures  open  a  wider  field  to  exertions  of  ingenuity  than  agricuU 
ture,  it  would  not  be  a  drained  conjefture,  that  the  labour  em- 
ployed in  the  former^  being  at  once  more  conftant,  more  uniform^ 
and  more  ingenious,  than  that  which  is  employed  in  the  latter^ 
,will  be  found  at  the  fame  time  more  prbdu£live« 

But  it  is  not  meant  to  lay  ilrefs  on  obfervations  of  this  nature ; 
they  ought  only  to  ferve  as  a  counterbalance  to  thofe  of  a  fimi- 
lar  complexion.  Circumftances  fo  vague  and  general,  as  well  9.% 
fo  abflra£l,  can  afford  little  inftruftion  in  a  matter  uf  this  kind. 

Another,  and  that  which  feems  to  be  the  principal  argument 
offered  for  the  fuperior  produftivenefft  of  agricultural  labour, 
turns  upon  the  allegation,  that  labour  employed  on  manufa£lurss 
yields  nothing  equivalent  to  the  rent  of  land ;  or  to  that  nett 
furplus,  as  it  is  called,  which  accrues  to  the  proprietor  of  the 
foil. 

But  this  di(lin£lion,  important  as  it  has  been  deemed,  appears 
rather  verbal  thiLnJubJiantiaU 

It  is  eafily  difcernible,  that  what  in  the  firft  inllance  is  divided 
into  two  parts  under  the  denomination  of  the  ordinary  profit  of  the 
dock  of  the  farmer  and  rtnt  to  the  landlord,  is  in  the  fccond  inllance 
united  under  the  general  appellation  of  the  ordinary  profit  on  the 
ftock  of  the  undertaker ;  and  that  this  formal  or  verbal  diftri- 
bution  conflitutes  the  whole  difference  in  the  two  cafes.  It 
feems  to  have  been  overlooked,  that  the  land  is  itfelf  a  flock  or 
capital,  advanced  or  lent  by  its  owner  to  the  occupier  or  tenant, 
and  that  the  rent  he  receives  is  only  the  ordinary  profit  of  a 
certain  itock  in  land,  not  managed  by  the  proprietor  himfelf, 
but  by  another  to  whom  he  lends  or  lets  it,  and  who,  on  his  part, 
advairccs  a  fccond  capital  to  ftock  and  improve  the  land,  upon 
Nvhich  he  alfo  receives  the  ufual  profit.  The  rent  of  the  land- 
lord and  the  profit  of  the  farmer  are  therefore  nothing  more 
ikiKti  the  ordinary  profits  of  two  capitals  belonging  To  two  different 


OF  TliE  UNITED  STATES, 


*n 


perfons,  and  united  in  the  cultivation  of  a  farmt    is   in   the 
other  cafe,  the  I'urplus  which  arifes  upon  any  manufaflory,  after 
replacing  the  expences  of  harrying  it  on,  anfwers  to  the  ordi- 
nary profits  of  one  or  more  capitaU  engaged  in  the  profecution  of 
fuch  manufaflory.     It  is  faid  one  or  more  capitals;  becaufe  in  hSt, 
the  fame  thing  which  is  contemplated  in  the  cafe  of  the   farm, 
fometimes  happens  in  that  of  a  manufaftoiy.     There  i«  one  who 
furniihes  part  of  the  capital,  or  lends  a  part  of  the  money,   by 
which  it  is  carried  on,  and  another  who  carries  it  on  with  the 
addition  of  his  own  capital.     Out  of  the  furplus  which  remains, 
after  defraying  expences,  an  intcreft  is  paid  to  the  money-lender 
for  the  portion  of  the  capital  furnilhed  by  him,  which  exa£Uy 
agrees  with  the  rent  paid  to  the  landlord;    and  the  refidue  of 
that  furplus  cpnftitutes  the  profit  of  the  undertaker  or  manu- 
fa£lurer,  and  agrees   with    what   is  denominated    the  ordinary 
profits  of  the  flock   of  the  farmer.     Both  together  make   the 
ordinary  profits  of  two  capitals  employed  in  a  manufaflory ;  as 
in  the  other  icafe  the  rent  of  the  landlord  and  the  revenue  of 
the  farmer  compofe  the  ordinary  profits  of  two  capitals,  employ- 
ed in  the  cultivation  of  a  farm. 

The  renjt  therefore  accruing  to  th,c  proprietor  of  the  land, 
far  from  being  a  criterion  of  exdufive  produRivenefs,  as  has  been 
argued,  is  no  criterion  even  of  fuperior  produAivenefs.  The 
'4|ue{lion  mud  ftill  be,  whether  the  furplus,  after  defraying  ex- 
pences of  a  given  capital^  employed  in  the  purchqfe  and  improve- 
ment of  a  piece  of  land,  is  greater  or  lefs  than  that  of  a 
like  capital  employed  in  the  profecution  of  a  manufa&ory ;  or 
whether  the  whole  value  produced  from  a  given  capital  and  a 
given  quantity  of  labour,  employed  in  one  way,  be  greater  or 
lefs  than  the  whole  value  produced  from  an  equal  capital  and  an 
equal  quantity  of  labour  employed  in  the  other  way ;  or  rather, 
perhaps,  whether  the  bufinefs  of  agriculture  or  that  of  manufac- 
tures will  yield  the  greatefi:  produft,  according  to  a  compound 
ratio  of  the  quantity  of  the  capital  and  the  quantity  of  labour 
which  are  employed  in  the  o<ie  or  in  the  other. 

The  folution  of  either  of  thefe  queilions  is  not  eafy ;  it  in- 
volves numerous  and  complicated  details,  depending  on  an  accu- 
rate knowledge  of  the  obje£ls  to  be  compared.  It  is  not  known 
that  the  comparifon  has  ever  yet  been  made  upon  fufficient  data 
properly  afccrtained  and  analyfed.  To  be  able  to  make  it  with 
fatisfa£lory  precifion  would  demand  much  previous  inquiry  and 
clofe  Invelligatipn. 

Some  eifays,  however,  have  been  made  towards  acquiring  the 
requifite  information,  which  have  rather  ferved  to  throw  4^uht 


ap« 


QMNERAl  DESCRIPTIpif: 


§■' 


^pon,  than  to  cohfirm  the  hypothefis  under  examination.  3u| 
it  ought  to  bo  acknowledged,  that  they  have  been  too  little  di. 
yerftfied,  and  are  too  impcrfeiEl  to  authoriie  a  definitive  conclufiot^ 
cither  way,  leading  rather  to  probable  conje^lure  than  to  certain 
dedu£lion.  They  render  it  probable  that  there  are  various 
]>ranches  of  manufa£lures  in  which  a  given  capital  \yiU  yield  a 
greater  tota|  produ£l,  and  a  confiderably  greater  nett  produft  thar^ 
an  eaual  papita^  invefted  in  ^he  purchafe  and  improvement  of 
lands ;  and  that  there  are  alfo  fome  branches,  in  which  both  the 
groce  and  ^he  nett  produce  will  exceed  that  of  agricultural  in- 
duiliy,  according  to  a  compound  ratio  of  capital  and  labour. 
But  it  is  on  this  lad  point  that  there  appears  to  be  the  greatefl 
room  for  doubt.  |t  is  far  lefs  diflficult  to  infer  generally  that  the^ 
nett  produce  of  ppital  engaged  in  manufaflurins  enterprifes .  is 
greater  than  that  of  capital  engaged  in  agriculture. 

The  foregoing  fuggeflions  arc  not  defigned  to  inculcate  an 
ppinion  that  manufa^uring  induflry  is  more  produ6iive  than 
that  of  agriculture.  They  are  intended  rather  to  fliew  that  thq 
reverfe  of,  this  propofition  is  not  afcertained;  that  the  general 
argiimentj^  which  are  brought  to  eflablifh  it  are  not  fatisfaftory ; 
and,  confequently,  that  a  fuppofition  pf  the  fuperior  produQ:ive- 
nefs  o£,  tillage  ought  to  be  no  obflacle  to  lidening  to  any  fub- 
i^antial  inducement  to  the  encouragement  of  manufaftures,  whicl^ 
may  be  otherwife  perceived  to  e?cift,  through  an  apprehenfioi^ 
that  they  may  have  a  tendency  to  divert  labour  from  a  mpre  to  <; 
lefs  profitable  employment. 

It  is  extremely  prabable,  that  on  a  full  and  accurate  deyelope- 
xnent  of  the  matter,  on  the  ground  of  fa£):  and  calculation,  it 
would  be  difcoyered  that  there  is  no  material  difference  between 
the  aggregate  produflivenefs  of  the  one,  and  of  the  other  kind  of 
induflry ;  and  that  the  propriety  of  the  encouragements,  which 
may  in  any  cafe  be  propofed  to  be  given  to  either,  ought  to  be 
determined  upon  confiderations  irrelative  to  any  comparifon  of 
that  nature. 

But  without  contending  for  the  fuperior  prpdu^ivenefs  of 
manufaiEluring  induftry,  it  may  conduce  to  a  better  judgment  of 
the  policy,  which  ought  to  be  purlued  by  the  United  States  re- 
fpe£ling  its  encouragement,  to  contemplate  the  fubjeft  under 
fome  additional  afpcfts,  tending  not  only  to  confirm  the  idea, 
that  this  kind  of  induftry  has  been  improperly  reprelented  as 
unprodu^ive  in  itfelf ;  but  to  evince  in  addition,  that  the  efla- 
bliihmcnt  and  diffufion  of  manufactures  will  have  the  effeft  of 
.Tendering  the  total  mafs  of  ufeful  and  produ£live  labour,  in  a 
fonununity,  greater  than  it  would  otherwife  be.  In  profecutlng 
this  difcufTton,  it  may  be  necelTary  briefly  to  refume  and  review 
fome  of  the  topics  which  have  been  already  touched. 


OF  THE  UNITE  If  STATES, 


3pt 


It 


Inefs  of 

lent  of 
tates  rc- 
under 
|he  idea, 

ited  as 
le  efla- 
Iffeft  of 
kr,  in  a 
JTecutlng 
review 


To  affirm  that  the  labour  of  the  tnanufa^urer  is  unprodu£live, 
))ecaufe  he  confumes  as  much  of  the  produce  of  land  as  he  adds 
value  to  the  raw  materials  which  he  manufa£itures,  is  not  better 
founded,  than  it  would  be  to  affirm,  that  the  labour  of  the  far- 
mer, which  furniflies  materials  to  the  manufa£iurcr,  is  unproduc- 
tive, becaufe  he  confumes  an  ^quai  value  of  manufactured  articles. 
Each  furnilhes  a  certain  portion  of  the  produce  of  his  labour  to 
the  other,  and  each  dellroys  a  correfpondent  portion  of  the  pro- 
duce of  the  labour  of  the  other.  In  the  mean  time  the  main- 
tenance of  two  citizens,  inftead  of  one,  is  going  on  ;  the  flate  has 
two  members  inflead  of  one :  and  they  together  confume  twice 
^he  value  of  what  is  produced  from  the  land. 

If  inftead  of  a  farmer  and  artificer,  there  was  a  farmer  only, 
|ie  would  be  under  the  neceffity  of  devoting  a  part  of  his  labour 
to  the  fabrication  of  cloathing  and  other  articles,  which,he  would 
procure  of  the  artificer,  in  the  cafe  of  there  being  fuch  a  perfon  ; 
and  of  courfe,  he  would  be  able  to  devote  lefs  labour  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  hjis  farm,  and  would  draw  from  it  a  proportionably 
lefs  produ£):.  The  whole  quantity  of  produ£lion,  in  this  {late  of 
things,  in  provifions,  raw  materials  and  manufa£lures,  would  cer- 
tainly not  exceed  in  value  the  amount  of  what  would  be  produ- 
ced in  provifions  and  raw  materials  only,  if  there  were  an 
artificer  as  well  as  a  farmer. 

Again — -If  there  were  both  an  artificer  and  a  farmer,  the  lat- 
ter would  be  left  at  liberty  to  purfue  exclufively  the  cultivation 
pf  his  farm.  A  greater  quantity  of  provifions  and  raw  materials 
would  of  courfe  be  produced,  equal,  at  lead,  as  has  been  already 
pbferved,  to  the  whole  amount  of  the  provifions,  raw  materials, 
and  manufa£bures,  which  would  exifl:  on  a  contrary  fuppofition. 
The  artificer,  at  the  fame  time,  would  be  going  on  in  the  produc- 
tion of  manufa6lured  commodities,  to  an  amount  fufficient  not 
only  to  repay  the  farmer,  in  thofe  commodities,  fomhe  provi- 
fions and  materials  which  were  procured  from  him,  but  to  fur- 
jiifti  the  artificer  himfelf  with  a  fupply  of  fimilar  commodities 
for  his  own  ufe.  Thus,  then,  there  would  be  two  quantities  or 
values  in  exiftence  inftead  of  one ;  and  the  revenue  and  con^^ 
lumption  would  be  double  in  one  cafe,  what  it  would  be  in  the 
other. 

If  in  place  of  both  thefe  fuppofitions,  there  were  fuppofed  to 
be  two  fanners  and  no  artificer,  each  of  whom  applied  a  part  of 
his  labour  to  the  culture  of  land,  and  another  part  to  the  fabri- 
cation of  manufaftures ;  in  this  cafe,  the  portion  of  the  labour  of 
both  bellowed  upon  land  would  produce  the  fame  quantity  of 
provifions  and  raw  materials  only,  as  would  be  produced  by  the 
pntirc  fum  of  the  labour  of  one  applied  in  the  lame  mannner,  and 


80« 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTU 


the  portion  of  the  labour  of  both  beftowed  upon  manufactures, 
-would  produce  the  fame  quantity  of  manufa£lures,  only,  as  would 
be  produced  by  the  entire  fum  of  the  labour  of  one  applied  in 
the  fame  manner.  Hence  the  produce  of  the  labour  of  the  two 
farmers  would  not  be  greater  than  the  produce  of  the  labour  of 
the  farmer  and  the  artificer ;  and  hence  it  refults,  that  the  la- 
bour of  the  artificer  is  as  pofitively  produ£live  as  that  of  the  far-^ 
mer,  and,  as  pofitively,  augments  the  revenue  of  the  fociety, 

The  labour  of  the  artificer  replaces  to  the  farmer  that  portion 
of  his  labour  with  which  he  provides  the  materials  of  exchange 
with  the  artificer,  and  which  he  would  otherwife  have  been  com- 
pelled to  apply  to  manufaftures ;  and  while  the  artificers  thus 
enables  the  farmer  to  enlarge  his  ftock  of  agricultural  indudry, 
a  portion  of  which  he  purchafes  for  his  own  ufe,  he  alfofupplits 
himfdf  with  the  manufaSured  articles  of  which  he  Jiands  in  need. 
He  does  ftill  more — Befides  this  equivalent  which  he  gives  for 
the  portion  of  agricultural  labour  confumed  by  him,  and  this  fup- 
ply  of  manufa£iured  commodities  for  his  own  confumption,  he 
furnifhes  iJLill  a  fuiplus,  which  compenfates  for  the  ufe  of  the 
capital  advanced  either  by  himfelf  or  fome  other  perfon,  for 
carrying  on  the  bufinefs.  This  is  the  ordinary  profit  of  the 
ftock  employed  in  the  manufaAory,  and  is,  in  every  fenfe,  as 
effective  an  addition  to  the  income  of  the  fociety'  as  the  rent 
of  land. 

The  produce  of  the  labour  of  the.  artificer,  confequently,  may 
be  regarded  as  compofid  of  tjwee  parts  ;  one  by  which  the  pro- 
vifions  for  his  fubfillenco  and  the  materials  for  his  work  are  pur- 
chafed  of  the  farmer;  one  by  which  he  fupplies  himfelf  with 
manufa£iured  neceffaries  :  and  a  third  which  conftitutes  the  pro- 
fit on  the  ftock  employed.  The  two  laft  portions  feem  to  have 
been  overlooked  in  thisfyftem,  which  reprefents  manufa£luring 
induftry  ai»  barren  and  unproduftive. 
'.  In  the  courfe  of  the  preceding  illuftrations,  the  produfts  of 
equal  quantities  of  the  labour  of  the  farmer  and  artificer  have 
been  treated  as  if  equal  to  each  other.  But  this  is  not  to  be  un- 
derftood  as  intending  to  aflfert  any  fuch  precife  equality.  It  is 
merely  a' manner  of  exprc'f'on  adopted  for  the  fake  of  fimplicity 
and  perfpicuity.  Whether  the  value  of  the  produce  of  the  la- 
bour of  the  farmer  be  fomewhat  more  or  lefs  than  that  of  the 
artificer,  is  not  material  to  the  main  fcope  of  the  argument,  which 
hitherto  has  aimed  at  (hewing,  that  the  one^  as  well  as  the  other, 
occafions  a  pofitive  augmentation  of  the  total  produce  and  reve- 
nue of  the  fociety. 

It  is  now  proper  to  proceed  a  ftep  farther,  and  to  enumerate 
the  principal  circumftances,  from  which  it  may  be  inferred.  That 


A 


at  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


803 


manuhfturing  eftabliAimenti,  nort  only  occafion  a  pofitive  aug* 
mentation  of  the  produce  and  revenue  of  the  fociety,  but  that 
they  contribute  eflentially  tp  rendering  them  greater  than  they 
could  poflibiy  be,  without  fuch  eftablifliments.  Thefe  circum- 
ftancea  are^ 

1;  The  divifion  of  labour. 

a.  An  extenfion  of  the  ufe  of  machinery. 

3.  Additional  employment  to  clafles  of  the  c(Mnmunity  not  or- 
dinarily engaged  in  the  buftnefs. 

4^  The  promoting  of  emigration  from  foreign  countries. 

5.  The  fumiftiing  greater  fcope  for  the  diveriity  of  talent*  and 

difpofitions  which  difcriminate  men  from  each  other. 

6.  The  a£Fording  a  more  ample  and  various  field  for  enter- 
,  prize. 

7.  The  creating,  in  fome  inftances,  a  new,  and  fecuring  in  all, 

a  more  certain  and  fteady  demand  for  the  furplus  produce 
of  the  foil. 
Each  of  thefe  circumftances  has  a  confiderable  influence  vpon  the 
total  mafs  of  induftrious  effort  in  a  community :  together,  they 
add  to  it  a  degree  of  energy  and  effeft,  which  are  not  eafily 
conceived.  Some  comments  upon  each  of  them,  in  the  order  in 
which  they  have  been  ftated,  may  ferve  to  explain  their  impor* 
tance. 

I.  As  to  tlit  divifion  of  labour, 

,  It  has  juilly  been  obferved,  that  there  is  fcarcely  any  thing  of 
greater  moment  in  the  economy  of  a  nation,  than  the  proper  di- 
vifion of  labour — The  reparation  of  occupations  caufes  each  to  be 
carried  to  a  much  greater  perfe£lion  than  it  could  poflibiy  ac- 
quire, if  they  were  blended.  This  arifes  principally  from  three 
circumftances. 

ill.  The  greater  fliill  and  dexterity  naturally  ^'efulting  from  a 
conilant  and  undivided  application  to  a  tingle  objeft— -It  is  evi- 
dent, that  thefe  properties  muft  increafe  in  proportion  to  the 
feparation  and  iimplification  of  obje£b,  and  the  fteadinefs  of  the 
attention  devoted  to  each ;  and  muft  be  lefs,  in  proportion  to  the 
complication  of  obje£ls,  and  the  number  among  which  the  atten- 
tion is  diftra6led. 

fid.  The  economy  of  time,  by  avoiding  the  lofs  of  it,  incident 
to  a  frequent  tranfition  from  one  operation  to  another  of  a  differ- 
ent nature.-— This  depends  on  various  circumftances ;  the  tranfi- 
tion itfelf,  the  orderly  difpofition  of  the  implements,  machines, 
and  materials  employed  in  the  operation  to  be  relinquiflied,  the 
preparatory  fteps  to  the  commencement  of  a  new  one,  the  inter- 
ruption of  the  impulfe,  which  the  mind  of  the  workmen  acquires, 
irom  being  engaged  in  a  particular  operation ;  the  diftra£lions. 


^04 


6EkEkAt  ffESCRtPTiOi 


hefitation^j  attcl  ^luCUncet|  which  attend  the  paflage  /rofn  on# 
kind  of  bufinefit  io  ilnothen 

3d.  An  extenfion  of  the  ufe  o^  machinery.— A  man  occupte<f 
ion  a  fit\^  objeft;  Will  have  it  more  in  his  power,  and  will  be 
more  n'atiMUy  led  to  exert  hit  imagination  in  dcvifing  methodaf 
to  facilitate  mild  abridge  labotir,-  than  if  he  were  perplexed  by  a' 
variety  of  independent  and  diflimilar  bperationa.  Befrdcs  this, 
the  fabrication  of  machines,  in  numerous  inftances,  becoming  it> 
felf  a  diilin£l  trade,  the  artiH  who  follows  it,  has  all  the  advanta« 
CCS  which  have  been  enumerated^  for  improvement  in  his  parti- 
cular art ;  and  in  both  ways  the  invention  and  application  of 
machinery  are  extended. 

And  from  thefe  caufes  united,  the  mere  (eparation  of  the  occu- 
pation of  the  cultivator,  from  that  of  the  artificer,  has  thcfefFcfl 
of  aygmenting  the  produ^ive  powers  of  labour,  and  with  them 
the  total  mafs  of  the  produce  or  revenue  of  a  country.  In  this' 
fmgle  view  of  the  fubje£)i,  therefore,  the  utility  of  artificers  of 
manufa£lures,  towards  promoting  an  increafe  of  produ^ive  induf- 
fry,  is  apparent. 

II.  As  to  an  extenfion  of  the  'uje  of  machinery^  a  point  tohkh^ 
though  partly  anticipated^  requires  to  be  placed  in  one  or  tao  addition- 
al lights. 

The  ertiployment  of  machinery  forms  an  item  of  great  impor-' 
portance  in  the  general  mal's  of  national  induftry.  'Tis  an  arti- 
ficial force  brought  in  aid  of  the  natural  force  of  man ;  and,  to 
all  the  purpofes  of  labour,  is  an  increafe  of  hands  ;  an  acceflion 
of  flrcngth,  unincumbered  too  by  the  expence  of  if  intaining  the 
labourer.  May  it  not  therefore  be  fairly  inferred,  that  thofe  oc- 
cupations, which  give  greatefl  fcope  to  the  ufe  of  this  auxiliary, 
contribute  mod  to  the  general  ftock  of  induftrious  effort,  and,  in 
confequence,  to  the  general  produfl  of  induftry  ? 

It  will  be  taken  for  granted,  and  the  truth  of  the  pofit ion  re- 
ferred to  obfervation,  that  manufa£luring  purfuits  are  fufceptible 
in  a  greater  degree  of  the  application  of  machinery,  than  thofe  of 
agriclilturc.  If  fo,  all  the  difference  is  lofl  to  a  community, 
which,  inftead  of  manufafturing  for  itfelf,  procures  the  fabrics 
requifitc  to  its  fupply  from  other  countries.  The  fubftitution 
of  foreign  for  domeftic  manufa£iurcs,  is  a  transfer  to  foreign  na- 
tions of  the  advantages  accruing  from  the  employment  of  ma- 
chinery, in  the  modes  in  which  it  is  capable  of  being  employed, 
with  moft  utility  and  to  the  greateft  extent. 

The  cotton  mill  invented  in  England,  within  the  laft  twenty 
years,  is  a  fingle  illuftration  of  the  general  propofition  which  we 
have  advanced.  In  confequence  of  it,  all  the  different  proccffes 
for  fpinning  cotton  are  performed  by  meaAs  of  machines,  which 


ur  tHB  UNITED  STATES. 


ao5 


itt  put  in  notion  by  water,  and  attended  chiedy  by  wonpien  and 
children }  and  by  a  fmallcr  numl*  of  perfona,  in  the  whole^ 
than  are  re<|uiQte  in  the  ordinary  it.jde  of  fpinning'i  And  it  it 
an  advantage  of  great  moment  that  the  operationif«f 'this  lAUl 
continue  with  convenience)  during  the  night,  ni¥0  a*  through 
the  day.  The  prodigious  eifeA  of  fuch  a  nMchii^MS  raiUy  con' 
ceivedi  To  this  invention  is  to  be  attributed  «i^nttiUy,  the  im* 
menfe  progrefs  ^^hich  has  been  fo  fuddenly  madf  in  thia  country 
i^  the  various  fabrics  of  cotton* 

III.  As  to  the  additional  employnuiu  of  ctafes  of  the  cowmunityf 
not  ordinarily  engaged  in  the  particular  bufinefst  ^ 

This  is  not  aflitong  the  lead  V!iluable  of  the  means,  by  which 
tiwmufafi^uring  inflitutions  contribute  to  augment  the  general  flock 
of  induAry  and  produftion«  tn  places  where  thofe  inftitutions 
prevail,  befides  the  perfons  regularly  engaged  in  them,  they  affprd 
occafional  and  extra  employment  tp  induftrioua  individuals  and 
families,  who  are  willing  to  devote  the  leifure  refulting  from  the 
intermif^ons  of  |heir  ordinary  purfuits  to  collateral  labouri,  as  a 
refource  for  multiplying  their  acquifitions  or  their  enjoyments* 
The  huibandman  himfelf  experiences  a  neiv  fource  of  jprofit  and 
fupport  froin  the  increafed  induftry  of  his  wife  and  daughters } 
invited  and  ftimulated  by  the  demands  of  the  neighbouring  ma< 
nufadoricf* 

fiefide  this  advantage  of  oCcafional  employment  to  claiTes  hav- 
ing different  occupations,  there  is  another  of  a  nature  allied  to  it| 
uid  of  a  Itmilar  tendency.— 'lliis  is  the  employment  of  perfons 
who  would  otherwife  be  idle,  and  in  many  cafes  a  burthen  on  the 
community,  either  from  the  bias  of  temper,  habit,  infirmity,  of 
body,  or  fome  other  caufe,  indifpofing  or  difqualifying  them  for 
the  toils  of  the  country.  It  is  worthy  of  particular  remark,  that, 
in  general,  women  and  children  are  rendered'  more  ufeful,  and 
the. latter  more  early  ufeful,  by  manufa^uring  eftablifliments,  than 
they  would  otherwife  be.  Of  the  number  of  perfons  employed 
in  the  cotton  manufa£korics  of  Great  Britain,  it  is  cofiiputed  that 
four  fevenths  nearly  are  women  and  children ;  of  wk#m  the 
greateft  proportion  are  children,  and  many  of  them  oi  a  tender 
age. 

Thus  it  appears  to  be  one  of  the  attributues  of  manufactures, 
and  one  of  no  fmall  confequence,  to  give  occalton  to  the  exertion 
of  a  greater  quantity  of  indudry,  even  by.  the  fame  number  of  per- 
fons, where  they  happen  to  prevail,  than  would  exift  if  there 
were  no  fuch  efl^abliihments. 

IV.  As  (0  the  promoting  of  emigration  from  foreign  couritries. 
Men  relu^ntiy  quit  one.  courfc  of  occupation  and  livelihood 

kx 


9 


3o6    ^ 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


for  another,  unlcfs  invited  to  It  by  very  a|>par«nt  and  proximfte 
advantages.  Many,  who  would  go  from  one  country  to  tnother, 
if  they  had  a  {)rofped  of  conthiuing,  With  more  benefit,  the  cal- 
lings to  which  they  have  been  educated,  will  often  not  be  tempt- 
ed to  change  their  fituation  by  the  hope  of  doing  better  in  (ome 
other  way,  Manufa£lurerswho,liflcning  to  the  powerful  invita* 
tionit  of  a  better  ^ricc  for  their  fabrics,  or  their  labour ;  of  great- 
er cheapnefs  of  proviAons  and  raw  materials ;  of  an  exemption 
from  the  chief  part  of  the  taxes,  burthens  and  reftraints,  which 
they  endure  in  Europe  ;  of  greater  pcrfonal  independence  and 
confcquence,  under  the  operation  of  a  more  equal  government ; 
and  of  what  is  far  more  precious  than  mere  religious  toleration,  a 
perfcft  equality  of  religious  privileges ;  will  probably  flock  from 
£urope  to  the  United  States  to  purfue  their  own  trades  or  pro- 
fcirtons,  if  they  are  once  made  fenCblc  of  the  advantages  they  will 
enjoy,  and  are  infpired  with  an  ^fTu  ranee  of  encouragement  and 
employment. 

If  it  be  true  then,  that  it  is  the  intercfl  of  the  United  States  to 
open  every  poITlble  avenue  to  emigration  from  abroad,  it  affords 
a  weighty  argument  for  their  encouragement  of  manufafiiures ; 
which,  for  the  reafons  juft  afltgned,  will  have  the  ftrongeft  ten- 
dency to  multiply  tho  inducements  to  it. 

Here  is  perceived  ?n  important  refourcc, '  not  only  for  extend, 
ing  the  population,  and  with  it  the  ufeful  and  produ£live  labour 
of  the  country,  but  likewifc  for  the  profecution  of  manufafturcs, 
without  dedu£ling  from  the  number  of  hands,  which  might  other- 
wife  be  drawn  to  tillage ;  and  even  for  the  indemnification  of 
agriculture  for  fuch  as  may  happen  to  be  diverted  from  it.  Many 
whom  manufafturing  views  may  induce  to  emigrate,  will  after- 
wards yield  to  the  temptations,  which  the  particular  fituation  of 
the  United  States  hold  out  to  agricultural  purfuits.  And  while 
agriculture  will  in  other  refpcfts  derive  many  fignal  and  unmin- 
gled  advantages  from  the  growth  of  manufafturcs,  it  is  a  problem 
whether  it  will  gain  or  lole,  as  to  the  article  of  the  number  of 
pcrfons  employed  in  carrying  it  on. 

v.  As  to  the  furni/hiiig  greater  fcope  for  the  diverfily  of  talents 
and  diffiofttions,  which  di/<,riminate  menj'rom  each  other. 

This. is  a  much  more  powerful  mean  of  augmenting  the  fund  of 
natior»il  induftry,  than  may  at  firft  fight  appear.  It  is  a  jullcbfcr- 
vation,  that  minds  of  the  ftrongeft  and  moft  aftive  powers  for 
their  proper  objcfts  fall  below  mediocrity,  and  labour  without  cf- 
fcft  if  confined'  to  uncongenial  purfijits  :  and  it  is  thence  to  be 
inferred,  that  the  rcfults  of  human  exertion  may  hi  imm'cnfcly  in- 
crcaied  ty  divcrfifying  its  objcAui.'^  When  all  the  different  kinds 
of  induftry  obtain  in  a  community,  each  individual  can  find  liis 


fF  THE  UNI    ED  ST  A     fS. 


307 


ipvepcr  clement,  and  can  call  into  aftivity  t\m.  wholp      ;<»Mr  of  Y 
nature.     And  the  community  it  benefitted  by  the  ces  of 

reipeftive  n\$rmberi,  in  the  manner  in  which  cuch     m  firrve    : 
with  moil  eS<Gt, 

If  there  be  any  thing  in  a  remark  oft.  tp  be  met  witb,  name.y^ 
that  there  is,  in  the  genius  of  the  pcop  :  of  America,  a  peculiar 
aptitude  fur  mechanical  improvements,  it  will  operate  as  a  ford* 
blc  rcaCon  fur  giving  oppoitunities  to  the  exercife  of  that  fpecics 
•of  talent  by  the  propagation  of  manufu£lures. 

VI.  Ad  to  the  affording  a  wore  ample  and  various  f  eld  for  enterpriie. 

This  ilfo  u  of  greater  confequence  in  the  general  fcale  of  na- 
tional exertion,  than  might,  perhaps,  on  a  fuperlicial  vie«v  be  fup- 
pofed,  and  has  cfFc6ls  not  altogether  difllmilar  from  thofe  of  the 
circumdances  lad  noticed.  To  cherifh  and  (Simulate  the  a£livity 
of  the  human  mind,  by  multiplying  the  objc£ts  of  entcrprife,  is 
not  among  the  lead  conftdcrable  of  the  expedients  by  whi^h  the 
wealth  of  a  nation  may  be  promoted.— Even  things  in  themfelves, 
not  pofuively  advantageous,  fometimes  become  fo  by  their  ten- 
dency to  provoke  exertion.  Eveiy  new  fcene  which  is  op6ned 
to  the  bufy  nature  of  man  to  roufc  and  exert  itfelf,  is  the  addi- 
tion of  a  new  energy  to  the  general  ftock  fff  effort. 

The  fpirit  of  entcrprife.,  ufeful  and  prolific  as  it  is,  muft  necef- 
farily  be  contrajfted  or  expanded  in  p:roportiQn  to  the  fimplicity 
or  variety  of  the  occupations  and  productions  which  arc  to  be 
found  in  a  fociety.  It  muftbclefs  in  a  nation  of  mere  cultivators, 
than  in  a  nation  of  cultivators  and  merchants ;  lei's  in  a  nation  of 
cultivators,  and  merchant^,  than  in  a  nation  of  cultivators,  artili- 
cers,  and  merchants. 

VII.  As  to  the  creating,  infome  inflanres,  a  nezo,  and  fecuring  in 
aU^  a  more  certain  andfieady  demand  jor  thf.  furplus  produce  of  the 
foil. 

This  is  among  t!he  mod  important  of  the  circumdanccs  which 
have  been  indicated.  It  is  a  principal  mean  by  which  the  cda- 
blifhmcnt  of  manufa^ures  contributes  to  an  augmentation  of  the 
produce  or  revenue  of  a  country,  and  has  an  immediate  and  di- 
re£l  relation  to  the  prol'pcrity  of  agriculture. 

It  is  evident  that  the  exertions  of  the  huibandman  will  be  flea- 

.  dy  or  flu£l:uating,  vigorous  or  feeble,  in  proportion  to  the  fleadi- 

.  nefs  or  fluctuation,  adequaten^s,  or  inadequatencfs  of  the  markets, 

.  on  which  he  muft  depend,  for  the  vent  of  the  tirplus,  which  may 

be  produced  by  his  labour  y  and  ^hat  fuch  furplus  in  the  ordinary 

couric  of  things  will  be  greater  or  lefs  in  the  fame  proportion. 

For  the  purpofc  of  this  vent,  a  domeftic  market  is  greatly  to  be 
preferred  to  a  foreign  one  ;  becaulp  i]t  is  in  the  nature  of  things 
far  more  to  be  relied  upon. 

R  R  2 


30^ 


GENERAL  DESCRiPTi 


It  is  a  jfirimary  objdt  of  the  policy  of  natieni  to  be  ablt  to  fW{k> 
ply  themlielvea  with  fubfiftenee  from  thair  own  foil )  and  mahtt* 
fafturing  nations,  as  far  as  cireumftanccs  permit,  endeavour  to  pro- 
cure  from  the  (ame  feurce,  the  raw  materials  neccflary  for  their 
own  fabrics.  This  difpofition,  urged  by  the  fpirit  of  monopoly, 
is  fbmetimea  even  carried  to  an  injudicious  extreme.  It  feema 
not  always  to  be  recollefted,  that  nations  who  have  neither  mines 
nor  manufaAures,  can  only  obtain  the  manufaftured  articles,  of 
which  they  ftand  in  need,  by  an  exchange  of  the  produfts  of  their 
foils  ;  and  that  if  thofe  who  can  beftturnifh  them  with  fuch  arti- 
dea  are  unwilling  to  give  a  due  courfe  to  thia  exchange,  they  muf^ 
of  neceffity  make  every  poflfihle  ciibrt  to  manufacture  for  them- 
felves;  the  eifeft  of  which  is,  that  the  manufafturing  nations 
abridge  the  natural  advantages  of  their  fituation,  through  an  un- 
willingnefa  to  permit  the  agricultural  countries  to  enjoy  the  ad- 
vantages of  theirs,  and  facrifice  the  interefts  of  a  mutually  benefi. 
cial  intercourfe  tp  the  vain  projeCl  of  felling  every  thing  and  buy- 
ing nothing, 

fiut  it  is  alfo  a  confequence  of  the  policy,  which  has  been  no- 
ted, that  the  fqreig.n'^mand  for  the  produfts  of  agricultural  coun- 
tries, is,  in  a  great  degree,  rather  cafual  and  occafional,  than  cer- 
tain or  conftant,  To  what  extent  injurious  interruptions  of  the 
demand  for  fome  of  the  flaple  cummodities  of  the  United  States, 
may  have  been  experienced  from  that  caufe,  muft  be  referred  to 
the  judgment  of  thofe  who  are  engaged  in  carrying  on  the  com- 
merce of  the  country  ;^  but  it  may  be  fafely  affirined,  that  fuch  in- 
terruption are  at  times  very  inconveniently  felt,  and  that  cafes 
not  unfrequently  occur,  in  which  markets  are  fo  confined  and 
rcftrifted,  as  to  render  the  demand  very  unequal  to  the  fupply. 

Independent  likewife  of  the  artiScial  impediments,  which  are 
created  by  the  policy  in  queilion,  there  are  natural  caufes  tending 
to  render  the  external  demand  for  the  furplus  of  agricultural  na. 
tions  a  precarious  reliance.  The  differences  of  feafons  in  the 
countries  which  are  the  confumers,  make  immenfe  differences  in 
the  produce  of  their  own  foils,  in  different  years,  and  confequent- 
ly  in  the  degrees  of  their  neceflity  for  foreign  fupply.  Plentiful 
harveils  with  them,  efpecially  if  fimilar  ones  occur  at  the  fame 
time  in  the  i>.  entries  which  are  the  furnifhers,  occafton  of  courfo 
a  glut  in  the  markets  of  the  latter. 

Confidering  how  faft  and  how  much  the  progrefs  of  new  fet- 
tlements  in  the  United  States  muft  increafc  the  furplus  produce 
of  the  foil,  and  weighing  fcrioufly  the  tendency  of  the  fyflem 
which  prevails  among  moft  of  the  commercial  nations  of  Europe, 
lyhatever  dependence  may  be  placed  on  the  force  of  natural  cir- 
cumflances  to  counteraft  the  efFefts  of  an  artificial  policy,  there 


bcrf 


*ffE  UNITED  STATES* 


8^9 


•pfNllrlbong  mlbiis  to  regard  the  foreign  demand  for  thi  (iirplua 
at  too  uncertain  a  reliance,  and  to  defire  a  fubilitute  for  it,  in  an 
cxtenfive  domefttc  market. 

To  fecure  fucli  a  market,  there  ii  no  other  expedient  than  lor 
the  United  btaten  to  promote  manufafturing  eftabliflinenla. 
Manufafturert,  who  conftitute  the  moft  numeroua  clafa,  after  the 
cuUivatora  of  land,  are  for  that  reafon  the  principal  confumert  of 
the  furplus  of  their  labour. 

This  idea  of  an  extenfive  domedic  market  for  the  furplui  pro> 
duce  of  the  foil,  ia  of  the  firft  conl'equence  to  the  United  Statea. 
It  it  of  all  things  that  which  moft  effe£kually  conducea  to  a  flou* 
rt(hing  ftate  of  agriculture.  If  the  eifeft  of  manufa^riea  were 
to  be  the  detaching  a  portion  of  the  hands  which  would  be 
otherwife  engaged  in  tillage,  it  might  poflibly  caufe  a  fmaller 
quantity  of  landa  to  be  under  cultivation:  but  by  their  ten- 
dency to  procure  a  more  certain  demand  for  the  furplua  produce 
of  the  foil,  they  at  the  fame  time,  caufe  the  landa  which  are  in 
cultivation  to  be  better  improved,  and  more  productive.  And 
while,  by  their  influence,  the  condition  of  each  individual  farmer 
is  meliorated,  the  total  mafa  of  agricultural  prMuftion  will  pro- 
bably be  increafed :  for  this  muft  evidently  depend  as  much,  if 
pot  more,  upon  the  degree  of  improvement,  than  upon  the  num- 
ber f '  acres  under  culture. 

It  merits  particular  obfervation,  that  the  multiplication  of  ma- 
nufaftories  not  only  furnifhes  a  market  for  thofe  articles  which 
have  been  accuftomed  to  be  produced  in  abundance  in  a  country, 
but  it  likewife  creates  a  demand  for  fuch  as  were  either  unknown, 
or  produced  in  inconfiderable  quantities.  The  bowels,  aa  well 
as  the  furface  of  the  earth,  are  ranfacked  for  articles  which  were 
before  neglefted.  Animals,  plants,  and  minerals  acquire  a  utility 
and  value,  which  were  before  unexplored. 

The  foregoing  confiderations  feem  fufEcient  to  eftablifh,  as  ge- 
neral propofitiona,  that  it  is  the  interefl:  of  nations,  and  particular- 
ly of  the  United  States,  to  diverfify  the  imduflrious  purfuits  of 
the  individuals  who  compofe  them — >that  the  eftablifhment  of 
manufaftures  is  calculated  not  only  to  increafe  the  general  flock 
of  ufeful  and  produ£iive  labour,  but  even  to  improve  the  (late  of 
agriculture  ir.  particular;  certainly  to  advance  the  interefl;  of 
thole  who  are  engaged  in  it.  There  are  other  views,  that  we 
{hall  hereafter  take  of  the  fubje£l,  which,  it  is  conceived,  will 
fcrve  to  confirm  thefe  inferences. 

Previous  to  a  further  difcufTion  of  the  objeftions  to  the  encou- 
ragement of  manufa6lures,  which  have  been  flated,  it  will  be  of 
ufe  to  fee  what  can  be  faid  in  reference  to  the  particular  fituation 


3*P 


GENERAL  DESCRIPflON 


|«;''-B  ;4| 


\fl:f-:/ 


of  the  United  States  againfl  the  concluiions  appearing  to  refult 
from  what  has  been  already  offered. 

It  may  be  obferved,  and  the  idea  is  of  no  inconfiderable  weight, 
that  however  true  it  may  be,  that  a  flate,  which  pofleflTcs  large 
,tra£is  of  vacant  and  fertile  territory,  and  at  the  fame  time  fecluded 
from  foreign  commerce,  would  find  -ts  intcreft,  and  the  intereft 
of  agriculture,  in  diverting  a  part  of  its  population  from  tillage 
to  manufaftures ;  yet  it  will  not  follow  that  the  fame  is  true  of  a 
ftate,  which,  having  fuch  vacant  and  fertile  territory,  has  at  the 
fame  time  ample  opportunities  of  procuring  from  abroad,  on  good 
terms,  all  the  fabrics  of  which  it  (lands  in  need  for  the  fupply  of  its 
inhabitants.  The  power  of  doing  this  at  leaft  fecures  the  great  ad- 
vantage of  a  divifion  of  labour,  leaving  the  farmer  free  to  purfuc 
cxclufively  the  culture  of  his  land,  and  enabling  him  to  procure 
with  its  products  the  manufactured  fupplies  requifite  either  to  his 
wants  or  to  his  enjoyments.  And  though  it  (hould'  be  true,  that 
in  fettled  countries  the  diverfification  of  induftry  is  conducive  to 
ah  increafe  in  the  produ£live  powers  of  labour,  and  to  an  augmen- 
tation  of  revenue  and  capital,  yet  it  is  fcarcely  conceivable  that 
there  can  be  any  thing  of  io  folid  and  permanent  advantage  to  an 
uncultivated  and  unpeopled  country,  as  to  convert  its  waftes  into 
cultivated  and  inhabited  di{lri6ls.  If  the  revenue,  in  the  mean 
time,  ftiould  be  lefs,  the  capital,  in  the  event,  muft  be  greater. 

To  thcfe  obfervations,  the  following  appears  to  be  a  fatisfaftory 
anfwer,  at  leaft  fo  far  as  they  concern  the  American  States. 

If  the  fyftem   of  pcrfcft  liberty   to   induftry    and  commerce 
were  the  prevailing  fyftcm  of  nations,  the  arguments  which  dif- 
fuade  a  country  in  the  predicament  of  the  United  States,  from  the 
zealous  purfuit  of  manufaftures,  would  doubtlefs  have  great  force 
It  will  not  be  affirmed,  that  they  might  not  be  permitted,  with  few 
exceptions,  to  ferve  as  a  rule  of  national  conduft.     In  fuch  a  ftate 
of  things,  each  country  would  have  the  full  benefit  of  its  pecu- 
liar advantages  to  compenfate  for  its  deficiencies  or  difadvantages. 
If  one  nation  were  in  condition  to  fupply  manufaftured  articles 
on  better  terms  than  another,  that  other  might  find  an  abundant 
indemnification  in  a  fupcrior  capacity  to  furnifh  the  produce  of 
the  foil.     And  a  free  exchange,  mutually  beneficial,  of  the  com- 
modities which  each  was  able  to  fupply,  on  the  beft  terms,  might 
be  carried  on  between  them,  fupporting  in  full  vigour  the  indul- 
try  of  each.     And  though  the   circumftanccs  which   have  been 
mentioned,  and  others  which  will  be  unfolded  hereafter,  render 
it  probable,  that  nations  merely  agricultural,  would  not  enjoy  the 
fame  degree  of  opulence,  in  proportion  to  their  numbers,  as  thole 
which  united  manufaftures  with  agriculture;   yet  the  progrcflivc 
improvement  of  the  lands  of  the  former  might,  in  the  end,  atone  for 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


3t> 


an  inferior  degree  of  opulence  in  the  mean  time;,  and  in  a  cafe  in 
which  oppofite  confideration  are  pretty  equally  balanced,  the  op- 
tion ought  prrhaps  always  to  be,  in  favour  of  leaving  indudry  to 
its  own  direftion. 

But  the  fyftem  which  has  been  meijtioned  is  far  from  charafter- 
izing  the  -general  policy  of  nations.  The  prevalent  one  has 
been  regulated  by  an  oppofite  I'pirit.  The  confequcnce  of  it  is, 
that  the  United  States  are  to  a  certain  pxtent  in  the  fituation  of  a 
country  precluded  from  foreign  commerce.  They  can  indeed, 
without  difficulty,  obtain  from  abroad  the  manufa£lured  fupplies 
of  which  they  are  in  want ;  but  they  experience  numerous  and 
very  injurious  impediments  to  the  emilfion  and  vent  of  their  own 
commodities.  Nor  is  this  the  cafe  in  reference  to  a  finglc  foreign 
nation  only.  The  regulations  of  feveral  countries,  with  which 
they  have  the  moft  extenfive  intercourfe,  throw  ferious  obilruc-. 
tions  in  the  way  of  the  principal  (laples  of  the  United  States. 

In  fuch  a  pofition  of  things,  the  United  States  cannot  exchange 
with  Europe  on  equal  terms ;  and  the  want  of  reciprocity  would 
render  them  the  viftim  of  a  fyftem,  which  would  induce  them  to 
confine  their  views  to  agriculture,  and  refrain  from  manufaft«rcs. 
A  conftant  and  increafmg  neceffity,  on  their  part,  for  the  commo* 
dities  of  Europe,  and  only  a  partial  and  occaiional  demand  for 
their  own,  in  return,  could  not  but  expofe  them  to  a  ftate  of 
iiiipoveriftiment,  compared  with  the  opulence  to  which  their  po- 
litical and  natural  advantages  authorife  them  to  afpirc. 

Remarks  of  this  kind  are  not  made  in  tiie  fpirit  of  complaint. 
Tis  for  the  nations,  whofe  regulations  are  alluded  to,  to  judge 
for  themfelves,  whether  by  aiming  at  too  much,  they  do  not  lofe 
more  than  they  gain.  'Tis  for  the  United  States  to  confider  by 
what  means  they  can  render  themfelves  leaft  dependent  on  the 
combinations,  right  or  wrong,  of  European  policy. 

It  can  be  no  fmall  confolation  to  them,  that  already  the  mea- 
fures  which  have  embarrafled  their  trade  have  accelerated  their 
internal  improvements,  which,  upon  the  whole,  have  bettered 
their  affairs.  To  diverfify  s^pd  extend  thefe  improvements  is  the 
fureft  and  fafeft  method  of  indemnifying  themfelves  for  any  in- 
convcniencies  which  thofe  or  fimilar  meafures  have  a  tendency  to 
beget.  If  Europe  will  not  take  from  them  the  produfts  of  their 
foil,  upon  terms  confiftent  with  their  intercft,  the  natural  reme- 
dy is  for  them  to  contract  as  faft  as  pofTible  their  wants  of  her. 

The  convcrlion  of  their  wafte  into  cultivated  land  is  certainly 
a  point  of  great  moment  in  the  political  calculations  of  the  United 
States.  But  the  degree  in  which  this  may  pofTibly  be  retarded  by 
the  encouragement  of  munufaftories,  docs  not  appear  to  counter- 
vail tlie  powerful  inducements  to  aftordinjj  that  encouragement. 


{■■'■ 


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»  H  I' 


3<« 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


An  obfervation  made  in  another  place  is  of  a  nature  to  have; 
great  influence  upon  this  queftion-c^lf  it  canijot  be  denied  that 
the  interefts  even  of  agriculture  may  be  advanced  more  by  having 
i'uch  of  the  lands  of  a  (late  as  are  occupied  under  good  cultiva* 
'tion,  than  by  having  a  greater  quantity  occupied  under  a  .much 
inferior  cultivation;  and  if  manufactories,  for  thd*  reafons  aflign' 
ed,  muft  be  admitted  to  have  a  tendency  to  promote  a  more  fteadyr 
•nd  vigorous  cultivation  of  the  lands  occupied,  than  would  hap.< 
pen  without  them,  then  it  will  follow*  that  they  are  capable  of 
indemnifying  a  country  for  a  diminution  of  the  progrefs  of  new 
fettlements ;  and  may  fcrve  to  increafe  both  the  capital  value  and 
the  income  of  its  lands,  even  though  they  fliould  abridge  the 
number  of  acrels  under  tillage.  '      ^ 

But  it  does  by  no  means  fallow,  that  the  progrefs  of  new  fettle- 
ments  will  be  retarded  by  the  extenfion  of  manufactures.  The 
delire  of  being  an  independent  proprietor  of  land  is  founded  on 
fuch  ftrong  principles  in  the  human  bread,  that  where  the  op. 
portunity  of  becoming  fo  is  as  great  as  it  is  in  the  United  States, 
the  proportion  will  be  fmall  of  thofe,  whofe  fituations  would 
otherwife  lead  to  it,  who  will  be  diverted  from  it  towards  manu' 
faftures.  And  it  is  highly  probable,  as  already  intimated,  that 
the  acceflion  of  foreigners,  who  originally  drawn  over  by  manu- 
fa&uring  yiews,  will  afterwards  abandon  them  for  agricultural, 
will  be  more  than  equivalent  for  thofe  of  her  own  citizens,  who 
may  happen  to  be  detached  from  them. 

The  remaining  obje&ions  to  a  particular  encouragement  of  manu- 
faftures  in  the  United  States  now  require  to  be  examined. 

One  of  thefe  turns  on  the  poiition,  that  induftry,  if  left  to  it- 
fell',  will  naturally  find  its  way  to  the  mod  uieful  and  profitable 
employment :  whence  it  is  inferred,  that  manufafturcs,  without 
the  aid  of  government,  will  grow  up  as  foon  and  as  fail,  as 
the  natural  date  of  things,  and  the  intetcd  of  the  community  may 
require. 

Againd  the  folidity  of  this  hypothefis,  in  the  full  latitude  of 
the  terms,  very'  cogent  reafons  may^be  offered.  Thefe  have  re- 
lation to  the  drong  influence  of  habit  and  the  fpirit  of  imitation, 
the  fear  of  want  of  fuccefs  in  untried  enterprifes,  the  intiinfic 
difficulties  incident  to  fird  eflays  towards  a  competition  with  thofe 
who  have  previoufly  attained  to  perfeftion  in  the  bufmefs  to  be 
attempted,  the  bounties,  premiums,  and  other  artificial  encou- 
ragements, with  which  European  nations  fecond  the  exertions  of 
their  own  fubjefts  in  the  branches  in  which  they  are  to  be 
rivalled. 

Experience  teaches,  that  men  are  often  lb  much  governed  by 
what  they  arc  accudomed  to  fee  and  praftifc,  that   the  fin?plcft 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


313 


and  moH  obvious  improvements,  in  the  mod  ordinary  occupa^ 
lions,  are  adopted  with  befitation,  relu£Unce,  and  by  flow  grada* 
tions.  The  fpontancous  tranfition  to  new  purfuits,  in  a  commu- 
nity long  habituated  to  different  ones,  nMiy  be  expelled  to  be 
attended  with  proportionably  greater  difficulty.  When  former 
occupation!  ceal'e  <p  yield  a  profit  adequate  to  the  fubfi(bence  of 
their  followers,  or  when  there  is  an  abfolute  deficiency  of  em- 
ployment i^  them,  owing  to  the  fuperabundance  of  hands,  changes 
will  enfue  ;  but  thefe  changes  will  be  likely  to  be  more  tardy 
than  may  confift  with  the  ihtereft  either  of  individuals,  or  of 
the  fpcicM'.  In  n^any  cafes  they  will  not  happen,  while  a  bare 
Tupport  ^dn  bo  'enfured  by  an  adherence  to  ancient  courfes, 
though  a  refort  to  a  move  profitable  employment  might  be  prac- 
ticable. To  produce  the  defirable  changes,  as  early  as  may  be 
expedient,  may  therefore  require  (he  incitement  and  patronage  of 
go^'ernment. 

The  apprehcnfion  of  failing  in  new  attempts  is  perhaps  a  more 
(crious  impediment.  There  are  difpofitions  apt  to  be  attra£led 
by  the  mere  novelty  of  an  undertaking ;  but  theie  are  not  always 
the  bcfl  calculated  to  give  it  luccefs.  To  this  it  is  of  importance 
that  the  confidence  of  cautious,  fagacious  capitalifts,  both  citizens 
and  foreigners,  (hould  be  excited.  .  And  to  inipire  this  dcfcrip- 
tion  of  perfons  with  confidence,  it  is  eflential  that  they  (hould 
be  made  to  fee  in  any  proje£i,  which  is  new,  and  fpr  that  rcafon 
alone,  if  for  no  other,  precarious,  the  profpe£l  of  fuch  a  degret 
of  countenance  and  fupport  from  government,  as  may  be  Capable 
of  overcoming  the  obftacles  infeparable  from  firft  experiments. 

The  fuperiority  antecedently  enjoined  by  nations,  who  have 
preoccupied  and  perfeftcd  a  branch  of  induftry,  conllitutes  a 
more  formidable  obftacle,  than  cither  of  thofe  which  have  been 
mentioned,  to  the  introdu&ion  of  the  fame  branch  into  a  country 
in  which  it  did  not  before  exift.  To  maintain  between  the  re- 
cent edablifhments  of  one  country,  and  the  long-matured  efla- 
blifhments  of  another  country,  a  competition  upon  equal  terms, 
both  as  to  quality  and  price,  is  in  moft  cafes  impra£licable.  The 
difparity  in  the  one  or  in  the  other,  or  in  both,  muft  neceffarily 
be  fo  confiderable  as  to  forbid  a  furcefsful  rivalfhip,  without  the 
extraordinary  aid  and  prote£lion  of  government. 

But  the  greateft  obftade  of  all  to  the  fuccefsful  profccution  of 
a  new  branch  of  induftry  in  a  country  in  which  it  was  before 
unknown,  confifts,  as  far  as  the  inftances  apply,  in  the  bounties, 
premiums,  and  other  ai($«  which  are  granted,  in  a  variety  of  cafes, 
by  the  nations  in  which  the  eilablilhments  to  be  imitated  are 
previoufiy  introduced.     It   is  well  known,  that  certain  nations 

S  s         . 


'& 


^^M 

M 

Wt 

I 

■t     "■ 

<vj 

an 

8M 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


grant  bounti<tS  on  the  exportation  of  particular  commodities,  !• 
enable  their  «twn  workmen  to  underfell  and  fuppUnt  all  competi- 
iort,  in  the  eoun(riM  to  which  thefie  comnodittea  are  fent.  Hence 
the  undertaker*  of  a  new  manufacture  have  to  contend  not  only 
with  the  natural  difadvantagca  of  a  new.underukingr  W  with 
the  gratuities  and  remunerations  which  vther  governments  beftow. 
To  be  toabkd  to  contend  with  fuccefs,  it  is  evident  that  the  xnt 
terfeafence  and  aid  of  their  own  government  are  indifpenfibie* 

Combinations  by  thofe  engaged  in  a  particular  branch  of  bu(t- 
ncf%  in  one  country  to  fruftrate  the  firft  efforts  to  introduce  it 
Into  another,  \ff  teidpofary  faerificesi  reeompenfed  perhaps  by 
extraordinary  inoemiuAcations  of  the  government  ol  fuch  coun- 
try, are  Wieved  to  have  exiiied^  and  are  not  te  be  regarded  as 
deftitnte  df  probability.  The  exiilence  or  affurance  of  aid  from 
the  government  of  the  Country  in  which  the  bufinefa  is  to  be 
introduced,  may  be  cfliential  to  fortify  adventurers  againft  the 
dread  of  fuch  ct>mbinaltons-<^to  defclat  their  effefts^  if  formed, 
»nd  to  prevent  their  being  formed^  by  dcmenftrating  that  they 
jnuft  in  the  end  prove  fruitlefs. 

Whatever  room  there  may  be  far  m  expe£Ution  that  the  in- 
duftry  of  a  people,  under  the  direftion  of  private  intcreft,  will 
4jpon  equal  terms  find  out  the  mcll  beneficial  employment  for 
itfelf,  there  is  none  id  a  reliance  that  it  will  ftruggle  agatnfl  the 
force  of  unequal  terms,  or  will  of  itfelf  furmount  all  the  adven- 
titious  barrief*  to  a^  fuccefsful  competition,  which  may  have  been 
ere^bcd  either  by  the  advantages  naturally  acquired  from  praAice 
and  previous  polleflion  of  the.  ground,  or  by  thoie  which  may 
have  Xprung  from  pofitive' regulations  and  an  artificial  policy. 
This  general  reflefUon  might  aloi>e  fuffice  as  an  anfwer  to  the 
obje£lion  under  examination,  exclufively  of  the  weighty  confide- 
rations  which  have  been  particularly  urged. 

The  objeftions  to  the  purfuit  of  manufaftures  in  the  United 
States,  which  next  prefent  themfelves  to  difcul&on,  reprefent  an 
impraQicabtlity  of  fuccefs,  arifing  from  three  caufes— fcarcity  of 
hands,  dearnefs  of  labour,  want  of  capital. 

Tlie  two  firft  circumftances  are  to  a  certain  extent  real,  and, 
within  due  limits,  ought  to  be  admitted  as  obftacles  Xa  the  fuccefs 
of  manufafturing  enterprife  in  the  United  States.  But  there  are 
various  cpnfiderations  which  leflen  their  force,  and  tend  to  afford 
an  affurance  that  they  are  not  fufficient  to  prevent  the  advanta. 
geoua  prolecution  of  many  very  ulcful  and  extenfive  manufac- 
(oricf. 

With  regard  to  fcarctty  of  hands,  the  fa£l  itfelf  muft  be  appli< 
ed  with  no  linall  qualification  to  certain  parts  of  the  United 
States.     There  are  large  diftri^  which  may  be  confidered  as 


^^^f  TWVNITED  STATES, 


8>S. 


pt«tt7  fully  peopled,  and  wbii:li,  noiwithftanding  a  continual . 
drain  for  diftant  fettlementa,  are  ^hicjltly  intcrfperfed^  with  flou- 
rifhing  and  increafing  towns.     If  thefe  di(lri£ls  have  not  already 
reached  the  point  at  which  the  fcarcity  of  hai^d*  cpafes,  they  are . 
not  remote  from  it,  and  are  approaching  faft  ^>^ards  it :  and  hav- . 
ing,  perhaps,  fewer  attraftions  to  agriculture  thap  fon^e  other 
parts  of  the  union,  they  exhibit  a  proportioaahly  ftrooger  ten- 
dency  towards  other  hinds  of  induflry.     In  thefe  diflrids  may , 
be  difcerned  no  inconliderable  maturity  for  manufaduring  efta« 
bli(hments.  ^ 

But  there  are  circumftances,  which  have  been  already  noticed 
with  another  view,  that  materially  diminifli  every  where  the  effef^ 
of  a  fcarcity  of  hands.  Thefe  circumftances  are--<-the  greit  ufe 
which  can  be  made  of  women  and  children ;  on  which  point  a 
very  pregnant  and  inftru&ive  faft  has  been  mentioned ;  the  vaft  ' 
cxteiii^oi^  ^ivejA  by  late  im|>roivements  to  the  employment  of  ma* 
chinePj  vltich>  fi^ftkuting  the  agency  of  fire  and  water,  has  pro- 
digiouf^y  le^ened  the  nece(&ty  for  manual  labour ;  the  employ- 
n^ent  ot  perfons  ordinarily  engaged  in  other  occupations,  during 
the  feafons,  or  hours  of  leifure  ;  which,  beiidet  giving  <itcafion 
to  the  exertion  of  a  greater  quantity  of  lafeouf  by  the  fame  num- 
ber of  perfons,  and  thereby  increafing  the  general  ftockof  labour,' 
as  has  been  elfewhere  remarlj^ed^  may  a|fo  be  taken  into  the  cal- 
culation, as  a  refource  for  obviadag  the  karci^  of  kandiir-rloftlyf 
the  attraftion  of  foreigi^  emigrantSf  Whoever  infpc^  with  a 
careful  eye  the  ^ompofitjben  of  their  towns,  will  be  made  fen^bli 
to  what  an  extenit  this  refource  may  be  relied  upon.  Thctie  ex? 
hibit  a  large  proportion  of  ingenious  and  yaluabie  >vorfcmea,  in 
different  arts  and  trades,  who,  by  expatriating  froqa  Europe,  have 
improved  tliieir  own  condition,  and  addled  to  {the  induftry  and 
wealth  of  the  United  States.  It  it  a  natural  inference  f**  m  the 
experience  they  have  already  had,  that  in  proportion  as  ii.ii.  Uni- 
ted ^tates  fhail  prefent  the  countenance  of  a  lieirious  profecution  of 
manuf^£iures,  in  proportion  as  foreign  artifts  fliall  be  made  fenfible 
thai  the  ilatc  of  things  there  affords  a  moral  cettainty  of  employ- 
ment and  encouragement  competent  numbers  of  European  workmen 
will  tranfplant  them&lves,  effeftually  to  enfufe  the  fuccefs  of  the 
dedgn.  How  indeed  can  it  otherwife  happen,  Conltdering  the  various 
and  po>v^rfu)  inducements  which  the  fitUiatipn  of  America  offers, 
addre  fling  thcmfelves  to  fo  many  ftrong  paflions  and  feelings,  to 
fo   many  general  and  particular  interefts  ? 

It  may  be  affirmed,  therefore,  in  refpe£l  to  hands  for  carrying 
fin  tnanufa£^ures,  that  they  will  in  a  great  meafure  trade  npon  a 
foreign  (lock  *,  referving  their  own  for  the  cuUivafiof>  of  fheir 

S «  a  "      '  " 


3«S 


G£tf£kAi  A£SeAtPtid^: 


lands  itid  thtt  ttutiilihg  df  thUr  ikipt,  at  far  ii  chin€ttr  anct  dTr- 
cumftanc«*  dial)  inctifte.  It  li  hot  uhWonhy  of  ttmark,  that  thfe 
objeftitn  to  tK«  fucccb  of  manUfaClures,  deduced  froni  th«  f<:arci. 
ty  of  handi,  it  alike  applicable  to  tradd  ind  navigation,  and  yet 
thefe  ire  pelcetved  to  floui-ifli,  Withdut  any  fenfible  impediment 
ffOtt  th«t  ciufe. 

As  to  the  deil-ntift  6t  libbur,  ahdth«r  dt  the  obllacles  alledged, 
tiMi  hai  t-ektion  principally  td  two  circumftances ;  one,  that 
which  has  be^n  juft  diftufled,  the  fca^city  of  hands;  the  other* 
the  greatnefs  of  profits. 

As  far  as  it  is  a  eonfequencc  of  the  Icarclty  of  hands,  it  is  mitt- 
gated  by  all  the  confiderations  which  have  been  adduced  as  lelFen.- 
ing  that  de^ciency.  It  is  certain  too,  that  the  difparity  in  this 
rcfpe^  between  Tome  of  the  moft  manufa£iuring  parts  ^f  llurope 
and  a  large  proportion  of  the  tJnijied  States,  is  not  nearly  fo  great 
as  is  ciommoniy  imagined.  li  is  alfo  much  lefs  in  regard  to  artifi- 
cers and  manufacturers  than  in  regard  to  country  labourerls «,  and 
yrhile-  a  carc|fu!  compjit^rifon  (hews  that  there  is,  in  this  particular, 
much  exaggeration^  it  if  alfo  evident,  that  the  effe^  of  the  degree 
of  difparity  which  does  tr4y  exift,  i^  diminilhed  in  proportion 
to  the  ufe  wh^K  ^n^n  be  made  of  mafrhinciy. 

To  illi\ftme  this  U6i  idea--rLet  |t  be  fuppofcd,  that  the  difFer- 
pntc  of  pricC}  in  two  countries,  of  a  given  quantity  of  manual  la^. 
bour  requifite  to  the  fabrication  6f  a  given  article  is  as  ten,  and 
that  fome  mschanic  rpwERiji  introduced  into  both  countries, 
which  performing  half  the  neceifary  labour,  leaves  only  half  to 
be  done  by  hand,  it  is  evident,  th^  the  di^rence  in  the  coft  of 
the  fabrications  of  the  article  in  queftion,  in  the  two  countries, 
as  far  as  it  is  connefted  with  the  pfice  of  labour,  will  be  reduced 
from  ten  to  five,  in  confequence  of  the  introdu£^ioii  of  thaf 

(OWEK. 

This  circumftance  is  worthy  of  the  mod  pa^tipulaf  attention. 
It  diminifhes  iinmtnfely  one  of  the  objeAions,  moft  ftrenuouHy 
urged,  againil  the  fu^ipefs  of  manufactures  in  the  United  States. 
For  the  United  States  to  procure  all  fuch  piachines  as  are 

-  k^.own  in  any  part  of  Europe  can  only  require  a  proper  provi- 
fion  and  due  pains.     The  ^npwledge  of  feveral  of  the  moft  im- 

I  portant  of  them  they  already  poflefs.  The  preparation  of  them 
there  is  in  moft  cafes  practicable  on  nearly  equal  terms.  As  far 
as  they  depend  on  water,  foftie  fuperiority  of  advantages  may  be 
claimed,  from  the  uncommon  variety  and  greater  cheapnefs  of 
fituations  iidapted  to  mill  feats,  with  which  different  parts  of  the 
United  States  abound. 


fftnPKS  OtllT.SD:$  TATES: 


♦'I 


-  Sd  fi>f  b$  thff  lyaftieft  of  Ubouf  ma^  be'a'confeqdcno«  of  th4 
greatneft  of  profits  in  afiy  bi^nch  of  btifinefs;  it  it  no  obAacle  to 
its  focccfs.     The  ondtirtaker  can  afford  tb  pay  the  price. 

Therd  are  groonda  to  conclude^' that  undcrtakcra  of  manufac^ 
iurei  in  America^  can  at  thni  time  affbrd  to  pay  higher  wage*  to 
the  workmen  they  employ  than  are  paid  to  fii^ilar  wbrkiinen  in 
Europe.  The  pjrice  of  fdreign  fabric*  in  flkei  markets  of  the 
United  States,  which  will  fbr  a  lonf^  time  regulate  the  prices  of 
the  dome  (lie  onea^  may  be  conftdered  as  compounded  of  the  fol* 
lowing  ingredients  t'^^Tbe  firil  coft  of  materials,  including  tht 
taxes,  if  any,  which  are  paid  upon  them  where  they  are  madei 
the  expence  of  grounds,  buildings^  machinery,  and  toola;  the 
wages  of  the  perfons  employed  in  the  manufaftory ;  the  profits 
on  the  capital  or  flock  employed;  the  commiflions  of  agents  t# 
purchafe  them  where  they  are  made ;  the  expence  of  tranfportation 
to  the  United  States,  including  infurance  and  other  incidental 
icharges;  the  taxes  or  duties,  if  ai^,  and  fees  of  office  which 
are  paid  on  their  exportation';  the  taxes  or  duties,  and  fees  of 
office  which  are  paid  on  their  importation. 

As  to  the  firfl  of  thefe  items,  the  coil  of  materials,  the  advan- 
tage, upon  the  whole,  is  at  prefent  on  th«  fide  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  difference  in  their  favour  mufl  increafe,  in  pro- 
portion as  a  certain  and  extend ve  domeftic  demand  fhall  induce 
the  proprietors  of  land  to  devote  more  of  their  attention  to  the 
produ£lion  of  thofe  materials.  It  ought  not  to  efcape  obfervation, 
in  a  comparifon  on  this  point,  that  fome  of  the  principal  manu« 
fa£luring  countries  of  J^urope  are  much  more  dependent  on 
foreign  fupply  for  the  materials  of  their  manufa&ures,  than  the 
United  States,  who  are  capable  of  fupplying  thcmfelves  with  a 
greater  abundance,  as  well  as  a  greater  variety,  of  the  requifite 
matetrials. 

As  to  the  fecond  item,  the  expence  of  grounds,  buildings,  ma- 
chinery, arid  tctols,  an  equality  at  leafl  may  be  afTumcd;  fince 
advantages  in  fome  particulars  will  counterbalance  temporary 
difadvahtages  in  others. 

As  to  the  thitd  item,  or  the  artidle  of  wages,  the  comparifon 
certainly  turns  againfl  the  United  States ;  though,  as  before  ob- 
ferved,  not  in  fo  great  a  degree  as  is  commonly  fuppofed. 

The  fourth  item  is  alike  applicable  to  the  foreign  and  to  the 
domeftic  manufa£lure.  It  is  indeed  more  properly  a  refult  than 
a  particular  tb  be  compared. 

But  with  refpe£lto  all  the  remaining  items,  they  are  alone  ap- 
plicable to  the  foreign  manufa£lure,  and  in  the  flri£le{l  fenfe,  ex- 
traordinaries ;  conflituting  a  fum  of  extra  charge  on  the  foreign 


«•• 


eENthAL  BtttChtfTIOIt 


|! 

m 


Jilli! 


ill' 


ftbricy  which  cannot  be  dlimated  at  left  than  ftvm  15  to  ft  per 
cent,  on  the  coft  of  it  at  the  manufiAoiy. 

The  fum  of  extra  charge  may  confidently  be  regarded  at  more 
than  a  counterpoife  for  the  real  diflerence  in  the  price  of  labour, 
and  ia  a  fatiafaAory  proof  that  manufaifturea  may  profper  i^  defi. 
ance  of  it  in  the  United  State*. 

To  the  general  allegation,  connefted  with  the  circumftanfea  of 
fcarcity  of  handa  and  the  dearneft  of  labour,  that  extenfive  ma. 
nufaftures  can  only  grow  out  of  a  redundant  or  full  population, 
it  will  be  fufficient  to  anfwcr  generally,  that  the  faft  haa  been 
otherwife. — ^That  the  fituation  alledged  to  be  an  eifential  condi> 
tion  of  fuccefa,  haa  not  been  that  of  feveral  nationa,  at  periods 
when  they  had  already  attained  to  maturity  in  a  variety  of  manu- 
faflures. 

The  fuppofed  want  of  capital  for  the  profecution  of  manu* 
fa£lure8  in  the  United  States  is  the  mod  indefinite  of  the  objcc« 
tions  which  are  ufually  oppofed  to  it. 

It  is  very  difiicult  to  pronounce  any  thing  precife  concerning 
the  real  extent  of  the  monied  capital  of  a  country,  and  iltU  more 
concerning  the  proportion  which  it  bears  to  the  objefts  that  in- 
vite the  employment  of  capital.  It  ia  not  lefs  difficult  to  pro- 
nounce, how  far  the  efFe&  of  any  given  money,  as  capital,  or,  in 
other  words,  as  a  medium  for  circulating  the  induftry  and  pro- 
perty of  a  nation,  may  be  increafed  by  the  very  circuniftance  of 
the  additional  motion  which  is  given  to  it  by  new  obje£U  of  em- 
ployment. That  effect,  like  the  momentum  of  deilcending  bodies, 
may  not  improperly  be  reprefented,  aa  in  a  compound  ratio  to 
mafs  and  velocity.  It  feems  pretty  certain,  that  a  given  fum  of 
money,  in  a  fituation  in  which  the  quick  impulfes  of  commercial 
aAivity  are  little  felt,  will  appear  inadequate  to  the  circulation 
of  as  great  a  quantity  of  induftry  and  property  as  in  one  in  which 
their  full  influence  is  experienced. 

It  is  not  bbvious  why  the  fame  objeAion  might  not  aa  well  he 
made  to  external  commerce  as  to  manufa&ures,  fince  it  is  manifeft 
that  the  immenle  tra£b  of  land,  occupied  and  unoccupied,  are  ca- 
pable of  giving  emplo)rment  to  more  capital  than  is  a&ually  be- 
llowed upon  them.      It  is  CpHTAtN  THAT  THt  UmITKD  STAT&S 

orrsx  A  VAST  ritin  rpa  tHi  aovamtaoiovs  KMrtovMENT 
or  CAriTAL,  but  it  does  not  follow  that  there  will  not  be  found, 
in  one  way  or  another,  a  fu^cient  ft^nd  for  the  fuccefsful  pro- 
fecution of  any  fpecies  of  induftry  wjiich  i^  XiktXy  to  prove  truly 
beneficial. 

The  following  confiderations  are  of  a  na^^ur^  tp  remove  all  in- 
quietude on  the  (core  of  want  of  capita^. 


d'tTHl  UNITXD  STATES. 


I'f 


Th«  introduftion  of  binki,  u  ku  Iwcn  Ihewn  on  tnctllierocca* 
fion^  hat  •  po%ircrful  tendency  to  extend  the  aAiye  capktl  of  » 
country.  Experience  of  the  utility  of  thefe  inftitutiont  is  multU 
plying  ther*  *n  the  United  Sutei,  It  is  probable  that  they  will 
be  eftal.ioted  wherever  they  can  cxift  with  advantage;  and 
yherevcr  they  can  be  (upported,  if  edminiftcrcd  with  prudence, 
they  will  add  new  energies  to  all  pecuniary  operations. 

The  aid  of  foreign  capital  may  fafcly,  and  with  confiderable 
latitude,  be  taken  into  calculation.  Its  inftrumentality  has  been 
hmg  experienced  in  their  external  commerce }  and  it  has  begun 
to  be  felt  in  various  other  modes.  Not  only  their  funds,  but 
their  agriculture  and  other  internal  improvements  have  been 
animated  by  it.  It  has  already,  in  a  few  inftances,  extended  even 
tu  their  imnufadures. 

It  is  a  well  known  fa£k,  that  there  are  parts  of  Europe,  which 
have  more  capital  than  profitable  doireftic  obje£U  of  employments 
.Hence,  among  other  proofs,  the  large  loans  continually  furniihed 
to  foreign  (Utes.  And  it  is  equally  certain,  that  the  capital  of 
other  parts  mfty  find  more  profitable  employment  in  the  United 
States,  than  at  home.  And  notwithfUnding  there  are  weighty  in- 
ducements to  prefer  the  employ  meat  of  capital  at  home,  even- at 
lefs  profit,  to  an  invcilment  of  it  abroad,  though  with  greater 
gain,  yet  thefe  inducements  an  over-ruled,  either  by  a  deficiency 
of  employment,  or  by  a  very  material  difference  in  profit.  Both 
thefe  caufes  operate  to  produce  a  transfer  of  foreign  capital  to  the 
United  States^  It  is  certain,  thai  various  objefts  in  America  hold 
out  advantages,  which  are  with  dificulty  to  be  eq^ialled  elfe- 
where ;  and  under  the  increafin^y  favourable  impreffions,  which 
are  entertained  of  its  government,  the  attra&ions  will  become 
more  and  more  ftrong.  Hiefe  impreffions  will  prove  a  rich  mine 
of  profperity  to  the  country,  if  they  are  confirmed  and  ftrength- 
ened  by  the  progrefs  of  their  affairs.  And  to  fecure  this  ad- 
vantage, little  more  Is  neceffaryr  than  to  fofter  induftry,  and  cul- 
tivate order  and  tranquility  at  home  and  abroad. 

It  is  not  impoffible,  that  there  may  be  perfons  difpofed  to  look 
with  a  jealous  eye  on  the  introduftion  of  foreign  capital,  as  if  it 
were  an  inftrument  to  deprive  their  own  citizens  of  the  profits 
of  their  induftry:  but  perhaps  there  never  could  be  a  more  un- 
reafonable  jealoufy.  Inftead  of  being  viewed  as  a  rival,  it  ought 
to  be  confidtred  at  a  moft  valuable  auxiliary ;  conducing  to  put  in 
motion  a  greater  quantity  of  produftive  labour,  and  a  greater  portion 
of  ufeful  enterprife,  than  could  exift  without  it.  It  is  at  leaft  evi- 
(lent,  that  in  a  country  fituated  like  the  United  States,  with  an  infi- 
aite  fundof  refources,  yet  to  be  unfolded,  every  farthing  of  foreign 


i«« 


>!    '' 


capital,  which  ia  laid  out  in  internal  amelioratifMia,  and  In  induf- 
trious  eftablifhmonts  of  a  permancrtt  natul«,  ia^a  precioui  acquis 
fiiion.  ■' 

>  And  whatever  be  the  objcftt  wh(ck  ortgtnaHy  altraft  foreign 
capital,  when  once  introduced,  it  may  be  direfted  towards'  any 
purpofe  of  benefi^tal  exertion,  which  i$  d^re^.  And  to  detain 
it  in  the  United  States,  there  can  be  'no  expedient  fo  efFe£lual  as 
to  enlarge  the  ^ere,  within  which  it  ihay  1^  ufefuily  employed; 
though  introduced  merely  with  views  to  Speculations  in  the 
funds,  it  may  afterwards  be  rendered  fubfervient  to  the  intereds 
of  agriculture,  commerce,  and  manufaCkures.     ^ , 

But  the  attraftioiik  of  foreign  capital  for  the  dircft  purpofe  of 
manufactures  ought  not  to  be  deemed  a  chimerical  expe£lation. 
There  are  already  examples  of  it,  as  remarked  in  another  place. 
And  the  examples,*  if  the  difpofition  be  cultivated,  can  hardly  fail 
to  multiply.  There  «re  atfo  inftances  of  another  kind,  which 
ferve  to  ftrengthe'rt  the  expeCbtion ;  enterprifcs  for  improving 
the  public  communications^  by  pitting  canals,  opening  the  ob- 
ilruflions  in  rivers,  and  ereCking  bridge«>  have  received  very  ma- 
teria^ aid  from  the  fame  fource."  i  ;t  . 

When  the  manufafturing  eapitaliil  of  Europe  Qiall  adveit  to 
the  many  important  advantagtii  which  have  been  intimated  i|i  the 
courfe  of  thefc  remarks,  he  cannot  but  perceive  very  powerful 
inducements  (o  a  transfer  of  hunfelf  and  his  capital  to  the  IJnited 
States.  Among  the  rafleftions'  which  a  moil  interelling  pecu- 
liarity of  fituation  is  caltulatcd  to  fugg<eft,  it  cannot  efcape  his 
obfervation,  aa  a  circumftilncd  '^  lament  in  the  calculation,  that 
the  progreflive population  and  in^provement  of  the  United  States, 
enfure  a  continually  increaiii^g  domeftie  ■  dcm^lnd  for  the  fabrics 
which  he  (hall  produce,  not  to  be  aifiefted  by  any  external  cafuaU 
ties  or  viciiTttudes. 

But  while  there  are  eircumftances  fufficiently  ftrpng  to.  autho* 
rife  a  confiderabLe  degreeH>f  reliance  on  the  aid  of  foreign  capital, 
towards  the  attainment  of  ihe  'objclft  in  view,  it  ia  fatisla^ry  to 
have  good  grounds  of  affurance,  that  there  are  domeftie  refources 
of  themielves  adequate  to  it.  It  happens,  that  there  is  a  fpecies 
of  capital,  aftually  exiftingt  within  the  United  States,  which  re- 
lieves from  all  inquietude  <)n  the  fcore  of  want  of  capual-"- This 
is  the  funded  debt. 

The  eife£l  of  a  funded  debt,  as  a  fpecies  of  capital,  has  been 
noticed  upon  a  former  occafion;  but  a  more  particular  elucidation 
of  the  point  feems  to  be  required  by  the  ftrefs  which  is  laid  up- 
on it. 

Public  funds  anfwer  the  purpofe  of  capital,  from  the  eftima- 
tion  in  which  they  are  ufually  held  by  monied  men  :  and  confe- 


if  tUi  UNITED  SfiTES:^  391 

i^udMtly  frSm  the  cafe  tml  difpatch  with  which  fhey  can  be  turn- 
'e«l  into  ihoney*?'  T1|ts  Spicily  of  prompt  cqhtrovrrtibility  into 
nioney,  vCaufei  i'ltzniiit  of  ftock  to  be  in  a  great  number  of  c^'^ 
couivatdat  to  aj;^tnent  iircoin. — And  where  it  does  net  happeji 
to*  fuit  the  party'^yho  ia  to  receive,  to  accept  a  transfer  of  ^clc, 
the  party  who  i^  tb  pa^i  isjiever  at  a  lofs  toi*1ind  elfewhere  a  |)ur- 
cKafer  of  his  ft<^ck,  who  l^riU  furnifh  hiin  m.lieu  of  it|  with  the 
coin  of  wH^ch  \it  ftands  (n  need.  I 

Hence  in  a  ^ou<!i4  anci  f(kttl^ii-ilate  of  the  pimlic  funds,  a  man 
polTefKd  of  a  iijhi  in  thetii  can  Rnbraee  any  foheme  of  hullnefs 
which  officn  Wit]^  as  much  confidence  as  if  he  #ere  poffefled  of  9fi' 
equal  Turn  in  Wn.  /^ 

'tAii  operatipn  dlf  public  funds,  aS  capital,  is  too  obvious  to  be 
denwd ;  but  it  is  ohjefted  to  the  idea  of  their  operating  as  an  aug- 
mentation ai  the  (;9pital  bf  the  community,  t))at  they  lerve  to  oc- 
calion  the  del^ru£tion  of  fome  other  /oapital  to  an  cqua|  amount. 

T^e  capital' which  alone  they  can  be  f^^^pofed  to  deftroy,  muib 
cu^ft(i  of-^The  annual  revenue,  which  is  applied  to  the  payment 
qjr,ii|tereft  on  the  4eht,  and  tothegndual  redemption  of  the  prln- 
cip^rrr^Xhe  amount  pf  the  coin,  which  is  employed  in  circi^Iating, 
the:  funds).  or  in  other  words,  ijo  efpefting  the  differenfldicn,* 
aiUmsiV^h duty  i)n4ergo.     ,  *   * 

ftiif  the  foUdwiftg  appears  tt>  be  the  true  and  accurate  view  of 
the  hiaf ler-^ '  •.  ■  n     -       ..-.-.•:. 

As  to  the  point  of  the  annual  revenuo.  requiAte  for  payment  Idif 
imerdk  and  rcdempcioti  of  principsf :  >-'" 
<  As  a  detfctiiiiiiatif  pft)pfertion  ^ilttendto  perfp5^aity  in  the  re«. 
forring,  let  it  be  fti^pofed,  that  the  ahnual  revenue  to  be  applied, 
confefpdnding  ^ith  the  modification  of  ilie  fi'per  cent,  ftock  of 
thtf  UWted  Stater,  tt' ht  the  ratio,  of  ci^ht  upon  the  hundred ;  that 
ni;  Ttt  the  firil  iilftance,  fne  on  accoui^t  of  intereft,  ard  two  on  ac- 
^ouhVof  pi^ificipal. 

."iilfitfs  far  it  is  evident,  that  the  cap^?l  deftroyed  to  :he  capital 
cj'^c^lted',^  V'puld  \itix  no  greater  proportion  than  8  to  100.  There 
^§ul9 ileHvit^dUWti  ft6m  the  total  ihafs  of  other  capitals  a  fum  of 
eight  dollar*  to  be  tfajd  to  the  public  creditor ;  while  he  would  be 
p^eM^P^^  ^^'"^  ^^  ^e  hundred  dollars,  ready  to  be  applied  to 
any  purpio^,.:  to  be  et^bi^rked  in  any  enterprife,  which  might 
appear  to  Ikiiii  eligible^— Here  then  the  augmentation  of  capital, 
4r  the  exc^fs  of  that  Vi|iich  is  produced,  beyond  that  which 
is  d^ftroydd;  Is  e^Uif  tP  ninety-two  dollars. 


Vol.  I. 


Tx 


■III' 


ife 


aaa  GENERAl  bESCRIFTtOii    . 

To  this  conclufion  it  nuy  be  objefted,  thtlthe  fum  of  eight  cioI< 
Urs  is  to  be  withdrawn  annually,  until  the  whole  hunJred  is  ix* 
tjinguilhed,  and  it  may  be  inferred,  that  in  procefs  of  time  a  ca- 
pital, will  be  dcftroyed  equal  to  that  Which  is  at  iirft  created. 

But  it  is  neverthciefs  true,  that  auring  the  whole  of  the  inter- 
val, betwe<in  the  creation  of  the  capital  of  leo  dollairs^  and  its 
rcdu^ion  to  a  fum  not  greater  than  that  of  the  annual  revenue 
appropriated  io  ijbfe  redemption — there  will  be  a  greater  aftive 
capital  in  exiftence  than-if  no  debt  had  been  contramd.  The  fum 
4r«wn  from  other  capitals  in  anjiione  year  will  not  exceed  eiglit 
dollars ;  but  there  will  be  at  every  inlUnt  of  time  auring  the 
whole  period  in  queilion,  a  fum  correfpon^ing  witK  fe.much  of 
the  principal  as  remains  unredeemed  ih  the  hands  of  fonie  perlbn 
oir  otner,  employed,  or  reauy  to  be  employed  in  fome  pnmtable 
uhdertaktng.  Iridre  Will  therefore  condantly  be  more  <:apital  in 
capacity  to  be  employed,  than  Capital  taken  from  employments 
The  excefs  for  the  firft  year  lias  been  dated  to  bd  ninety  two  dol- 
lars ;  it  will  diminifli  yearly  ;  but  there  will  always  be  an  excefs^ 
Until  the  principal  of  the  debt  is  brought  to  a  level  with  the  re- 
deeming annuity,  that  is,  in  the  cafe  which  has  been  aflimtfed  by 
way  of  example,  to  eight  dollars.  The  reality  of  this  extefS  bes 
comet  palpable,  if  it  be  fuppofed,  as  often  happens,  that  the  (citi- 
zen of  a  foreign  country  iiripofts  into  the  United  States  loo  dollare 
tot  the  purchafe  of  an  equal  fum  of  public  debt-^ere  is  tn  ablb- 
lute  augmentation  of  the  mafs  of  circulating  com  to  the  extent  of 
ito  dollars.  -  At  the  end  of  a  year,  the  foreigner  is  prefumed  to 
draw  back  eight  dollars  on  account  of  his  principal  and  intereftj 
but  he  ftill  leaves  ninety-two  of  his  original  depofit  in  circulation^ 
as  he  in  like  manner  leaves  eighty-four  at  the  end  of  the  fecond 
year^  drawing  back  then  alfo  the  annuity  of  eight  dollars :  Ana 
thus  the  matter  proceeds ;  the  capital  left  in  circulation  diminifli'' 
ing  each  year,  and  coming  nearer  to  the  level  of  the  annuity  orawn^ 
backi  There  arc,  however,  fome  differences  in  the  t)itiinate  Mbe-i 
ration  Of  the  part  of  the  debtj  which  is  purchafed  by  foreigners, 
and  that  Which  remains  in  the  hands  o^  citiiensj  But  th^  genjsrtl 
effefl  in  ^ach  cafe,  though  in  different  4(<grees,  b  to  add  to,  the. 
aftive  capital  of  the  countryi 

Hitherto  the  reafoning  has  proceeded  on  a  conqedioa  ol*  the. 
pofiiion,  that  there  is  a  deftruftion  of  fome  other  cai|^taf^  te>  the 
extent  of  the  annuity  appropriated  to  the  payment  o^lSnt.  jintered 
and  the  redemption  of  the  principel  of  the  debt;  but  in  this  too 
much  has  been  conceded.  There  is  at  mod  a  temporary  transfer 
of  fome  other  capital,  to  tlic  amount  of  the  akhuity,  from  thofe 
who  pay  to  the  creditor  who  receives ;  which  he  again  reftore* 
tn  the  circulation  to  refume  the  offices  of  a  capital.    Th^  he  do^ 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


m 


itither  immediataly  by  employing  the  money  in  fotoe  brtnch  of 
indu'ftry,  or  mediately  by  lending  it  to  fome  other  perfon  who 
doet  fo  employ  it,  o|r  by  fpending  it  on  hi*  own  maintenance.  In 
f  itber  fuppofition,  there  ii  no  deftniAioii  of  capital :  there  ia  no- 
thing more  than  a  fufpcnfion  of  ita  motion  for  a  time,  that  ia,  while 
it  ia  pafling  from  the  handi  of  thofe  who  pay  into  the  public  cof- 
fera,  and  thence  through  the  public  creditor  into  foqia  other  chan- 
nel of  circulation.  When  the  payments  of  intcrcft  are  periodical 
and  quick,  and  made  by  the  in^rumentality  of  bank  the  divcr- 
fion  or  fufpcnfion  of  capital  may  almoft  be  dei  ninated  moment 
tary.  Hence  the  dedu&ion  on  this  account  is  far  lefs  than  it  at 
firft  fight  appears  to  be. 

There  is  evidently,  as  far  as  regards  the  annuity,  no  deftruftion 
nor  transfer  of  any  other  capital,  than  that  portion  of  the  income 
of  each  individual,  which  goes  to  make  up  the  annuity.  Ti^J 
land  which  fumifliea  the  farmer  with  the  fum  which  he  is  to  con- 
tribute remains  the  fame }  and  the  like  may  be  obferved  of  other 
capitals.  Indeed,  as  far  as  the  tax,  which  is  the  objefk  of  contri* 
bution  (as  frequently  happens  when  it  does  not  opprefs  by  its 
weight)  may  have  been  a  motive  to  greater  exertion  in  any  occu- 
pation ;  it  may  even  ferve  to  incr^fe  the  contributory  capital. 
This  idea  ia  not  without  importance  in  the  gen  sral  view  of  the 
fubjca.  ' 

It  remains  to  fee,  what  further  dedu^on  ought  to  be  made  from 
the  capital  which  ia  created)  by  the  exiftence  of  the  debt,  on  ac- 
count of  the  coin  which  is  eniployed  in  its  circulation.  This  is 
fufceptible  of  much  lefs  precife  calculation  than  the  article  which 
has  been  juft  difcufTcdf  It  is  impofllble  to  fay,  what  proportion 
of  coin  is  neceilkry  to  carry  on  the  alienations  which  any  fpeci? s 
of  property  ufually  undergoes.  The  quantity,  indeed,  varies  ac- 
cording to  circunii^nces.  But  it  may  ilill  without  hefitation  be 
pronounced,  from  the  quicknefs  of  the  rotation,  or  rather  of  the 
tranfitions,  that  the  medium  of  circulation  always  bears  but  a  fmall 
jproportion  to  tht  amount  of  the  property  circulated.  And  ii  is 
|hence  £itisfa£k>rily  deducible,  that  the  coin  employed  in  the  ne- 
'|gOC}ljtioQS  of  the  funds,  and  which  ferves  to  give  them  aftivity  as 
^i;a|^||il|^  k<  W  lefs  than  the  ^um  of  the  debt  negotiated 

for  tliBjiiitpofe  of  bufinefs. 

It  ouipft  juit,  however,  to  be  omitted,  that  the  negociation  of 
the  funds  becomes  itfelf  a  diilinA  bufinefs,  which  employs,  and 
\>y  employing,  diverts  a  portion  of  the  circulating  coin  from  other 
purfuits.  But  making  due  allowimce  for  this  circumftance,  there 
js  no  reafon  to  conclude,  that,  the  effeft  of  the  diverfion  of  coin 
jn  t^M  whole  operation  bears  any  confiderable  prgportion  to  the' 

Tt     2 


1 


3M 


QENBRAJL  JXES^R^lPTlO^iy 


otnount  ,of  the  capital  to^  which  i^  g^ives,  ai^ivijty:,  •  (The  Sum  of  the 
debt  }n  circulation  is  continually  at  the  coiilmtnd  of  ai^y  Mtct^X 
toterprife  ;  the  coin  itfelf,  which  circulate!  it,  is  ncve^  more  thai\ 
momentarily  fufpended  froni  its  ordinary  funfifion^;  It  experiences 
an  inccffant  and  rapid  •  %;f,.an4  refluj;  tp  and  f^^ip  the  channQls 
of  [nduflry  to  thofe  of  ,fpe(:u],ations  in  the  funds. 

There  are  flrpng  circumilfinces  in  cqnf.rmation  of  this  theory. 
The  force  of  moaied  capital  which  has  been  difpiayed  in  Great 
Britain,  and  the  height  to  which  every  fpccies  of  induttry  has 
grow,n  up  under  it,  defy  a  folution  jFi^am,  the  quantity  of  coin 
1/^hich  that  kingdom  has  ever  pofleffcd.  Accordingly  it  has  been, 
co-eyil  with  its  funding  fyftem,  the  prevailing  opinion  of  the 
inenof  bufinefs,  and  of  the  generality  o£  the  moft  (agacious  theorifts 
of  that  country,  that  the  operation  of  the  public  funds  as  capital 
has  contributed  to  the  e^Fe^  in  queilion.  >Vmong  the  Americans 
appearances  thus  far  favour  the  fame  cooclufion.  Induftry  in 
general  feems  to  have  been  rcranimated.  T^ere  are  fymptoms  in- 
dicating  an  extention  of  their  commerce.  Their  nayigation  has 
certainly  of  late  had  a  conflderable  fpring,  anf^  there  appears  to  bf 
in  many  parts  hf  the  Union  a  command  pf  capital,  ^rhich,  till  lately 
fincc  the  revolution  at  lead,  was  unlcnown.  But  it  is  at  the  fapie 
time  to  be  acknowledged,  that  other  circumflfances  have  concurred, 
and  in  a  great  degrep,  in  producing  the  prefcnt  ftate  of  things, 
and  that  the  uppearances  are  not  yet  fu,fficiently  decifive  to  b^ 
entirely  relied  upon. 

In  the  quefliion  under  d^ircuiTion,  it^is  important^  to  4i(^ing]^lQ^ 
between  an  abfolitte  increafe  of  capital,  or  an  acceiUon  of  real 
wealth  and  an  artificial  increafe  of  capital,  as  an  engine  of  bufinefs, 
or  as  an  inftrumcnt  of  induftry  and  commerce.  In  the  firft  fcnlc, 
a  funded  debt  has  no  pretenfions  to  beings  deemed  an  increafe 'of 
capital ;  in  the  lad,  it  has  pretentions  which  are  not  eaiy  to  be 
controverted.  Of  a  fimilar  nature  is  bank  credit,  and,,  in  an  in« 
ferior  degree,  every  fpecies  of  private  Credit,    » 

But  though  a  funded  debt  is  not  in  the  fird  indance,  an  ^fyli^t^ 
.increafe  of  capital,  or  an  augmentation  of  red  wealth;  yet;,;  by 
fervingas  a  new  power  in  the  operation  of  indudiy,  it  b»f  Vfith*« 
certain  bounds  a  tendency  to  increa(c  the  real  wealth  of  kp!C0^n- 
nity ;  in  like  manner  as  money  borrowed  by  a  thrifty  fai|E|er,  to  be 
laid  out  in  the  improvement  of  his  farm,  may,  in  the  etlO)  add  to 
his  dock  of  real  riches. 

There  are  refpeftable  individuals,  who,  from  ayi^jf  averfiipn  to  an 
accumulation  of  public  debt,  are  unwAling  to  concede  to  it  any  kind 
pf^utility,  who  can  difccrn  no  good  to  alleviate  the  ill  with  which 
they  fuppofe  it  pregnant :  who  cannot  be  perfuaded,  that  it  ought 
in  any  fenfc  tp  be  viewed  as  an  increafe  of  capital,  led  it  ftiould. 


0FTHS  UNITEP  ST4TfiS. 


325 


he  iofer^d^  fts  itiiaterroneoudy  been  inrCraj^jt  Qntaui^^H^t  tH.e 
pjorc  deit  thp  more  ct^th^t  the  grfniff'  tbf  Iffrtk'nt  the  iffoitf  //^ 
lltjjtngs  of  the  communily.  , ,.^^  ^x 

.Bujt  it;  inj;jcr<fts  the  puWicto  hayif  9ftim»t?d«very  ol^JcftM  it 
truly  is;  to  appreciate  how  far  the  |jPp4  ir  any  meafure  is  cpnipep^ 
fated  by.  th^  ill  i  or  t^e  iU  by  th^jjoQ^j  cith(?r,  of  them  is  jfeMoiipi 
umnixQd.  ^:    '     ,        .    '  rj 

But  it  will  Apt  fpUow^  tba^t  an  ac^utnuUtion  pf  debt  is  dcfirsiDlc:^ 
becaufe  a  certain  degrc?  pf  it  operates  as  a  capital.  There  may 
be  a  plethora  in.  the  political,  as  ii:i  the  natural  body;  ther^^may 
b?  a  (late  of  things  in  which  any  fuch  artificial  capital  is  linnet 
ccffary.  The  debt  too  may  be  fwelled  to  fuch  a  fue,  as  tliat  th^ 
greateil:  part  of  it  may  ccafe  to  be  ufeful  as  a  capital,  ferving,  qply 
ks  it  does  in  England^  tp  burden  th^  labpuring  mechanic,  and  pamr 
per  the  difllpatipn  of  idle  and  di{tolute  individuals;  as  ihiX-.  tjif 
lums  re<^uired  tp  pay  the  intereft  uj^pn  it  may  becpme  opprcfllve, 
and  beypnd  the  means  which  a  ^overn^icivt  can  employ,  con* 
fidently  with  its  tranquility,  to  raile  them— as  that  the  refqurces 
of  taxation  to  face  the  debt  mny  have  been  ftrained  too  far  to 
admit  of  cxtenfipns  adequate  to  exi^ncies^  >irhith  regard  the  pufar 

Where  this  critical  point  is,  we  cannot  pronounce  wi,tH,  preci- 
fion,  but  it  is  impofllble  to  believe,  (hat  tTiere  i&hpt  fuch  a  point, 
and  al  mo  ft  equally  difficult  to  doubt, 'but  tbat  mod  of  th^  old  go> 
yeinmcnts  of  Europe  ar6  nearly  arrived  at  it. 

And  as,  thc-^yicifiitudes  of  nations  be^et  a  perpetual  tendency  to 
the  accumulation  of  debt,  there  ought  to  be  in  every  govern- 
incnt  a  perpetual,  anxiovs,  and  unceafing  effort  to  reduce  that, 
v'hich  at  any  tim,e  ex  ills,  as  fafl  as  fhall  be  pra£licable,  conftdcnt- 
\y  with  integrity  and  good  faith. 

Rcafpnings  pn  a  fubje£^  cpmprehcnding  ideas  fp  abflra£l:  and 
complex,  fo  little  reducible  to  prccife  calculatipn  as  thpfe  which 
enter  intp  the  qucfUonjuft  difcuiTed,  are  always  attended  with  a 
danger  of  running  into  fallacies.  Due  allowance  ought  therefore 
to  be  mjide  fpr  this  pofTibility — But  as  far  as  the  nature  of  the 
ifubjed:  admits  of,  it  there  appears  to  be  fatisfa£lory  ground  for  a 
belief  that  the  public  funds  operate  as  a  refource  of  capital  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  if  they  are  a  refource  at  all» 
it  is  an  cxtcnfive  one. 

t 

To  all  the  arguments  which  arel)rought  to  evince  the  impra&i- 
cability  of  fuccefs  in  manufa£luring  eflablifhmcnts  in  the  United 
States,  it  might  have  been  a  fufHcient  anfvyer  to  have  referred  to 
the  experience  of  what  has  been  already  done — It  is  certain  that 
feveral  important  branches  have  grown  up  and  flourifhed  with  a 
rapidity  and  fuccefs  which  furprifes  not  pnly  us,  but  the  Ameri* 


\\  \\ 


fS. 


■K 


I. 


t*^ 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


..:■' ! 


'cansthemfeJvM}  afFording  ap  eneoun^ihg  aflurance  of  Aiaceft  ii\ 
i&tuM  attempts ;  of  thelb  it  may  not  be  improper  to  enumerate  the 
pioft  eonfiderable, 

'  I.  Tanned  and  tawed  leather}  drefled  ikins,  (hoes,  booty  and 
Dipper*,  hamefs,  and  fadlery  of  all  kindt;,  portmanteaus  and  trunks, 
leather  breeches,  gloves,  muffs  and  tippets,  parchment  and  glur, 
^.  3ar  and  Oieet  iron,  (leel,  nail  rods,  and  nails,  implements 
bf  httlbandry,  ftoves,  pots,  and  other  houfehold  utenftls,  the  fteel 
and  iron  work  for  carriages,  and  (hip-building,  anchors,  fcalc 
beams  and  Weights,  various  tools  of  artificers,  arms  of  different 
minds,  the  manufafture  of  thefe  la(l  has  of  late  ^itninifhed  for 
vant  of  demand. 

-   ItL    Ships,  cabinet  wares  and  turnery,  wool  and  c6tton  cards, 
'itfd  other  machinery  for  manufaftures  and  hufbandry,  mathema- 
tical inftruments,  cooper's  wares  of  every  kind. 
'    tVf    Cables,  ifail-eloth,  cordkge,  twine  and  pack-thread. 

V.    Bricks  ai>d  coarfe  tiles,  and  potters  wares^ 
<     VI.    Ardent  fpirits  pnd  malt  liquors, 

VII.  Writing  and  printin^j  paper,  (heathing  ai:d  ,  "•npfng  pa^i 
per,  pafte-boards,  fullers  or  prefs  papers,  paper  hang    s,^ 

VIII.  Hats  of  fur  and  wool,  an4  o$  mi^i^tuiTS  of  i^cn.— Wo. 
mens  (luff  and  filk  (hoes. 

IX.  Refined  fugars. 

X.  Oils  of  animals  and  feeds,  foap,  fpermaceti  afid  tallow 
candles. 

XI.  Copper  and  l)rafs  wares,  partteularly  utenfils  for  diftil- 
lers,  fugar  refiners  and  breyrers,  ai)d  irons  and  other  articles  for 
houlehold  ule— -philofophical  appafatus,  Ac, 

XII.  Hn  wares  fpr  moil  purpbfes  of  ordina)ry  ufe. 
Carriages  of  all  kinds. 
SnufF,  chewing  and  fmoaking  tobacco^ 

Starch  and  hair  powder. 
Lampblack  and  other  painters  C(4ours. 
Gunpowder. 

Befides  manufaftories  of  theie  articles  which  are  carried  on  as 
regular  trat^es,  aind  have  attained  to  a  conftderable  degree  of  matu- 
rity, there  is  a  vaft  fcene  of  houfehold  m;»nufaduring,  which  con- 
tributes more  largely  to  the  fiipply  of  the  community  than  could 
be  imagined,  without  having  made  it  an  objeft  of  particular  in- 
quiry. This  obfervation  is  the  plcaftng  refult  of  the  inveftigation 
to  which  the  fubje£l  has  led,  and  is  applicable  as  well  to  the  fouth- 
cm  as  to  the  middle  and  northern  ftates ;  great  quantities  of  coarfe 
cloths,  coatings,  fetges,  and  flannels,  linfey-woolfeys,  hoiiery  of 
>vool,  cotton,  and  thread,  coarfe  fuflians,  jeans  and  mullins, 
i:hteked  iiid  ftriped  cotton  and  linen  goods,  bedticks,  coverlets 


XIII. 
XIV. 
XV. 

XVI. 

xvii. 


OF  THE  t/kitti>  StAt£6, 


««t 


"and  4fo«inferpiaAei,  tow  linem,  cotrfe  fliirtinfs,  fheetinft,  Moliog 
and  table  lineh,  and  various  mixturea  of  Vtbol  and  cotton,  and  of* 
totton  and  Aax,  are  nude  in  the  houfehold  way,  and«  in. 
many  inftanc^s  to  an  extent  not  only  fufl^cient  for  the  fupplyi 
of  the  families'  in  which  they  are  made,  but  for  iale^  and  evea- 
in  fome  caf(is  for  exportation*  It  is  computed  in  a  number  pi. 
diftrifts,  that  tWo  thirds^  three  fourths^  and  even  four-fifths,  of, 
all  the  clothhig  of  the  inhabitants  are  made  by  themfelvjes;  The, 
importance  tf  fo  great  a  ptogrefs,  as  appears  to  have  been  made  in 
family  manufaflur^<is  withih  a  few  years,  both  in  a  moral  and  poli- 
tical view,  reifkders  the  faA  highly  intereftingt  > 
Neither  does  the  above  enumeration  comprehend  all  the  articles- 
that  are  manufaftured  iu  re^ula^  trades;  manyotherl  otetir  which 
are  equally  well  eftabliflied,  but  which  not  being  of  equal  impor- 
tince  have  been  omitted;  and  th^re  are  many  attempt^  ftill  in 
their  infancy,  which  though  attended  with  very  favourable  ap 
ipearances,  could  not  have  been  properly  comprifed  in  an  enume^ 
ration  of  iAlanufa&ories  already  eftablilhed;  There  are  •  other 
articles  alfo  bf  great  impdrtance,  Which,  though  .ftriftly  fpeaking»i 
manufaftur^V  *^  omitted,  as  being  immediately  connel^ed  with* 
huibandi^,  fuch  at^  flouf,  pot  aild  pdarl  alh,  pitch,  tar^  turpen> 
tine,  and  the  like; 

Tliere  remains  to  be  noticed  an  obje6Uon  to  the  encouragement 
of  manufadures,  of  a  naturd  different  from  thofe  which  queftion 
the  probability  t>f  futcefs*— ^This  is  derived  from  its  fuppofed  ten- 
tency  to  ^iVe  *  nlonopoly  of  advantages  to  particular  clalfes  at  the 
(ixpence  of  the  reft  of  the  coihmunity.  Who,  it  is  affirmed,  would 
be  able  to  procure  the  requifite  fupplies  of  manufaQured  articles 
on  betterterms  from  foreigneirs  than  from  their  own  citizens,  and 
who  it  is  alledged)  ate  reduced  to  the  neceflit^  of  paying  an  en>' 
hanced  prite  for  Whatever  they  wantj  by  eve^y  meafure  which 
bbftrufls  the  free  competition  of  foreign  commodities. 

It  is  nbt  an  nhreifonable  fuppdfition^  that  meafures  which  lerve 
tb  abridge  the  free  competition  of  foreign  articles  have  a  tendency 
to  occafion  an  <M)hancement  of  prices^  and  it  is  not  to  be  deniei 
that  fuch  is  the  efFe£b  in  a  number  of  cafes ;  but  the  faft  does  not 
aniformly  correfpond  with  the  theory.  '  A  r^duftion  of  prices 
has,  in  feveral  inftancM|  immediately  fucceeded  the  cftablifhment 
of  a  domeftic  manufafture.  Whether  it  be  that  foreign  manufac* 
tures  endeavour  tp  fupplant,  by  undcrfelling  their  own,  or  what- 
ever elfe  be  the  caufe,  the  effeCk  has  been  fuch  as  is  ftated,  and  the 
reverfeof  what  might  have  been  expelled. 

But  though  it  were  true,  that  the  immediate  and  certain  eiFeft 
of  regulations  controuling  the  competition  of  foreign  With  domef-* 
tic  fabrics  was  an  increafe  of  price,  it  is  univcrfally  true,  that  the 


m 

m 
m 


»«l 


is £^£AAi  jbi SCRIP r/b JV 


¥ 


'Wh^t  dtmieftio  malnuflf£lure  h»  ittainedtb  ^rfefibion,  md  haf 
«n((lg^^'»n  thcprofecutionof  it*a€ompetent  number  of  pei-fons,  it 
itiTitJnbly  bceotoeft  ehti^et.-  Being  fre«  frtMi  the  heavy  charge* 
v^hich  attend  the  iknportation  of  foreign  eommoditieSj  it  can  be 
affbrdttd,  and  aecordingly  feldomor  never  fails  io  be  fold  cheaper^ 
in  proeeff  of  time,  tiMn  yrisl  ttie  foreign  article  for  which  it  is  a 
fubftittfte.  Th«  int^itnal  eompetitiori  which  takes  place,  foon  dhes: 
away  ev«ry  thing  liho  monopoly,  and  by  degrees  reduces  the  price 
of  thpartidk  to  tlM  iiMiiimiMiiof  a  reafonable  profit  on  the  capital 
employed.  This  accoards  with  the  rcafbn  oip  the  thing  and  with 
expetkmce. 

Ueifccit  f^UofWS,  that  it  i«  the  intere(|  of  the  United  States,  with 
nrtew  to'evpntualand  permanent  ecoitomy,  to  entourage  the  growth 
of>  aiaikufa£fcure»*  'In  a  national  view,  a  temporary  enhancement 
of  prke  mnft  alwiiysvbe>iM«U>eompcnfated  by  a  p<$rin9«ient  reduc- 
ti«M'0{:>it.  ..■  i:i::-r,'ry.-^h^-  ■■['...      .' 

It  *«  A.reikf^ipn  %yhKh  may > with  pri^riety  be;  indulged  here, 
that  this  eventual.  ditniBtv.iJQft  ol  th^  prices  ^f  nunu^i^red  arti> 
des,  Which  is.' the  refult  of  internal  manuf4£):Ufing  eftabliflwi^nts, 
has  a  direft  and  very  important  tendency- 10  bfpefit  pgfi<;ulture» 
It  enables  the  farmer  to  procure,  with  a  fmallef  q^antity  of  his 
labour,  the  manufai6bured  prodifcee  of  whie^  he  (lands  in  need,  and 
confequently  increafe&  the  Value  of  bis  ineome  and  p>'operty< 

Thb  objc^ons  which  are  c^taroonly  made  to  the  expediency  of 
encouraging,  and  to  the  probability  of  fuccecdingJo  manufa£lur< 
ing  purfuits  in  the, United  St?tes,  having nbiw  been  difcuflfed,  the 
conftderations  which  have  appeared  in  the  courfe  of  the  difcuf- 
fion,  recommending  that  fpecies  of  induflry  to  the  patronage  <;^ 
the  American  government,  will  be  materially  ftrengthened  by  a 
few  general  and  forae  particular  topics,  which  have  betn  naturally 
refcrved  for  fubfequent  notice. 

I.  There  feems  to  be  a  moral  certainty,  that  the  trade  of  »  coun- 
try, which  is  both  manufa£luring  and  agricultural,  will  be  more 
lucrative  and  profpecous  than  that  of  a  country;  which  isi  merely 
agricultural. 

One  reafon  for  this  is  found  in  that  general  effort  of  nations,  to 
procure  from  their  own  foils  the  articks  of  prime  neceflity  re* 
quifite  to  their  own  confumption  and  u£b,  and  which  £erves  to  ren* 
der  their  demand  for  a  foreign  fupply  of  fuch  articles  in  a  great 
degree  occa&onal  and  eontingrnt.  Hence,  while  the^necefiities  of 
nations  exclufively  devoted  to  agriculture,  for  the  fabrics  of  ma* 
nufafturing  dates,  are  cpnllant  and  regular,  the  wants  of  the  latter 
for  the  produ^s  of  the  former  are  liable  to  very  conilderable  flue- 
tuation  and  interruptions.    The  great  inequ^ities  refulting  from 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


V 


3*9 


difference  of  fcafons  have  been  ejfewhere  remarked :  this  unifor- 
mity of  demand  on  one  "fide,  and  unfleadinefs  of  it  on  the  other, 
muft  necelTarily  have  a  tendency  to  caufe  the  general  courfe  of 
the  exchange  of  commodities  between  the  parties  to  turn  to  the 
difadvantage  of  the  merely  agricultural  dates.  Peculiarity  of 
fituation,  a  climate  and  foil  adapted  to  the  produftion  of  pectiliiar 
commodities,  may  fometimes  contradi£l  the  rule;  but  there  is 
every  reafon  to  bclieVe  that  it  will  be  found  in  the  main  a  juft 
one. 

Another  circumftance  which  gives  a  fuptriority  of  commercial 
advantages  to  dates,  that  manufa£lure,  as  well  as  cultivate,  confids 
in  the  more  numerous  attraftions  which  a  more  diverfified  mar- 
ket offers  to  foreign  cudomers,  and  in  the  greater  fcope  which  it 
affords  to  mercantile  enterprife.  It  is  a  pofttion  of  indifputable 
truth  in'  Commtfrce^  depending  too  on  very  obvious  reafons,  that 
the  greated  refort  will  ever  be  to  thofe  marts,  where  cointnodities, 
while  equally  abundant,  are  mod  various.  Each  difference  of 
kind  holds  out  an  additional  inducement,  and  it  is  a  pofttion  not 
lefs  clear,  that  the  field  of  enterprife  mud  be  enlarged  to  the' 
merchants  of  a  country,  in  proportion  to  the  variety  as  well  as 
the  abundance  of  commodities  which  they  find  at  home  for  ex- 
portation to  foreign  markets,       '   < 

A  third  circumdance,  pfcrhafJSrtbt  inferior  to  either  of  the 
other  two,  conferring  the  fuperiority  which  has  been  dated,  has' 
relation  to  the  dagnations  of  demand  for  certain  commoditicts,'- 
which  at  fome  time  or  other  interfere  more  or  lefs  with  the  fale 
of  all.— The  nation  which  can  bring  to  market  but  few  articles,' 
is  likely  to  be  more  quickly  and  fenftbly  affe&ed  by  fuch  dagna- 
tions, than  one  which  is  always  poireifed  pf  a  great  variety  of 
commodities  :  the  former  frequently  finds  too  great  a  portion  of 
its  dock  of  materials,  for  fale  or  exchange,  lying  on  hand — or  is 
obliged  to  make  injurious  facrifices  to  lupply  its  wants  of  foreign 
articles,  which  are  numerous  and  urgent,   in  proportion  to  the 
limdlnefs  of  the  number  of  its  own.     The  latter  commonly  finds^ 
itfelf  indemnified  by  the  high  prices  of  fome  articles  for  the  low 
prices  of  others — and  the  prompt  and  advantageous  fale  of  thofe 
articles  which  are  in,  demand  enables  its  merchants  the  better  to 
wait  for  a  favourable  change,  in  refpe£l  to  thofe  which  are  not. 
There  is  ground  to  believe,  that  a  difference  of  fituation,  in  this 
particular,  has  immenfely  different  effe^s  upon  the  wealth  and 
profperity  of  nations. 

From  thefe  circumdances  colle£lively,  t\vo  important  inferences 
are  to  be  drawn  *,  one,  that  there  is  always  a  higher  probability  of 
a  favourable  balance  of  trade,  in  regard  to  countries  in. which  ma- 

Vol.  I,  U  u 


m 


ss« 


CENERAL  DESCRlPTiaif 


i  PI 


nufaflurct,  founded  on  the  bafisof  a  thriving  agriculture,  flourifhy 
than  in  regard  to  thofe  which  are  confined  wholly,  or  almoft: 
wholly,  to  agriculture  •,  the  other,  which  is  a  conlcquence  of  the 
firft,  that  countries  of  the  former  defcription  are  likely  to  poflei» 
more  pecuniary  wealth,  or  money,  than  thofe  of  the  latter. 

Fa£ls  appear  to  correfpond  with  this  conclufion.  The  impor^ 
tations  of  m^nufaftured  fupplics  fcem  invariably  to  drain  the  mere- 
ly  agricukural  people  of  their  wealth.  Le£  the  &tuation  of  the 
manufkfluring  countries  of  Europe  be  compared  in  this  particular 
with  that  of  thofe  countries  which  only  cultivate,  and  the  dif- 
parity  will  be  Ilriking.  Other  caufes,  it  is  true,  help  to  account 
for  this  difparity  between  fome  of  them  }  and  among,  thefe  caufes^ 
the  relative  flate  of  agriculture ;  but  between  others  of  thcni,  the 
mod  prominent  circuinfbnce  of  dii&militude  arifcs  from  the  com- 
pyrative  flate  of  manufactures^  In  corroboration  of  the  fame  idea, 
it  ought  not  to  efcape  remark,  that  the  Weft  India  iflands,  the 
fojils  of  which  are  the  moil  fertile,,  and  the  nation,  which  in  the 
gl^^^teil  deg.ree  Supplies  the  reft  of  the  world,  with  the  precious 
meuls,.  exchange  to  a  lofs  with  aknoft' every  other  country. 

As  far  as  experience  in  America  may  guide,  it  will  lead  to  the 
fame  conclufion.  Previous  to  the  revolution,  the  quantity  of 
coin  poileCfed  by  the  colonies,  which  now  compofe  the  United. 
Statesy  appeared  ,to  be  inadequate  t<^  their  circulation,  and  their 
debt  tp  Great  Britain  was  progreflive.  Since  the  revolution,  the 
ftates,  in  which  manufactures  have  moft.  increafed,  have  recover- 
ed ffifteft  from  the  injuries  of  the  late  war,  and  abound  moft  in 
pecuniary  resources. 

It  ought  to  be  admitted,  however,  rn  this  as  in  the  preceding 
cafe,  that  caufes  irrelative  to  the  ftate  of  manufactures  account,  ia 
a  decree,  for  the  phenomena  remarked.  The  continual  progrefs 
of  new  fettlements,  has  a  natural  tendency  to  occalion  an  unfa- 
vpuvablc  balance  of  trade,  though  it  indemnifies  for  the  inconve- 
nience, by  that  increafe  of  the  national  capital  which  flows  from 
the  converfion  of  wafte  into  improved  lands:  and  the  different 
degrees  of  external  commerce  which  are  carried  on  by  th6  differ- 
ent ftates,  may  make/material  differences  in  the  comparative  ftate 
of  their  wealth.  The  firft  circumftance  has  reference  to  the 
deficiency  of  coin,  and  the  increafe  of  debt  previous  to  the  revo- 
lution ;  the  laft,  to  the  advantages  which  the  moft  manufacturing 
ftates  appear  to  have  enjoyed  over  the  others,  fince  the  termina- 
tion of  the  late  war. 

But  the  uniform  appearance  of  an  abundance  of  fpecie,  as  the 
concomitant  of  a  flouriftiing  ftate  of  manufactures,  and  of  the  re> 


0¥  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


33t 


the 


a»  the 

the  re- 


veife  where  they  do  not  prevail,  afford  a  (Irong  prefumption  of 
their  favourable  operation  upon  the  wealth  of  a  country. 

Not  only  the  wealth,  but  the  independence  and  fecurity  of  | 
country,  appear  to  be  materially  connefted  with  the  profperity  of 
manufadures.  Every  nation,  with  a  view  to  thofe  great  objects, 
t}ugl}t  to  endeavour  lo  pofiefs  within  itfelf  all  the  ciTentialsof  n^h 
tional  fupply*  Thefe  compcife  the  means  of  fubiiilence,  habita- 
tion, cloathing,  and  defence. 

The  poflefTion  of  thefe  is  necdTary  to  tTie  perfeJElion  of  the  bo- 
olitic,  to  the  fafettj  '-  «vcU  as  to  the  welfare  of  the  iocicty  ; 
the  ..  ant  of  cither  is  Xh^  >vant  of  an  important  or^an  of  political 
life  and  motion  ;  and  in  the  various  critical  events  which  await  a 
ftate,  it  muft  feverely  fed  the  effe£ls  of  any  luch  deficiency.  The 
extreme  etnbai-raJGrments  of  the  United  States  during  the  late  war« 
from  an  incapacity  of  fupplying  themfclves,  are  ftill  matter  of 
iceen  recolleflion :  a  future  warmi^,ht  be  cxpe£ted  again  to  ex- 
emplify the  milchiefs  ^nd  dangers  of  a  Situation,  to  which  that 
incapacity  is  ftill  in  too  great  a  degree  applicable,  unlefs  changed 
by  timely  and  vigorous  exertionji.  To  effe^  this  change,  as  faft 
asfhall  be  prudent,  merits  all  the  attention  and  all  the  zeal  of  their 
public  councils :  k  is  the  next  great  worlc  to  be  accompliChed. 

The  want  of  a  navy  to  protc£l  the  external  commcxce  of  the 
United  'States,  as  long  as  it  {hall  continue,  j:i;iuft  render  it  a  pe- 
culiarly precarious  reliance  for  the  fupply  of  eflentiaji  articles,  nd 
muft  ferve  to  ftrengthen  prodi^oufly  the  argument^  in  favour  of 
jaanufaAures. 

To  thefe  general  conAderaftions  a^  added  Tome  of  a  more  par- 
ticular nature. 

Their  diftance  from  Europe,  the  great  fountain  of  manufaftur- 
jfd  fupply,  fubjc^s  them,  in  the  exifting  ftate  of  things,  to  incon- 
venience and  loU  in  two  ways^ 

The  bulkinefs  of  thofe  commodities  wliich  are  the  chief  pro- 
^u£fcions  of  the  foil,  npceftarily  impofes  very  heavy  charges  on 
their  tranfportation  to  diftant  markets.  Thefe  charges,  in  the 
calies  in  which  the  nations,  to  whom  their  produ£ls  are  fcnt, 
maintain  «  competion  in  the  fupply  of  their  own  markets,  prin- 
cipally fall  upon  them)  and  form  material  deduflions  froQi  the 
primitive  value  of  the  articles  furnifhed.  The  charges  on  manuo 
fa£lured  fupplies  carried  from  Europe  are  greatly  enhanced  by  the 
fame  circumftance  of  diftance.  Thefe  charges,  again,  in  the  cafes 
in  which  their  own  induftry  maintains  no  competition  in  their 
own  marjcets,  alfo  principally  fall  upon  them,  and  aro  an  addi- 
tional caufe  of  extraordinary  dedudion  from  the  primitive  value 
of  their  own  produfls,  thefe  being  the  materials  oT  exchange  for 
^l>e  foreign  fabrics  which  they  confume, 

U  u  a 


33> 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


.   & 


ft 


I  '■*'• 


^  The  quality  and  moderation  of  individual  property,  and  th^ 
growing  fettlements  of  new  di(lri£ls,  occaftoned  in  the  Unite4 
Stjitcs  an  unufuul  demand  for  coarfe  ipanufa£lures,  the  charges  of 
Which  being  greater  in  proportion  to  their  greater  bulk,  augment 
the  difadvantage  which  has  been  juft  dcfcribed. 

As  in  mod  countries  domedic  fupplies  maintain  a  very^confi- 
derable  competition  with  fuch  foreign  produ£lions  of  the  foil  ai^ 
are  imported  for  laic  ;  if  the  extenfive  eflablifliment  of  manufafto* 
ries  in  the  United  States  does  not  create  a  fimilar  competition  in 
refpc£l  to  manufaflured  articles,  it  appears  to  be  clearly  deducible^ 
from  the  conflderations  which  have  been  mentioned,  that  they 
mud  fudain  a  double  lofs  in  their  exchanges  with  foreign  nations, 
drongly  conducive  to  an  unfavourable  balance  of  trade,  and  very 
prejudicial  to  their  intereds. 

Thefc  difadvantages  prefs  with  no  fmall  weight  on  th^  landed 
intered  of  the  countiy  ;  in  feaCons  of  peace  they  caufe  a  ferious 
dedu£lion  from  the  intrinfic  value  of  the  produ^s  of  the  foil :  and 
in  cafe  of  war,  which  fhould  either  involve  themtielves,  or  any 
other  nation,  poifedlng  a  confiderahle  fhare  of  their  carrying 
tr:tdc,  the  charges  on  the  tranfportation  of  thbir  commodities, 
bulky  as  mod  of  them  are,  under  fuch  circumdances,  could  hard- 
ly fail  to  prove  a  grievous  burthen  to  the  farmer,  while  obliged 
to  depend  in  fo  great  a  degree  as  he  no\v  does  upon  foreign  mar- 
kets for  the  vent  of  the  furplus  of  his  labour. 

As  far  as  the  profperity  of  the  fifheries  of  the  United  States  is 
impeded  by  the  want  of  an  adequate  market,  there  arifes  another 
fpecial  reafon  fordefiring  the  extenfion  of  man uf azures,  fiefides 
the  fifli,  which  in  many  places  would  be  likely  to  make  a  part  of 
the  fubfidence  of  the  perfons  employed,  it  is  known  that  the  oils, 
bones,  and  Ikins  of  marine  animals,  are  of  extenfive  ufe  in  vari- 
ous manufa£lures ;  hence  the  profpefl  of  an  additional  demand 
for  the  produce  of  the  fifheries. 

One  more  point  of  view  only  remains,  in  which  to  confider 
the  expediency  of  the  utmod  encouragement  being  given  to  ma- 
nufa£lures  in  the  United  States. 

It  is  not  uncommon  to  meet  with  an  opinion,  that  though  the 
promoting  of  manufaflures  may  be  the  intered  of  a  part  of  the 
Union,  it  is  contrary  to  that  of  another  part ;  the  northern  and 
fouthcrn  regions  are  fometimes  reprefented  as  having  adverfe  in- 
tereds in  this  refpeft  ;  thofe  are  called  manufa^uring,  thefe  agri- 
cultural dates,  and  a  fpecies  of  oppofition  is  imagined  to  fubfid 
between  the  manufafturing  and  agricultural  intereds. 

This  idea  of  an  oppofition  between  thofe  two  intereds  has  been 
the  common  error  of  the  early  periods  of  every  country,  but  ex- 
perience gradually  dilFipates  it  j  indeed,  they  are  perceived  lo 


OF  THE. UNITED  STATES. 


$S$ 


le  agn- 
fubfift 


often  to  fuccour  and  to  befriend  each  other,  that  they  come  at 
length  to  be  confidered  as  one ;  a  fuppofition  which  has  been 
frequently  abufed,  and  is  not  univerfally  true.  Particular  encou« 
ragcments  of  particular  manufa£lurcs  may  be  of  a  nature  to  facri- 
gcc  the  intcreds  of  landholders  to  thofc  of  manufafturers ;  but  it 
is  neverthelefs  a  maxim  ,weU  eftabliihed  by  experience,  and  gene- 
rally acknowledged,  where  there  has  been  fufficient  experience! 
that  the  aggregate  profperity  of  manufaftures,  and  the  aggregate 
profperity  of  agriculture  are  intimately  conncfted.  In  the  courfe 
of  this  difcuflion,  various  weighty  confidcrations  have  been  addu- 
ced operating  in  I'upport  of  this  opinion.  Perhaps  the  fuperior 
(leadinclsof  the  demand  of  a  domeftic  market  for  the  furplus  pr«- 
(luce  of  the  foil  is  alone  a  convincing  argument  of  its  truth. 

Ideas  of  a  contrariety  of  intcreds  between  the  northern  and 
fouthern  regions  of  the  United  States,  are  in  the  main  as  unfound- 
ed as  they  are  mil'chievous  ;  the  diverfity  of  circumftances,  on 
whith  i'uch  contrariety  is  ufually  predicated,  authorifes  a  direft 
contrary  conclufton ;  mutual  wants  conftitute  one  of  the  ftrong- 
cft  links  of  political  conne£lion,  and  the  extent  of  thefe  bears  a 
natural  proportion  to  the  diverfity  in  the  means  of  mutual  fupply. 
Suggeftions  of  an  oppofite  complexion  are  ever  to  be  deplored, 
as  unfriendly  to  the  fteady  purfuit  of  one  great  common  caufe, 
and  to  the  perfe£l  harmony  of  all  the  parts. 

In  proportion  as  the  mind  is  accuftomed  to  trace  the  intimate 
conne£tion  of  interefls  which  fubfift  between  all  the  parts  of  a 
fociety,  united  under  the  fame  government*,  and  the  infinite 
variety  of  channels,  which  ferve  to  circulate  the  profperity  of 
each  to  and  through  the  reft,  in  that  proportion  it  will  be  little 
apt  to  be  difturbed  by  folicitudes  and  apprehenfions  which  ori- 
ginate in  local  difcriminations.  It  is  a  truth  as  important  as  it  is 
agreeable,  and  one  tow  hich  it  is  noteafy  to  imagine  exceptions,  that 
every  thing  tending  to  eftablifli  fubftantial  and  permanent  order 
in  the  affairs  of  a  country,  to  increafe  the  total  mafs  of  induftry 
and  opulence,  is  ultimately  beneficial  to  every  part  of  it.  On 
the  credit  of  this  great  truth  an  acquiefcence  may  fafely  be  accord- 
ed from  every  quarter  to  all  inftitutions  and  arrangements,  which 
promife  a  confirmation  of  public  order,  and  an  augmentation  of 
hational  refource. 

* 

But  there  are  more  particular  confiderations  which  ferve  to  for- 
tify, the  idea,  that  the  encouragement  of  manufafturcs  is  the  inte- 
reft  of  a|' paits  of  the  American  Union.  Ir  the  northern  and 
middle  dates  fhould  be  the  principal  fcenes  of  fuch  edablidimeuts, 
they  would  immediately  benefit  the  more  fouthern  by  creating  a 
demand  for  produ£lions,  fome  of  which  they  have  in  common 
with  the  other  dates,  and  others  of  which  arc  either  peculiar  to 


134 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION, 


¥    •! 


them,  or  more  abundant,  or  of  better  quality,  than  elfewhere, 
The(e  productions  principally  arc  timber,  flax,  hemp,  cotton,  wool, 
caw  filk,  indigo,  iron,  lead,  furs,  hides,  (kins,  and  coals ;  of  thefo 
articles  cotton  and  indigo  are  peculiar  to  the  fouthern  dates;  as 
are  hitherto  liao  and  coal,  flax  and  hemp  are,  or  may  be  raifed  in 
greater  abundance  there  than  in  the  more  northern  dates ;  and 
the  wool  of  Virginia  is  faid  to  be  of  better  quality  than  that  of 
any  other  (late;  a  circumilance  rendered  the  more  probable  by 
the  refle£lion,  that  Virginia  embraces  the  lame  latitudes  with  thn 
fined  wool  countries  of  Europe,  and  their  padure  is  fimilar. 
The  climate  of  the  fouth  is  alfo  better  adapted  to  the  produ£lion 
of  fiUt. 

The  cxtenfive  <:ultivation  of  cotton  can,  perhaps,  hardly  be 
e;xpe£lcd,  without  the  previous  edablifliment  of  domcdic  manu- 
faflories  of  the  article;  thefe  in  fome  of  the  States  have  been  eda- 
blifhed,  and  have  already  arrived  at  a  degree  of  perfe£iion  and 
rcfpe^ability  hardly  to  have  been  expcded  in  the  time;  and' the 
fured  encouragement  and  vent  for  the  others,  will  refult  frem 
fimilar  edablidiments  in  reipe£l  to  ihem. 

.  If  then  it  fatisfaClorily  appears,  that  it  is  the  intered  of  the 
United  States  generally  to  encourage  manufactures,  it  merits  par. 
ticular  attention,  that  there  aro  circumdances  which  render  the 
prefent  a  critical  moment  for  entering  with  zeal  upon  the  impor« 
tant  bufinefs ;  the  effort  cannot  fail  to  be  materially  feconded  by 
a  tconfiderable  and  increafing  influx  of.  money,  arifing  from  the 
numbers  who  have,  and  which  dill  continue  to  transfer  themfelves 
and  capitals  from  the  Old  World  to  the  different  States  ;  in  con- 
fequence  of  foreign  fpeculations  in  their  funds-^and  by  the  dif- 
orders  and  oppreflions  which  exid  in  different  parts  of  Europe. 

The  fird  circumdance  not  only  facilitates  the  execution  of  ma. 
nufafturing  enterprifes,  but  it  indicates  them  as  a  necelTary  mean 
to  turn  their  increafing  population  and  capital,  to  advantage,  and 
to  prevent  their  being  eventually  an  evil.  If  ufeful  employment 
be  not  found  for  the  money  of  foreigners  who  are  daily  taking  up 
their  rcfidence  in  the  United  States,  and  for  that  which  is  carried 
to  the  country  to  be  invefted  in  purchafes  of  the  public  debt,  it 
Will  quickly  be  re-exported  to  defray  the  expence  of  an  extraor- 
dinary confuniption  of  foreign  luxuries  ;  and  didreffing  drains  of 
their  fpccie  may  hereafter  be  experienced  to  pay  the  intereft 
and  redeem  the*  principal  of  the  purchafed  debt. 

This  uleful  employment  too  ought  to  be  of  a  nature  to  produce 
folid  and  permanent  improvements.  If  the  money  merely  ferves 
to  give  a  temporary  fpring  to  foreign  commerce,  as  it  cannot  pro- 
cure new  and  lading  outlets  for  the  produ£ls  of  the  country, 
there  will  be  no  real  or  durable  advantage  gained  ;  as  far  as  it 
fhall  find  its  way  in  agricultural  ameliorations,  in  opening  canals, 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


395 


and  in  fimiliar  improvement^  it  will  be  produ&ive  of  fubftantial 
utility  ;  but  there  i>  reafon  to  doubt,  whether  in  fuch  channeU 
it  is  likely  to  find  fufficient  employment,  and  (UU  more,  whether 
many  of  thofe  who  pofliefs  it  will  be  as  readily  attrafled  to  obje6b 
of  this  nature  as  to  manufa£iuring  purfuits,  which  bear  greater 
analogy  to  thofr  to  which  they  have  been  accuftomed,  and  to  the 
fpirit  generated  by  them. 

To  open  the  one  field,  as  well  as  the  other,  will  at  teaft  fccure 
a  better  profpe£i  of  ufeful  employment,  for  whatever  acceflton  of 
population  and  money  there  has  been  or  may  be. 

There  is  at  the  prelent  jun6iure  a  certain  fermentation  of  mind, 
a  certain  aflivity  of  fpeculation  and  enterprifc,  which,  if  proper* 
ly  dire£lcd,  may  be  made  fubJervient  to  ufeful  purpofes;  but 
which,  if  left  entirely  to  itfelf,  may  be  attended  with  perhicious 
effcfts.  . 

The  diflurbcd  flate  of  Europe  inclining  its  citizens  to  emtgra* 
tion,  the  requifite  workmen  will  be  more  eafily  acquired  for  dif- 
ferent manufa^ures  than  at  another  time;  and  the  efFe6i  of  mul- 
tiplying the  opportunities  A  employment  to  thofe  who  emigrate, 
may  be  an  increafe  of  the  number  and  extent  of  valuable  acquis 
fitions  to  the  population,  arts,  and  induflry  of  the  United  States. 
To  find  pleafure  in  the  calamities  of  other  nations^  would  be 
criminal,  but  for  the  Americans  to  benefit  themfelves  by  opening 
an  afylum  to  thofe  who  fufFer  inxttnfequcoce  of  them,  is  as  juf- 
tifiable  as  it  is  po)itic. 

A  full  view  having  now  been  taken  of  the  inducements  to  the 
promotion  of  manufaflures  in  the  United  States,  accompanied 
with  an  examination  of  the  principal  obje£iions  which  are  urged 
in  oppofition  thereto  by  fome  of  their  own  citizens,  it  is  proper, 
in  the  next  place,  to  confider  the  means  by  which  the  promotion 
of  them  may  be  eftefled,  as  introductory  to  a  fpecification  of  the 
obje&s,  which,  in  the  prcfent  (late  of  things,  appear  the  mod  fit  to 
be  encouraged,  and  of  the  particular  meafures  which  it  would  be 
idvifable  for  them  to  adopt  in  refpe£l:  to  each. 

In  order  ta  a  better  judgment  of  the  means  proper  to  be  re- 
forted  to  by    the  United  States^   it    will  be  of  ule  to  advert  to 
thofe  which  have  been  employed  with  fuccefs  in  other  countries. 
The  principal  of  thefe  are— 

I.  ProttSing  duties — or  duties  on  thofe  foreign  articles  which  are 
the  rivals  of  the  domejlic  ones  intended  to  be  encouraged. 

Duties  of  this  nature  evidently  amount  to  a  virtual  bounty  on 
the  domeftic  fabrics,  fincc  by  enhancing  the  charges  on  foreign 
articles,  they  enable  the  national  manufacturers  to  underfell  all 
.their  foreign  competitors.  The  propriety  of  this  fpccies  of  en- 
eouragcmerit  need  aot  be  dwelt  upon,  as  it  is  not  only  a  clear  re- 


h 


1^ 


ai^SAAL  DESCklPTtdt^ 


m^^ 


fult  from  the  numerous  topics  which  have  been  fuggefted,  but  ii 
ftn£Honcd  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States  in  a  variety  of  in{lan< 
CCS ;  it  has  the  additional  recommendation  of  being  a  rtfource  of 
rcvcnuc-^Indeed  all  the  duties  impofed  on  imported  artrelcs, 
though  with  an  cxclufive  view  to  revenue,  have  the  effe6l  in 
contemplation,  and,  except  where  they  fall  on  raw  materials,  wear 
a  beneficent  afpeCl  towards  the  manufaflur^s  of  the  country. 

II.  Prohibitions  oj rival  articUs,  or  dutjes  equivalent  td prohibitions . 
This  is  another  and  an  cfhcacious  mean  of  encouraging  their 

national  manufa£lures,  but  in  general  it  is  only  fit  to  be  employed 
when  a  manufafture  has  made  fuch  a  progrcfsj^and  is  in  fo  many 
hands  as  tO'Cnfure  a  due  competition,  and  an  r,  ^equate  fupply  on 
rcafonable  terms.  .Of  duties  equivalent  to  prohibitions,  there  are 
examples  in  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  there  are  other 
cafes  to  \yhich  the  principle  may  be  advantageouily  extended,  but 
they  are  not  numerous. 

Confidering  a  monopoly  of  the  domedice  market  to  its  own 
manufaflures  as  the  reigning  policy  of  manufa£luring  nations,  a 
fimilar  policy  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  in  every  proper 
iniUnce  is  di£bted,  it  might  almoft  be  faid,  by  the  principles  of 
diflributive  juftice ;  certainly  by  the  duty  of  endeavouring  to  fe> 
cure  to  (h^ir  own  citizens  a  reciprocity  of  advantages. 

III.  Prohibitions  of  the  exportation  of  the  materials  of  manufaElures. 

The  deftre  of  fecuring  a  cheap  and  plentiful  fupply  for  the  na- 
tional workmen,  where  the  article  is  either  peculiar  to  the  coun- 
try, or  of  peculiar  quality  there,' — thejealoufy  of  enabling  foreign 
workmen  to  rival  thofe  of  the  nation  with  its  own  materials,  are 
the  leading  motives  to  this  fpecies  of  rcftraint.  It  ought  not  to 
be  affirmed  that  this  regulation  is  in  no  inftance  proper  ;  but  it  it 
certainly  one  which  ought  to  be  adopted  with  great  circumfpec- 
tion,  and  only  in  very  plain  cafes.  It  is  fccn  at  once,  that  its  im- 
mediate operation  is  to  abridge  the  demand,  snA  keep  down  the 
price  of  the  produce  of  fortic-  other  branch  of  induftry  generally 
i'peaking,  of  agriculture,  to  the  prejudice  of  thofe  who  carry  it 
on ;  and  though,  if  it  be  feally  eflfentixl  to  the  profperity  of  any 
very  important  national  manuia&ure,  it  may  happen  that  thofe 
who  are  injured  in  the  firft  iniflance,  may  be  eventually  indemni- 
fied by  the  fuperior  (leadinefs  of  an  exteiifive  domeftic  market 
depending  on  that  profperity  ;  yet,  in  a  matter  in  which  there 
is  fo  much  room  for  nice  and  dif&cult  combinations,  iii  which 
fuch  oppofite  confiderations  combat  each  other,  prudence  feems 
to  di£tatc,  that  the  expedient  in  qucftion  ought  to  be  indulged 
with  a  fparing  hand. 


iJF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


337 


IV.  Peeuniary  iounties, 

Thii  his  been'.found  one  of  the  mod  efficacious  meani  of  encou* 
raging  manufaQures,  and  it  is,  in  fomc  views,  the  bcO:.  Though 
ft  has  not  yet  been  much  prafiifed  upon  by  the  government  of  the 
tJnited  States,  unlefs  the  allowance  on  the  exportation  of  dried 
and  pickled  fifli  and  falted  meat  could  be  confidered  as  a  bounty 
this  method  of  enoouraging  manufaftures,  though  lefs  favoured  by 
public  opinion  than  fomc  other  modes,  has  its  advantages. 

1.  It  is  a  fp«cies  of  encouragement  more  pofitive  and  dircfl 
than  any  other,  and,  for  that  very  reafon,  has  an  immediate  ten- 
dency to  ilimvlate  and  uphold  new  cntcrprifes,  increafing  the 
thanccs  of  profit,  and  Uiminifhing  the  rifks  of  lofs,  in  the  fird 
attempts. 

2.  It  avoids  tha  inconvenience  of  a  temporary  augmentation  of 
price,  which  is  incident  to  fomc  other  modes,  or  it  produces  it  td 
a  lefs  degree  ;  either  by  ma!cing  no  Edition  >  the  <  harges  on  the 
rival  foreign  article,  as  in  the  cafe  of  protef^ ' '  :;  duties,  or  by  mak- 
ing a  fmaller  addition.  The  fitll  happen;  nhen  the  fund  for  the 
bounty  is  derived  from  a  diffcren*  ■  '^jcft,  which  ir  ;v  or  may  not 
increafe  the  price  of  fome  other  a;  ticl*  according  to  the  Aature  of 
that  ohjeBi ;  the  feeond,  ivhen  the  fund  is  derived  from  th^  f^oie 
or  a  fimilar  obje6l  of  forei^  manufafiure^  One  per  cent,  duty  on: 
the  foreign  article  Converted  into  a  bounty  on  the  domedic,  will 
have  an  equal  efFe£i  with  a  duty  of  two  per  cent,  cxclufi ve  of  fuch 
bounty ;  as  the  price  of  the  fofeign  commodity  is  liable  to  be 
raifed,  in  the  one  cafe,  in  the  proportion  of  one  per  cent; ;  in 
the  other,  in  that  of  two  per  cent.  But  the  bounty  when  drawn 
from  anothet  foui'^e  is  calculated  to  promote  a  rcdu£iion  of  price ; 
becaule,  without  laying  any  new  charge  on  the  foreign  article,  it 
ferves  to  introduce  -^  ^Competition  with  it,  and  to  increafe  the 
total  ^antity  o^  the  <..ti  jIc  in  the  market. 

3.  Bounties  have  hot,  like  high  prote£)ting  duties,  a  tendency 
^o  produce  fCarcity.'  An  increafe  of  price  is  not  always  the  im- 
mediate, though,  whefd  the  progfefs  of  a  domcflic  mahufaflure 
docs  not  ^ounteraft  a  rife,  it  is  commonly  the  ultimate  cffe&  of  an 
additional  duty;  In  the  intisrval  between  (he  laying^of  the  duty, 
and  a  proportional  increafe  of  price,  it  may  difcourage  importa- 
tion, by  interfering  with  the  profits  to  be  expefted  from  the  fale 
of  the  article* 

4.  Bounties  are  fometimcs  not  only  the  bed,  but  the  only  pro«: 
per  expedientj  for  uniting  the  encouragement  of  a  new  objcfl  of 
agriculture  with  that  of  a  new  obje£l:  of  manufaflurc.  It  is  th6 
intercft  of  the  farmer  to  have  the  produflion  of  the  raw  material 
]>romoted,  by  countera£ling  the  interference  pf  the  foreign  m%te- 

X  X. 


338 


G£N£RAL  DE%CRtPTtOl4 


•■  \' 


rial  of  the  fame  kind — It  is  the  intercft  of  the  manufa£lurcir  to  IwVtS 
the  material  abundant  and  cheap.  If,  prior  to  the  domedic  pro- 
duftion  of  the  material  in  fufficient  quantity  to  fupply  tlic  manu- 
faftufcr  on  good  terms,  a  duty  be  laid  upon  the  importation  of  it 
froiTv  abroad,  with  a  view  to  promote  the  railing  of  it  at  homcy 
the  intcreff  both  of  the  farmer  and  manuFafturer  will  be  differvcd 
— hy  either  dcftroying  the  rcquilite  fupply,  or  raifmg  the  price 
of  the  article  beyond  what  can  be  afforded  to  bp  given  for  it  by 
the  (Conduft.i^r  of  an  infant  manufafture,  it  is  abandoned,  or  fails, 
and  th«fc  being  no  domeftic  mnnufaAories  to  create  a  d  "nand  for 
the  raw  material  which  is  raifed  by  the  farmer,  it  is  in  vain,  that 
the  competition  of  the  like  foreign  articlt  may  have  been  dc- 
ftroycd. 

It  cannot  efcape  notice,  that  a  duty  upon  the  importation  of  art 
article  can  no  otherwife  aid  the  domeflic  produfliion  of  it,  than 
by  giving  the  latter  greater  advantages  in  the  home  market.  It 
can  have  no  iiilluence  upon  the  advuntagct)us  falc  of  the  article 
produced  in  foreign  markets,  no  tendency,  therefore,  to  promote 
its  exportation. 

The  tru€  way  to  conciliate  thcfe  two  intercfts,  is  therefore  to 
lay  a  duty  on  foreign  manufa£tures  of  the  material,  the  growth  of 
which  is  defirod  to  be  encouraged,  and  to  apply  the  produce  of 
that  duty  by  way  of  bounty,  cither  upon  the  produ£l:ion  of  the 
material  itlelf,  or  upon  its  manufafturc  art  home,  or  upon  both* 
If  this  is  done  the  manufafturcr  of  the  United  States  will  com- 
meuGC  his  cntcrprifc  under  every  advantage  which  is  attainable, 
as  to  quantity  or  price  of  the  raw  material ;  and  the  farrtier,  if  the 
bounty  be  immediately  to  him,  is  enabled  by  it  to  enter  into  a 
fucccfsful  competition  with  the  foreign  material ;  if  the  bounty 
be  to  the  manufacturer  on  fo  much  of  the  domeflic  material  as  he 
conlumes,  the  operation  is  nearly  the  fame ;  he  has  a  motive  of 
intereft  to  prefer  the  domeflic  commodity,  if  of  equal  qualify, 
even  at  a  higher  price  than  the  foreign,  fo  long  as  the  difference 
of  price  is  any  thing  fhort  of  the  bounty  which  is  allowed  upon 
the  article* 

Except  the  fnnple  and  ordinary  kinds  of  houfehoJd  matlufac- 
turc,  or  thofe  for  which  there  are  vM'y  commanding  local  advan- 
tages, pecuniary  bounties  are  in  mofl  cafes  indifpenfable  to  the 
introdutlion  of  a  new  branch*  A  flimulus  and  a  fupport  not  lefs 
powerful  and  direft  is,  generally  fpeaking,  cfTential  to  the  over- 
coming of  the  obflacles  which  arife  from  the  competitions  of  fupe- 
rior  fkill  and  maturity  eli'ewhcrc*  Bounties  are  efpecially  efTen- 
fial  in  regard  to  articles  upon  which  thofe  foreigners,  who  have 
been  accuflomed  to  fupply  a  country,  are  in  the  prafticc  of  grant- 
ing them. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


339 


Tlic  continuance  of  bounties  on  manufafturcs  long  cftabllihcd, 
tnuft  almofl  always  be  of  queftionable  policy  ;  bccaule  a  prcfump- 
tion  would  arifc  in  every  I'uch  cai'e,  that  there  were  natural  ana 
inherent  impediments  to  lucccfs.  But  in  new  undertakings  they 
are  as  judifiable,  as  they  arc  oftentimes  neceflary. 

There  is  a  degree  of  prejudice  againft  bounties,  from  an  appear- 
ance of  givin'g  away  the  public  money,  without  an  immediate 
confidcration,  and  from  a  luppofuion  that  they  fcrvc  to  enrich 
particular  clallcs  at  the  expence  of  the  community.  '^'  , 

But  neither  of  thcic  (burccs  of  diflike  will  bear  a  ferious  exa- 
mination when  applied  to  an  infant  ftate.  There  is  no  purpofe  to 
which  public  money  can  be  more  beneficially  applied,  than  to  the 
acquilition  of  a  new  and  ul'cful  branch  of  induHry  ;  no  confidcra- 
tion more  valuable  than  a  permanent  addition  to  the  general  flock 
of  produflivc  labour. 

As  to  the  fccond  fource  of  objcftion,  it  equally  lies  agairift  other 
modes  of  encouragement  which  are  admitted  to  be  eligible.  As 
often  as  a  duty  upon  a  foreign  article  makes  an  addition  to  its 
price,  it  caufes  an  extra  expence  to  the  community,  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  domeflic  manufafturer,  A  bounty  docs  no  more.  But 
it  is  the  intercfl  of  the  fociety  in  each  cafe  to  fubmit  to  a  tempora- 
ry expence,  which  is  more  than  compcnlated  by  an  incrcafe  of  in- 
duftry  and  wealt+i,  by  an  augmentation  of  refources  and  indepen- 
dence ;  and  by  the  circumftance  of  eventual  chcapncfs,  which  has 
been  noticed  in  another  place. 

It  would  del'crvc  attention,  however,  in  the  employment  of 
this  i'pecies  of  encouragement  in  the  United  States,  as  a  reai'on  for 
moderating  the  degree  of  it  in  the  inftances  in  which  it  might  be 
deemed  eligible,  that  the  great  diftwce  of  the  United  States  from 
Europe  impofes  very  heavy  cliarges  on  all  the  fab;'ics  which  arc 
brought  from  thence,  amounting  from  »5  to  3P  per  cent,  on  their 
value,  according  to  their  bulk. 

V.   Premiums. 

Thefe  are  of  a  nature  allied  to  bounties,  though  diftinguifhablc 
from  them  'n  fomc  important  features. 

Bounties  are  applicable  to  the  whole  quantity  of  an  article  pro-, 
duiced  or  manufaftured,  or  exported,  and  involve  a  corrclpondcnt 
expence.— rPremiums  fervc  to  reward  fomc  particular  excellence 
or  iuperiority,  fomc  extraordinary  exertion  or  (kill,  and  arc  dif- 
pcnied  only  in  a  fmall  number  of  cafes ;  but  their  efFe6l  is  to  fli- 
mulate  general^ effort — contrived  fo  as  to  be  both  honorary  and 
lucrative,  they  addrefs  themlclves  to  different  pafllons,  toucliing 
the  chords  as  well  of  emulation  as  of  intereft, — They  are  accor- 
dingly a  very  economical  mean  of  exciting  the  enterprise  of  a 
whole  community. 

X  X  2 


1^ 


34© 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


i<  -.Ml 


Ml 


Ml. 


ll-* 


.11 


There  are  various  focieties  in  different  countries,  whofe  objei^ 
is  the  dirpenfatidn  of  premiuips  for  the  encouragement  of  agricuU 
ture,  arts,  manufaftures,  and  commerce ;  an4  though  they  are  for 
the  moil  part  voluntary  afibciations,  with  comparatively  flendei: 
funds,  their  uti^ty  has  been  immenfe.  Much  has  been  done  by 
this  mean  in  Great  Britain ;  Scotland  in  particular  owes  materi- 
ally to  it  a  prodigious  amelioration  of  condition.  From  a  fimilar 
eftablifhment  in  the  United  States,  fupplied  and  fupported  by  the 
Government  of  the  Union,  vaft  bene^ts  might  reafonably  be  exr 
pe£ted. 

VI.  The  exemption  of  the  materials  of  manufuSiures  from  duty. 
The  policy  of  that  exemption  as  a  general  rule,  particularly  ir> 

relation  to  new  eAablifliments,  is  obvious.  It  can  hardly  ever  be 
advifeable  to  add  the  obflruflions  of  fifcal  burthens  to  the  difficul- 
ties which  naturally  emharrafs  a  new  manufafture  ;  and  where  it 
is  matured  and  in  condition  to  become  an  objed:  of  revenue,  it 
is,  generally  fpcaking,  better  that  the  fabric,  than  the  material^ 
fhould  be  the  fubjeft  of  taxation.—- Ideas  of  proportion  between 
the  quantum  of  the  tax  and  the  value  of  the  article  can  be  more 
eallly  adjufled  in  the  former  than  in  the  latter  cafe.  An  argu- 
ment for  exemptipns  of  this  kind  in  the  United  States  is  to  be 
derived  from  the  pra^ice,  as  far  as  their  neccfTities  have  permit- 
ted, of  thofe  nations  whom  they  are  to  meet  as  competitors  in 
their  own  and  in  foreign  markets. 

There  are,  however,  exceptions  to  it ;  of  which  fomc  examples 
will  be  given  under  the  next  head. 

The  laws  of  the  Union  afford  inflances  of  the  obferyanqe  of  the 
policy  here  recomrnended,  but  it  will  probably  be  found  advifeable 
to  extend  it  to  fome  other  cafes. — Of  a  nature,  bearing  fome  affini- 
ty to  that  policy,  is  the  regulation  which  exempts  from  duty  the 
tools  and  implements,  as  well  as  the  books,  clothes^  and  houfe- 
hold  furniture  of  foreign  artifts  who  come  to  refidc  in  the  Unite4 
States ;  an  advantage  already  fecured  to  them  by  the  laws  of  the 
Union,  and  which  it  is  in  every  view,  proper  to  continue.   , 

VII.  Drcwbacki  of  the  duties  which  are  impofed  on  the  materials 
of  mantifafiures. 

It  has  already  beez^  obfcrved,  as  a  general  rule,  that  duties  on 
thofe  materials  ought,  with  certain  exceptions,  to  be  foreborne. 
Of  thefe  exceptions,  three  cafes  occur^  which  may  ferve  as  exam- 
ples—one,  where  the  material  is  itfelf  an  objeft  of  general  or  ex- 
tenfive  confumption,  and  a  fit  and  produftivc  fource  of  revenue — 
another  where  a  manufa£lurc  of  a  fimpler  kind,  the  competition  of 
which  with  a  like  domeflic  article  is  defired  to  be  roftrained,  par- 
takes  of  the  nature  of  a  raw  material,  from  being  capable,  by  a 
further  procefs,  to  be  converted  into  a  manufafturc  of  a  different 
kind,  the  introdu£iion  or  growth  of  which  is  defired  to  be  cn< 


OF  THE  l/NITE^  STATES. 


34* 


talerials 

kties  on 

eborne, 

cxam- 

or  ex- 

:nue — 
ttion  of 
[d,  par- 
[,  by  a 
Ifferent 
Ibc  en- 


jcouraged—r^  thit:d,  where  the  material  hfelf  is  a  pcoduftion  of 
^he  country,  and  in  fuIEcient  abundance  to  furnifh  a  cheap  and 
plentiful  fupply  to  the  national  manufafturers. 

Under  the  firfl:  defcription  comes  the  article  of  molafles.  It  is 
not  only  a  fair  objeft  of  revenue,  but  being  a  fwect,  it  is  juft  that 
the  confumcrs  of  it  {houl4  pay  a  duty  as  well  as  the  confm^ers  of 
fugar. 

Cottons  and  linen  in  their  white  ftate  fall  under  the  fecond  def« 
cription— a  duty  upon  fuch  as  are  imported  is  proper  to  promote 
the  domeftic  manufafiufe  of  iimilar  articles  in  the  fam'e  (late — a 
drawback  of  that  duty  is  proper  to  encourage  the  painting  and 
ftaining  at  home  of  thofc  which  are  brought  from  abroad.  When 
the  firft  of  thefe  manufaflures  has  attained  fufiicient  maturity  in  a 
country  to  furnifh  a  full  fupply  for  the  fecond,  the  utility  of  the 
drawback  ccafes. 

^The  article  of  hemp  either  now  does  or  may  be  expe£led  foon 
to  exemplify  the  third  cafe  in  the  United  States. 

Where  duties  on  the  n^aterials  of  manufaftures  are  not  laid  for 
the  purpofe  of  preventing  a  competition  with  fome  domedic  pro- 
duction, the  fame  reafons  which  recommend,  as  a  general  rule,  the 
iexemptions  of  thofe  materials  from  duties,  would  recommend,  as 
a  like  general  rule,  the  allowance  of  drawbacks,  in  favour  of  the 
jnanufafturer  :  accordingly  fuch  drawbacks  are  familiar  in  coun- 
tries which  fyftematically  purfue  the  buftnefs  of  manufaflures ; 
which  fumifties  an  argument  for  the  obfervance  of  a  fimilar  poli- 
cy in  the  United  States  ;  and  the  idea  has  been  adopted  by  the 
laws  of  the  Union ,  in  the  inilances'  of  fait  and  molafles.  And  it 
will  be  found  advantageous  to  extend  it  to  fome  other  articles. 

VIII.  Tfie  encouragement  of  new  inventions  and  difcoveries,  and  of 
the  introduElion  into  the  United  States  of  fuch  as  have  been  made  in  other 
'Countries^  particularly  thofe  which  relate  to  machinery. 

This  is  among  the  mofl:  ufeful  and  unexceptionable  of  the  aids 
which  can  be  given  to  manufa6):ures.  The  ufual  means  of  that  en- 
fouiageme^t  are  pecuniary  rewards,  and,  for  a  time,  exclufive  privi- 
leges. The  prft  muft  be  employed  according  to  the  occafion,  and 
the  utility  of  the  invention  or  difcovery.  For  the  laft,  fo  far  as 
rcfpefts  "  authors  and  inventors,"  provifion  has  been  made  by  law. 
But  it  is  defireable,  in  regard  to  improvements  and  fecrets  of  ex- 
traordinary value  to  be  able  to  extend  the  fame  benefits  to  intro- 
ducers, as  well  as  authors  and  inventors  ;  a  policy  which  has  been 
praftifed  with  advantage  in  "other  countries.  Here,  however,  as 
m  fome  other  cafes,  there  is  caufe  to  regret,  that  the  competency 
«f  the  authority  of  the  National  Government  to  the  good  which 
"light  be  done,  is  not  Avithout  a  qucftion.  Many  aids  might,  be 
given  to  indufli  y ;  many  internal   im])rovcnKnts  of  primary  mag* 


34» 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION^ 


hitudc  might  be  promoftd,  bj'  an  authority  operating  throughout 
the  Union  which  cannot  be  cffeftcdty  an  authority  confined  \yith. 
in  the  limits  of  a  Tingle  {late. 

But  if  the  Legiflature  of  the  Union  cannot  do  all  the  good  that 
might  be  wifhed,  it  is  at  Icafl  defirable,  that  all  may  be  done 
which  is  pra£ticable. 

It  is  cuftomary  with  manufafturing  nations  to  prohibit,  under 
fevcrc  penalties,  the  exportation  of  implements  and  machines, 
which  they  have  either  invented  or  improved.  There  are  already 
pbje6l:s  for  a  (Imilar  regulation  in  the  United  States  ;  and  others 
may  be  expe£ked  to  occur  from  time  to  time.  The  adoption  of 
this  line  of  condufl:  leems  to  be  dtftated  by  a  principle  of  recipro- 
city.  Greater  liberality  in  fuch  refpefts  might  better  comport 
with  the  general  fpirit  of  the  country ;  but  a  fclfilh  and  exclufive 
policy  in  Europe  will  not  always  permit  the  free  indulgence  of  a 
ipirit,  which  would  place  America  upon  an  unequal  footing.  As 
far  as  prohibitions  tend  to  prevent  foreign  competitors  from  de- 
riving the  benefit  of  the  improvements  made  in  the  United  States, 
diey  tend  to  increafe  the  advantages  of  thofe  by  whom  they  may 
have  been  introduced,  and  operate  as  an  encouragement  to  ex- 
prtion, 

IX.  Jif-dicious  regulations  for  the  infpeElion  of  mamtfaSiured  covu 
pipditief. 

This  is  not  among  the  leaft  important  of  the  means  by  which  the 
profperity  of  manufa£lures  may  be  promoted.  It  is,  indeed,  in 
many  cafes,  one  of  the  moft  efl'cntial — -contributing  to  prevent 
frauds  upon  corjfujiiers  at  home,  and  exporters  to  foreign  coun- 
trics^to  improve  the  quality  and  preferve  the  clxarafter  of  the 
national  manufaflures ;  it  cannot  fail  to  aid  the  expeditious  and 
advantageous  fale  of  them,  and  to  ferve  as  a  guard  againll  fuccefs* 
ful  competition  from  other  quarters,  The  reputation  of  the  flour 
and  lumber  of  fome  {bates,  and  the  pot-aih  of  others,  ha?  been  efla- 
blifhed  by  an  attention  to  this  pointy  And  the  like  good  name 
might  be  procured  for  thofc  articles,  wherefoevcr  produced,  by  a 
judicious  and  uniform  fyftem  of  infpe£iion  throughout  the  ports 
of  the  United  States.  A  like  fyftem  might  alfo  bg  extende4  \yhh 
advantage  to  other  commodities. 

X.  The  facilitating  of  pecuniary  remittances  f ram  place  to  place-rr 
This  is  a  point  of  confiderable  moment  to  trade  in  general,  and 

to  manufa£lure  in  particular  ;  by  rendering  more  eai'y  the  pur- 
chafe  of  raw  materials  and  provifions,  and  the  payment  for 
manufa£lured  fupplics.  A  general  circulation  of  bank  paper, 
which  is  to  be  cxpeftcd  from  the  inftitution  lately  eflabliflied 
in  the  United  States,  will  be  a  moft  valuable  mean  to  this  end. 


Of  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


u% 


^aElurcd  com- 


XI.  Thf  facilitating  of  the  tran/portation  of  commodities. 
Improvcmrtits  favouring  tjiis  objcft  intimately  concern  all  thcf 
domcftic  intcrefts  of  a  community  :  but  they  may,  without  irn- 
oropriety,  be  licntioned  as  having  an  important  relation  to  manu- 
fafturcs.  There  is,  perhaps,  fcarcely  any  thing  which  has  been 
better  calculated  to  aflfift  the  manufaftures  of  Great  Britain  than 
the  amelioration  of  the  public  roads,  and  the  great  piogrefs  which 
has  been  of  late  made  in  opening  canals.  Of  the  former,  moft 
parts  of  the  United  States  (land  much  in  need ;  for  the  latter  they 
prefcnt  uncommon  facilities. 

The  fymptoms  of  attention  to  the  improvement  of  inland  navi- 
gation, which  have  lately  appeared  in  fome  of  the  United  States, 
mud  fill  with   pleafurc  every  breaft  warmed  with  a  true  zeal  for 
tlie  profperity  of  that  country.    Thcfc  examples,  it  is  to  be  hoped, 
will  ftimulate  the  exertions  of  the  government  and  citizens  of 
every  ftate.     There  can  certainly  be  no  objeft  more  worthy  of 
the  cares  of  the  local  adminiftrations ;  and  it  were  to  be  wilhed, 
that  there  was  no  doubt  of  the  power  of  the  national  government 
to  lend  its  direft  aid  on  a  comprehenfivc  plan. — This  is  one  of 
thofe  improvements  which  could  be  profecuted  with  more  efficacy 
by  the  whole,  than  by  any  part  or  parts  of  the  union.     There  are 
cafes  in  which  the  general  intereft  will  be  in  danger  of  being 
facrificed  to  the  coUifion  of  fome  fuppofed  local  intcrefts.    Jea- 
loufies,  in  matters  of  this  kind,  are  as  apt  to  cxift  as  they  are  apt 
to  be  erroneous. 

The  following  remarks  are  fufflciently  judicious  and  pertinent 
todeferve  a  literal  quotation:  "  Good  roads,  canals,  and  navigable 
rivers,  by  diminifhing  the  expence  of  carriage,  put  the  remote 
parts  of  a  country  more  nearly  upon  a  level  with  thofe  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  town.     They  are,  Upon  that  account,  the 
greateft  of  all  improvements ;  they  encourage  the  cultivation  of 
the  remote,  which  muft  always  be  the. moft  extenfive  circle  of 
the  country ;  .they  are  advantageous  to  the  town,  by  breaking 
down  the  monopoly  of  the  country  in  its  neighbourhood ;  they 
•  arc  advantageous  even  to  that  part  of  the  country.     Though  they 
introduce  fome  rival  commodities  into  the  old  market,  they  open 
many  new  markets  to  its  produce.     Monopoly,  befidcs,  is  a  great 
enemy  to  good  management,  which  can  never  be  univcrfally  efta- 
blilhed,  but  in  confequence  of  that  free  and  unlverfal  competition 
which  forces  every  body  to  have  recourfc  to  it  for  the  laku  of 
felf-defcnce.     It  is  not  more  than  fifty  years  ago  that  fome  of  the 
countries  in  the  neighbourhood  of  London  petitioned  the  parlia- 
ment againft  the   extenfion  of  turnpike   roads  into  the  remoter 
counties.      Thofe    remoter  counties,  they  pretended,   from  the 
cheapncfs  of  labour,  would  be  able   to  fell  their  grafs  and  corn  '' 


3i4 


OEN^HAL  DESCRiPflO'H 


::M!:.i 


V'-'. 


H,  "ll 


mm. 


cheaper  in  the  London  market  than  themrdves,  and  they  wbuU 
thereby  reduce  theJNr  rents,  and  ruin  their  cultivation.  Their 
rent«,  however,  have  arifen,  and  their  cultivatiion  has  Beisn  im- 
proved fince  that  time."  • 

Specimens  of  |  Spirit,  fimilar  to  that  which  governed  the  coun- 
ties here  fpokcn  of,  prefent  themfelves  too  frequently  to  the  eye 
of  an  impartial  obferver,  and  render  it  a  wifh  of  patriotifm  that 
the  body  in  America,  in  whofe  councils  a  local  or  partial  fpirit  is 
leaft  likely  to  predominate,  were  at  liberty  to  purfue  and  promote 
the  general  interefl  in  thofe  in  (lances  in  which  there  might  be 
danger  of  the  interference  6f  fuch  a  fpirit. 

The  foregoing  are  the  principal  of  the  means  by  ^hich  the 
growth  of  manufaftures  is  ordinarily  promoted.  It  is,  however 
not  merely  neceflary  that  the  meafures  of  government,  which 
have  a  direft  view  to  nianufaflurcs,  Ihould  be  calculated  to  aflifl: 
and  proteft  thcmj  but  that  tbofe  which  only  collatcirally  afFcflf 
them  in  the  general  courfe  of  the  adminiftration,  (hould  be  guard- 
ed from  any  peculiar  tendency  to  injure  them. 

There  are  certain  fpecies  of  taxes  which  are  apt  to  be  bjppreflive 
to  different  parts  of  the  community,  and,  among  other  ill  effcfts, 
have  a  very  unfriendly  afpeft  towards  manufadiures; 

Such  are  all  taxes  on  occupations — -which  proceed  a<:cording  to 
the  amount  of  capital  fuppofed  to  be  employed  in  a  buflnefs,  or  of 
profits  fuppofed  to  be  made  xh  it :  thefc  are  unavoidably  hurtfut 
to  induflry.  It  is  in  vain  that  the  evil  may  be  endeavoured  to  be 
mitigated  by  leaving  it,  in  the  firfl  inflance,  in  the  option  of  the 
party  to  be  taxed  to  declare  the  amount  of  his  capital  or  proJfitS; 

Men  engaged  in  any  trade  or  bufmefs  have  commonly  weighty 
reafons  to  avoid  difclofures  which  would  expofe,  with  any  thing 
like  accuracy,  the  real  flate  of  their  affairs^  They  mofl  frequent- 
ly find  it  better  to  rifque  opprefTion  than  to  avail  themfelves  of 
fo  inconvenient  a  refuge  :  and  the  confequenec  is,  that  they  often" 
fuffer  opprefTion. 

When  the  difclofure  too,  if  Ihad^  is  n6t  definitive.  But  con- 
troulable  by  the  difcretion,  or,  in  other  Words,  by  the  paffions 
and  prejudices  of  the  revenue  officers,  ft  iS  not  only  an  ineflFcftual 
prbteftion,  but  the  poflibility  of  its  being  fo  is  an  a^itional  rca- 
fon  for  not  reforthi^  to  it. 

Allowing  to  the  public  officers  the  moft  equitablte  difpofitions, 
yet  where  they  are  to  exercife  a  difcretion,  without  Certain  data, 
they  cannot  fail  to  be  often  mifled  by  appearances.  The  quantity 
of  bufinefs  which  feems  to  be  going  on,  is  in  a  VaflE  number  of 
cafes,  a  very  deceitful  criterion  of  the  profits  Which  are  made,  yef 
it  is  perhaps  the  befl  they  can  have,  and  it  is  the  cm.Q  oil  which 
they  will  moft  naturally  rely ;  a  bufinefs,  thefefore,  which  may 


Of  fliE  UNITED  >STATE^.  iij 

father  require  aid  from  the  government,  ihan  be  in  a  capacity 
to  be  contributory  to  it,  may  find  itfclF^ruOied  byr  the  miftakcA 
tonje£lures  of  the  affcflbrs  of  taxes. 

Arbitrary  taxes,  under  which  denomjAation  are  comprifed  all 
ihofe  that  leave  the  quantum  of  the  tax  t»  be»  raifed  on  each  per- 
fon  to  the  discretion  of  certain  officers,  are  as  contrary  to  the 
genius  of  liberty  as  to  'the  maxims  of  itiduflry;  In  this  light 
they  have  been  viewed  by  the  moft  judicious  obfervers  on  go- 
vernment, who  have  bellowed  upon  tliem  the  feverefl  epithets 
of  reprobation,  as  conftituting  one  of  the  word  features  ufually 
to  be  met  with  in  the  pra£lice  6f  defpotic  governments. 

It  is  certain  :leail,that  fuch  taxes  are  particuUrly  inimical  to 
the  fuccefs  of  n^anufa£fcui'ing  induilry,  and  ought  carefully,  to  be 
avoided  by  a  government  which  defires  to  promote  it. 

The  great  copioufnefs  of  this  fubjeft  has  infcnfibly  led  to  i 
longer  preliminary  dii'cuflion  than  was  originally  contemplated^ 
or  intended.  It  appeared  proper  to  inveftigate  principles,  to 
confider  the  objeftions  which  have  been  brought  forward  againft 
the  eftablifhment  of  manufa£lures  in  the  United  States^  and  to 
endeavour  to  edablifli  their  utility  on  general  principles,  which 
have,  long  expfcrience  for  their  bafis  :  It  now  remains  to  fpecify 
fome  of  the  obje£ls  which  appear  particularly  to  merit;^  and 
which  will  require  the  encouragement  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States  to  bring  them  to  perfefliont 

In  the  fele£lion  of  obje£ks,  feveral  circumdances  feem  entitled 
to  particulaf  attention  :  The  capacity  of  the  country  to  furnifb 
the  raw  material—the  degree  in  which  the  nature  of  the  manu- 
fa£lure  admits  of  a  lubditute  for  manual  labour  in  machinery-— 
the  facility  of  execution — ^thc  extenfivenefs  of  the  ul'es  to  which 
the  article  can  be  applied-^its  fubferviency  to  other  intereds, 
particularly  the  great  one  of  national  defence.  There  are,  how- 
ever, objefls  to  which  thefe  circumdances  are  little  applicable, 
which,  for  fome  fpepial  reafons,  may  have  a  claim  to  encourage-* 
ment.  ' 

A  defignation  of  the  principal  raw  material  of  which  each 
manufa£lure  is  compofed,  will  ferve  to  introduce  the  remark* 
upon  it.— As,  in  the  fird  place, 


IRON, 

The  manufafturers  of  this  article  are  entitled  to  pre-eminent 
rank-^None  arc  more  effential  in  their  kinds,  nor  fo  extenfive 
in  their  ufes.  They  conditute  in  whole  or  in  part  the  imple- 
ments or  the  materials,  or  both,  of  almod  every  ufeful  occupa- 
tion.    Their  indrumcrUality  is  every  where  confpicuous. 

Y  y 


u^ 


GENERAL  IbESCKiFTIOif, 


It  it  fortunate  for  the  United  Sutes  that  they  have  peculiar 
advantages  for  deriving  the  full  benefit  of  thi«  mod  valuable 
material,  and  they  have  every  motive  to  improve  it  with  fyf- 
tematic  care.  It  is  to  be  found  in  various  parts  of  the  United 
States,  in  great  abundance  and  of  almod  every  quality ;  and  fuel, 
the  chief  inftvument  in  manufafturing  it^  is  both  cheap  and  plen- 
ty.— This  particularly  applies  to  charcoal  \  but  there  are  pro- 
duftivfs  coal  mines  already  in  operation,  and  (Irong  indications 
that  the  material  i&  to  be  found  in  abundance  in  a  variety  of  other 
places. 

The  kinds  of  iron  manufa^ures,  in  which  the  greateft  progrefs 
has  been  made,  have  be*'  ^  nicntioned  in  another  place^  and  need 
not  be  repeated ;  but  the.c  \ti  little  doubt  that  every  other  kind, 
with  due  cultivation,  will  rapidly  fuccccd.  It  is  worthy  of 
remark,  that  fcveral  of  the  particular  trades,  of  which  iron  is  the 
bafis^  arc  capable  of  being  carried  on  without  the  aid  of  larg6 
capitals.    ' 

Iron  works  have  very  greatly  inctcafed  in  (he  United  States, 
and  are  prolecuted  with  much  more  advantage  than  formerly* 
The  average  price  before  the  revolution  Was  about  fixty-four 
dollars  per  ton,  at  prefent  it  is  about  eighty ;  a  rife  which  it 
chiefly  to  be  attributed  to  the  increafe  of  the  manufaftures  of 
the  materiah 

The  (lill  furtlfier  extenHon  and  multiplication  of  fuch  manu' 
fafturcs  will  have  the  double  eifeft  of  promoting  the  extra£iion 
of  the  metal  itfelf,  and  of  converting  it  to  a  greater  number  of 
profitable  purpofes. 

ThoTe  manufaftures,  too,  unite  in  a  greater  degree  than  almofl 
any  others,  the  feveral  requifites  which  have  been  mentioned,  as 
pioper  to  be  confulted  in  the  fele£lion  of  obje£ls.  > 
.  The  only  further  encouragement  of  manufa&ories  of  this 
article,  the  propriety  of  which  may  be  confidered  as  unqueflion- 
able,  feems  to  be  an  increafe  of  the  duties  on  foreign  rival  com- 
modities 

Steel  is  a  branch  which  hast  already  made  a  confiderable  pro- 
grefs in  the  United  States,  and  fome  new  enterprifes,  on  a  more 
exienfive  fcalc,  have  been  lately  fet  on  foot.  The  facility  of 
carrying  it  to  an  extent,  which  will  fupply  all  internal  demands, 
and  furnilh  a  confiderable  furplus  iof  exportation,  cannot  be 
doubted.  The  duty  upon  the  importation  of  this  article  into  the 
United  3tatcs,  which  i;^  at  prelent  feventy-five  cents,  per  cwt 
jmay,  it  is  conceived,  be  fafely  and  advantageoufly  extended  to 
>oo  cents.  It  is  defirable,  by  dcc^ilvc  arrangements,  to  fecond 
f'l»e  tffTon;^  which  are  mah'ing  in  fo  very  \[aluable  a  branch. 


OT  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Uf 


The  United  States  already  in  a  great  meafure  fupply  them- 
fblves  with  nails  and  fpikes  ;  they  are  able,  ind  ought  certainly 
to  do  it  entirely.  The  iirll  and  moft  laborious  operation  in  this 
inanufa£lure  is  performed  by  water-mills;  and  of  the  perfont 
afterwards  employed  a  great  proportion  are  boys,  whole  early 
habits  of  induftry  are  of  importance  to  the  community,  to  the 
preilent  fupport  of  their  families,  and  to  their  own  future  com- 
fort. It  is  not  iela  curious  that)  true,  th;\t  in  certain  parts  of 
the  United  States,  the  making  of  nails  is  an  occafional  family 
manufafture. 

The  expediency  of  an  additional  duty  on  the  importation  of 
<thefe  articles  is  indicsttrd  by  an  important  hH.  About  one  mil- 
lion eight  hundred  thoufand  pounds  of  them  were  imported  in- 
to the  United  States  in  the  courfe  of  one  year,  ending  the  30th 
of  September,  1  ^90.  A  duty  of  two  cents,  per  pound  would, 
it  is  prefumeable,  fpeedily  put  an  Vnd  to  fo  cpnliderable  an  im« 
portation.  And  it  is  in  every  view  advantageous  to  the  States 
that  an  end  fhould  be  put  to  it. 

The  implements  of  hufbandry  are  made  in  feveral  Hates  in 
great  abundance.  In  many  places  it  is  done  by  the  common  black- 
i.mith?..  And  there  is  no  doubt  that  an  ample  fupply  for  the 
>r^ole  country  .caQ  wifh  ^cat  ea,fe  be  procured  apiong  them- 
felves. 

Various  )cinds  of  edged  took  for  the  ufe  of  mechanics  are  ^Ifo 
naade,  and  a  conflderable  quantity  of  HqHow  wares  ;  though  the 
bufinefs  of  cafting  has  not  yet  attained  the  perfe£lion  which 
Tnight  be  wiihed.  It  is  however  improving,  and  as  there  are 
rel'pe^ble  capitals  in  good  l;tands,  embarked  ip  the  profecuitpn  of 
thofe  branches  of  iron  .mai^ufaj^oric^,  which  are  yet  in  their  in- 
fancy, they  may  aU  be  contemplated  as  objeQs  not  difHcult  to  be 
acquired. 

To  ijnfure  the  en.d)  it  feems  equally  fafe  and  prudent  for  the 
governo^ent  of  the  An^^rijcan  States  to  extend  the  duty,  ad  valo^ 
rtntf  upon  all  imported  manufactures  of  iron,  or  of  which  iron  is 
the  article  of  chief  value,  to  ten  per  cent^ 

Fire  arms  and  other  military  weapons  may,  it  ic  conceived,  be 
placed,  without  inconvenience,  in  the  clafs  of  articles  rated  at 
^fteen  per  cent.  There  exift  already  in  the  American  States 
manufa£lories  of  thcfe  articles  which  only  require, the  flimur 
lus  of  a  certain  demand  to  render  them  adequate  to  the  fupply 
necefiary. 

It  would  alfo  be  a  material  aid  to  manufa£lories  of  this  nature, 
as  well  as  a  mean  of  public  fecurity,  if  provifion  was  made  for  an 
WtnmX  purchafe  of  military  weapons,  of  their  own  manufafiiure, 

Y  y  a 


u^ 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


!,:f': 


to  a  certain  determinate  extent,  in  order  to  the  fonnation  of  arr 
fenals ;  and  to  replace  from  time  to  time'fuch  as  (hould  be  with* 
drawn  for  ufe,  fo  as  always  to  have  in  Aore  the  quantity  of  each 
kind,  which  (hould  be  deemed  a  competent  fupply. 

Imported  manuf<i£lures  of  fteel  generally,  «)r  pf  which  fteel  i$ 
the  article  of  chief  value,  may  with  advantage,  be  placed  in  the 
clafs  of  goods  rated  at  feven  and  »n  half  per  cent.  As  manu- 
fa£lurr&  of  this  kind  have  not  yet  made  any  confiderable  progrefs 
in  the  United  Slates,  it  )S  a  realon  for  not  rating  them  as  high  a^ 
thofe  of  iron ;  but  as  this  material  is  the  bafts  of  them,  and  as 
their  extenfion  is  not  lefs  pra£licable  than  important,  it  is  dcftr- 
able  to  promote  it  by  a  fomewhat  higher  duty  than  the  prefent. 


c  o  p  p  E  ti. 

The  manufaiQ^ures  of  which  this  article  i^  fufceptiblc  are  alfo 
of  great  extent  and  utility.  Under  this  defcription,  thole  of 
brafs,  of  which  it  i^  the  principal  ingredient,  are  intended  t«>  be 
included. 

The  material  is  a  natural  produdion  of  the  country..  In  many 
parts  of  the  United  States,  mines  of  copper  have  aClually  been 
wrought,  and  with  profit  to  the  undertakers.  And  nothing  1^ 
eafier  than  the  iptrodutlion  of  it  from  other  countries,  on  mo- 
derate terms,  and  in  great  plenty. 

Copper-fmiths  apd  brafs-founders,  particularly  the  lormer  are 
numerous  in  the  United  States ;  fome  of  \yrhom  carry  on  bufinefs 
to  a  refpedable  extent. 

To  multiply  and  extend  manufaiEtories  of  the  materials  in  quefr 
^ion,  is  worthy  of  the  attention  and  efforts  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment. In  order  to  this,  it  is  defirable  for  them  to  facilitate  a 
plentiful  fupply  of  the  materials  ;  and  a  proper  mean  to  this  end 
is  to  place  them  in  the  clafs  of  free  articles.  Copper  in  plates 
and  brafs  are  already  in  this  predicament ;  but  copper  in  pigs 
and  bars  is  not ;  neither  is  lapis  calaminaris,  whi^h,  together  with 
copper  and  charcoal,  conflitute  the  component  ingredients  of 
brafs.  The  exemption  from  duty,  by  parity  of  reafon,  ought  to 
embrace  all  fuch  of  thefe  articles  as  are  obje£ls  of  importation. 

An  additional  duty  on  brafs  wares  will  tend  to  the  general 
end  in  view.  Thefe  now  ftand  at  five  per  cent,  while  thofe  of 
tin,  pewter,  and  copper,  are  rated  at  Icven  and  an  half.  There 
appears  to  be  a  propriety  in  every  view  in  placing  brafs  wares 
upon  the  fame  level  with  them  ;  and  it  merits  their  confideration 
whether  the  duty  upon  all  of  them  ought  not  to  be  raifed  to  ten 
per  cent,  *  /  " 


ii!i 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


849 


LEAD. 

There  are  numerous  proofs,  that  this  material  uboutids  in  the 
jUnited  States,  and  requires  little  to  unfold  it  to  an  extent,  more 
{ban  equal  to  every  Jomeilic  occafton.  A  prolific  mine  of  it  has 
long  been  open  in  the  louth-wcftern  parts  of  Virginia,  and  under 
a  public  adminidration,  during  the  lute  war,  yielded  a  confider. 
able  fupply  for  military  ufe.  This  is  now  in  the  hands  of  indi- 
viduals, who  not  only  carry  it  on  with  I'plrit,  but  have  eliabliih- 
ed  manufactories  of  jt  at  Richmond  in  the  lame  ilate. 

The  duties  already  laid  \ipon  the  importation  of  this  article, 
either  in  its  unnianufa^lurcd  or  manufa£lurcd  (late,  infure  it  a  de- 
cifive  advantage  iii  the  home  market — which  amounts  to  confi- 
derable  encouragement.  If  the  duty  on  pewter  wares  fliould  be 
nifcd,  it  would  afFord  a  further  encouragement.  Nothing  ellis 
occurs  as  proper  to  be  added. 

POSSILCOAL. 

This,  as  an  important  indrumcnt  of  manufa£lurcs,  may,  without 
impropriety,  be  mentioned  among<  the  fubje£is  of  the  prelisnt  re- 
marks. 

A  copious  fupply  of  it  would  be  of  great  confcquence  to  the 
^ron  branch :  As  an  article  of  houfehold  fuel  alio  it  is  an  intereft- 
ing  production ;  the  utility  of  which  mud  increafe  in  proportion 
lothe  decreafe  of  wood,  by  the  progrefs  of  fettlement  and  culti- 
vation. And  its  importance  to  navigation,  as  a>>  immenfe  ar- 
ticle of  txanfportation  coaft-wife,  it  fignally  exemplified  in  Great 
Britain. 

It  is  known,  that  there  are  feveral  coal  mines  in  Virginia,  now 
worked,  and  appearances  of  their  exiflence  are  familiar  in  a  num- 
ber of  places. 

The  expediency  of  a  bounty  on  all  this  fpecies  of  coal  of  home 
production,  and  of  premiums,  on  the  opening  of  new  mines,  un- 
der certain  qualifications,  appean'  to  be  worthy  of  the  particular 
attention  of  the  American  government.  The  great  importance  of 
the  article  will  amply  juftify  a  r6albnable  expence  in  this  way, 
if  it  Ihall  appear  to  be  necelfary  to,  and  fhall  be  thought  likely  to 
aniwer  the  end. 


WOOD. 

Several  manufactures  of  this  article  flourifh  in  the  United 
States.  Ships  are  jjow  here  built  in  greater  perfection,  and  cabi- 
net wares,  generally,  are  made  little,  if  at  all  inferior  to  thoie  of 
Europe.  Their  extent  is  fuch  as  to  have  admitted  of  confider- 
able  exportation. 

An  exemption  from  duty  of  the  feveral  kinds  of  wood  ordi- 


«5« 


GErn''  *L  nESCRIPTlOH 


narily  ufcd  in  thefe  mat  '  ('):i.;<:s  icems  to  be  ill  that  is  rfquifue 
by  wiy  of  encouragement.  It  is  recommended >y  the  confider. 
ttion  of  a  Itmilar  policy  being  purfued  in  other  countries,  and 
by  the  expediency  of  giving  equal  advantages  to  their  own  work* 
men  in  wood.  The  abundance  of  timber  proper  for  (hip-build* 
ing  in  the  United  States  does  not  appear  to  be  any  objeftion  to 
it.  The  increafing  fcarcity  and  the  growing  importance  of  that 
article,  in  the  European  countries,  admonifh  the  United  States  t0 
commence,  and  fyftematically  to  purfue  meafiires  for  the  prefrrva. 
tioh  of  their  (lock.  Whatever  may  promote  the  regular  edablifh* 
ment  of  magazines  of  (hip-timber  is  in  various  views  deftreable, 

SKINS.  s 

There  are  fcarcely  any  manufsAories  of  greater  importance  to 
the  United  States  than  of  this  article.  Their  dirc£l  and  very  hap. 
py  influence  upon  agriculture,  by  promoting  the  raiftng  of  cattle 
of  different  kinds,  is  a  very  material  recommendation. 

It  is  pleating,  too,  to  obferve  the  extenfive  progrefs  they  have 
made  in  their  principal  branches ;  which  are  fo  far  matured  as  al- 
moft  to  defy  foreign  competition.  Tanneries  in  particular  are  not 
only  carried  on  as  a  regular  bufinefs  in  numerous  inftances,  and 
in  various  parts  of  the  country,  but  they  conftitute  in  fome  placet 
a  valuable  item  of  incideiMal  family  maiiufaAures. 

Reprefentations  however  have  been  made  to  the  government, 
importing  the  expediency  of  further  encouragement  to  the  leather 
branch  in  two  ways;  one  by  increafing  the  duty  on  the  manufac- 
tures of  it,  which  are  imported;  the  other  by  prohibiting  the  ex- 
portation of  bark.  In  fupport  of  the  latter,  it  is  alledged,  that 
the  price  of  bark,  chiefly  in  confequence  of  large  exportations, 
has  ril'en  within  a  few  years  from  about  three  dollars  to  four 
dollars  and  a  half  per  cord.  The  exportation  of  this  article  will 
however  be  checked  by  |he  improvements  pnade  in  this  article 
of  manufafture  in  Europe,  and  by  the  extenfion  of  them  to  the 
States. 

Thefe  improvements  are,— -1  ft,  A  more  judicious  ufc  of  the 
bark  itfelf,  by  extra£ling  more  of  its  qualities  by  boiling  it  after 
it  has  been  taken  out  of  the  pits  in  the  hitherto  common  method 
of  ufing  it.     This  method,  if  attended  to  properly,  will  render 

two  thirds  of  the   quantity  heretofore   ul'ed   unneceffary. 

2dly,  The  fuperccding  the  ulic  of  bark  in  tanriing  altogether  by 
the  introdu£lion  of  articles  of  lefs  expence  in  its  (lead,  for  which 
a  patent  has  been  obtained  by  an  inhabitant  of  England. 

It  is  however,  perhaps  an  additional  reafon  for  the  prohibition, 
that  one  fpecies  of  the  bark  ufually  exported  frpm  the  United 
States  Ls  in  fome  fort  peculiar  to  the  pountry,  and  the  material  of 


Of  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


96  > 


I  very  valuable  liye,  of  great  ufe  in  fome  other  manuikAurei,  in 
which  the  United  State*  have  begun  a  competition. 

There  may  alfo  be  thia  argument  in  favour  of  an  increafe  of 
duty.  The  objcfl  is  of  importance  enough  to  claim  decifive  en- 
couragement, and  the  progrefa  which  has  been  made,  leaves  no 
room  to  apprehend  any  inconvenience  on  the  fcore  of  fupply  from 
luch  an  increafe. 

It  would  be  of  benefit  to  this  branch,  if  glue,  which  is  now 
rated  at  five  per  cent,  were  ntade  the  obje£l  of  an  excluding  duty. 
It  is  already  made  in  large  quantities  at  various  tanneries ;  and, 
like  paper,  is  an  entire  economy  of  materials,  which,  if  not  ma> 
nufa^ured,  would  be  left  to  periih.  It  may  be  placed  with  ad- 
vantage in  the  clafs  of  articles  paying  fifteen  per  cent,  on  impor- 
ution. 


GRAIN. 

Manufa£hires  of  the  fcveral  fpecics  of  this  article  have  a  title 
to  peculiar  favour,  not  only  becaufe  they  arc  mod  of  them  imme- 
diately connefted  with  the  fubfiftence  of  the  citizens,  but  be- 
caufe they  enlarge  the  demand  for  the  mod  precious  produfls  of 
the  foil. 

Thaugh  flour  may  with  propriety  be  noticed  as  a  manufaClure 
of  grain,  it  were  ufelelis  to  do  it  but  for  the  purpofe  of  fubmit- 
tiag  the  expendency  of  a  general  fyftcm  of  ififpcflion  throughout 
the  ports  of  the  United  States,  which,  if  eflablifhed  upon  proper 
principles,  would  be  likely  to  improve  the  quality  of  their  flour 
every  where,  and  would  rife  its  reputation  in  foreign  markets. 
There  are,  however,  confiderations,  which  {land  in  the  way  of 
fuch  an  arrangement. 

Ardent  fpirits  and  malt  liquors,  are  next  to  flour,  the  two  prin- 
cipal manufaflures  of  grain :  the  firfl  has  made  a  very  extenfive, 
the  lad  a  confiderable  progrefs  in  the  United  States:  in  rcfpefl  to. 
both,  an  exclufive  polTeffion  of  the  home  market  ought  to  be 
fecured  to  the  domedic  manufa6lures  as  fad  as  circumdances 
will  admit.  Nothing  is  more  practicable,  and  nothing  more  de- 
firable. 

An  augmentation  of  the  duties  on  fpirits  imported  into  the 
States  would  favour  as  well  the  didillation  of  fpirits  from  molailcs 
at  that  from  grain ;  and  tq  iccuie  to  a  nation  the  benefit  of  a  ma- 
nufacture, even  of  foreign  materials,  is  always  of  great,  though, 
perhaps,  of  fecondary  importance. 

It  would  therefore  be  advantageous  to  the  States  that  an  addi- 
tion of  two  cents  per  gallon  be  made  to  the  duty  on  imported 
fpirits  of  the  fird  clafs  of  proof,  with  a  proportionable  increafe 


35  « 


(GENERAL  tiESCkiPTiOI^ 


1 


:«i:j' 


•iiM 


'I  ■  ■ '  ■ 


m 


I'll! 


on  thofc'  6f  higher  proof;  and  that  a  rcduftion  of  one  per  ttnij 
per  gallon  be  made  fi'om  the  duty  on  fpirids  difttlled  within  thti 
United  States,  beginning,  with  the  firft  clafs  of  proof,  and  a  pro- 
portionable dedu&ion  from  the  duty  en  thoi'e  of  higher  proof. 

It  is  afcertained,  that  by  far  the  greated  part  of  the  malt  li- 
quors confumed  in  the  United  States  are  the  produce  of  their  do- 
mcAic  breweries.  It  is  deftrable,  and  in  all  liklihood  attainable, 
that  the  whoU  confumption  fhould  be  fupplied  by  themfelves. 

The  malt  liquors  made  in  the  States,  though  inferior  to  the 
bed,  are  equal  to  a  great  part  of  thofe  which  have  been  ulually 
imported ;  the  progrefs  already  made  is  an  earneil  of  what  may 
be  accompliflied ;  the  growing  competition  is  an  aflurahce  of  im- 
provement ;  this  {houkl  be  accelerated  by  meafures  tending  to  in- 
vite a  greater  capital  into  this  channel  of  employment. 

To-render  the  encouragement  of  domeflic  breweries'  decifive,' 
it  may  b«  advifeable  for  the  government  to  fubftitute  to  the  pre- 
fent  rates  of  duty  eight  cents  per  gallon  generally ;  and  it  will 
deferve  to  be  confidered  by  them  as  a  guard  againft  invafions, 
whether  there  ought  not  to  be  a  prohibition  of  their  importation, 
except  in  ca>rks  of  conHderable  capacity.  Such  a  duty  would 
banilh  from  their  markets  foreign  malt  liquors  of  inferior  quality^ 
and  the  beft  kind  only  would  continue  to  be  imported  until  fup- 
planted  by  the  efforts  of  equal  fkill  or  care  in  the  States* 

Till  that  period,  the  importation  fo  qualified  would  be  an  ufe- 
ful  ftimulus  to  improvement ;  and  in  the  mean  time^  the  payment 
of  the  increafed  price,  for  the  enjoyment  of  a  luxury,  in  order 
to  the  encouragement  of  a  mod  ufeful  branch  of  domeftic  in- 
duflry,  could  not  reafonably  be  deemed  a  hardlhip. 

As  a  further  aid  to  the  manufaftures  of  grain,  though  upon  a 
fmaller  Icale,  the  articles  of  flarch,  hair  powder,  and  wafers,  may 
with  great  propriety  be  placed  among  thofe  which  are  rated  at 
fifteen  per  cent.  No  manufa£lures  are  more  fimple,  nor  more 
completely  within  the  reach  of  a  full  fupply  from  their  domeftic 
fources ;  and  it  is  a  policy,  as  coAimon  as  it  is  obvious,  to  make 
the  importation  of  them  the  objefts  either  of  prohibitory  duties, 
or  of  exprefs  prohibition. 

FLAXANDHEMP. 

Manufaftures  of  thefe  articles  have  fo  much  affinity  to  each 
other,  and  they  are  fo  often  blended,  that  they  may  with  advan- 
tage be  confidered  in  conjunftion.  The  importance  of  the  linci. 
branch  to  agriculture — its  happy  efFefcls  upon  houfehold  induftiy 
— the  eafe  with  which  its  materials  can  be  produced  in  the  United 
States  to  any  requifitc  extent — the  great  advances  which  have 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


353 


been  already  made  in  the  coarfer  fabrics  of  them,  efpecially  in  the 
family  way,  conliitute  claims  of  peculiar  force  to  the  patronage 
of  the  American  government. 

This  patronage  maybe  aflForded  in  various  ways;  by  promoting 
the  growth  of  the  materials ;  by  increafing  the  impediments  to  an 
advantageous  competition  of  rival  foreign  articles;  by  dire6lboun^ 
ties  or  premiums  upon  the  home  manufacture. 

Firft,  As  promoting  the  growth  of  the  materials, 

A  ftrong  wiih  naturally  fuggefts  itfelf  to  the  friends  of  Ame. 
rica,  that  fome  method  could  be  devifed  of  affording  a  more  dirc£fc 
encouragement  to  the  growth  both  of  flax  and  hemp,  fuch  as 
would  be  effe&ual,  and  at  the  fame  time  not  attended  with  too 
great  inconveniencies.  To  this  end,  bounties  and  premiums  offer 
themfelves  to  conftderation  ;  but  no  modification  of  them  has  yet 
occurred,  which  would  not  either  hazard  too  much  expcncc,  or 
operate  unequally  in  reference  to  the  circumfUnces  of  different 
parts  of  the  Union,  and  which  would  not  be  attended  with  very 
great  difficulties  in  the  execution. 

Secondly.  As  to  increafing  the  impediments  to  an  advantageous 
fompetition  of  rivtd foreign  articles. 

To  this  purpofe,  an  augmentation  of  the  duties  on  importation  is 
the  obvious  expedient ;  which,  in  regard  to  certain  articles,  ap- 
pears to  be  recommended  by  fufHcient  reafons. 

The  principal  of  thefe  articles  is  fail-cloth,  one  intimately  con- 
nefted  with  navigation  and  defence ;  and  of  which  a  flourifhing 
manufa£lory  is  eftablifhed  at  Boflon,  and  very  promifing  ones  at 
feveral  other  places. 

It  is  prefumcd  to  be  both  fafe  and  advifeable  for  the  American 
government  to  place  this  in  the  clafs  of  articles  rated  at  ten  per 
cent.  A  ftrong  reafon  for  it  refults  from  the  confideration,  that  a 
bounty  of  two  pence  fterling  per  ell,  is  allowed  in  Great  Britain 
upon  the  exportation  of  the  fail-cloth  manufactured  in  that 
kingdom. 

It  would  likewife  appear  to  be  good  policy  for  the  States  to 
raife  the  duty  to  feven  and  an  half  per  cent,  on  the  following  ar- 
ticles :  drillings,  ofnaburghs,  ticklenburghs,  dowlas,  canvas,  brown 
rolls,  bagging,  and  upon  all  other  linens,  the  firft  coft  of  which,  at 
the  place  of  exportation,  does  not  exceed  thirty-five  cents,  per 
yard.  A  bounty  of  twelve  and  a  half  per  cent,  upon  an  average, 
on  the  exportation  of  fuch  or  fimilar  linens  from  Great  Britain, 
encourages  the  manufa£lure  of  them,  and  increafes  the  ubftadcs  to 
a  fuccelsful  competition  in  the  countries  to  which  they  are  fent. 

The  quantities  of  tow  and  other  houfehold  linens  manu- 
faftured  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States,,  and  the  expcc- 

Vol.  I.  Z  z 


m 


$H- 


\ 


GENkRAt  nESCkiPtlON 


tations  which  are  derived  from  fome  late  experiments,  of  bein^ 
able  to  extend  the  ufe  of  labour-faving  machines  in  the  coarfer' 
fabrics  of  linen,  obviate  the  danger  of  inconvenience  from  art 
incrcafe  of  the  duty  upon  fuch  alrticles,  and  authorife  the  ex- 
pe£lation  of  a  fpecdy  and  complete  fuccefs  to  the  endeavours) 
which  may  be  nfed  for  procuring  an  internal  fupply^ 

Th'rJly.  As  to  dire6i  bounties,  or  premium*  upon  the  manvfaHured 
articles. 

To  afford  more  effc£lual  encouragement  to  the  inanufaftur e, 
and  at  the  fame  time  to  promote  the  cheapnefs  of  the  article  for  the 
benefit  of  navigation,  it  would  be  of  great  ufe  for  the  American 
government  to  allow  a  bounty  of  two  cents  per  yard  on  all  fail- 
cloth  which  is  made  in  the  United  States  from  materials  of  their 
own  growth ;  this  would  alio  aififl  the  culture  of  thofe  materials. 
An  encouragement  of  this  kind,  if  adopted,  ought  to  be  eftablifh- 
ed  for  a  moderate  term  of  years,  to  invite  to  new  undertakings 
and  to  an  extenfion  of  the  old.  This  is  an  article  of  importance 
enough  to  warrant  the  employment  of  extraordinary  means  in  its 
favour^ 


COTTON. 


There  is  fomething  in  the  texture  of  this  material,  which 
adapits  it  in  a  peculiar  degree  to  the  application  of  machines^ 
The  fignal  utility  of  the  mill  for  fpinning  of  cotton,  not  long 
fince  invented  in  i!ngland,  has  been  noticed  in  another  place ; 
but  there  are  other  machines  fcarcely  inferior  in  utility,  which, 
in  the  different  mahufafclories  of  this  article,  are  employed  either 
cxclufivcly,  or  with  more  than  ordinary  effe£k.  This  very  im- 
portant circumflance  recommends  the  fabrics  of  cotton,  in  a  more 
particular  manner,  to  a  country  in  which  a  dcfcft  of  hands  conili-* 
tutes  the  greateft  obftacles  to  fuccefsj         ' 

The  variety  and  extent  of  the  ufes  to  which  the  manufaflures 
of  this  article  are  applicable,  is  another  powerful  argument  in  their 
favour. 

And  the  faculty  of  the  United  States  to  produce  the  raw  mate- 
rial in  abundance,  and  of  a  quality  which,  though  alledgcd  to  be 
inferior  to  fome  that  is  produced  in  other  quarters,  is  nevcrthelcfs 
capable  of  being  ufcd  with  advantage  in  many  fabrics,  and  is  pro- 
bably fufccptible  of  being  carried,  by  a  more  experienced  culture, 
to  much  greater  perfection,  fuggefts  an  additional  and  a  very  co- 
gent inducement  to  the  vigorous  purluit  of  the  cotton  brunch  in 
lis  levcral  lubdivifions. 

How  much  has  been  already  done  has  been  dated  in  a  preceding 
part  of  thefc  remarks. 


milli 
trair 

COtt( 

Tl 


OF  THE  UNI^TED  STATES. 


355 


In  addition  it  may  be  announced,  that  a  fociety  is  formed  with 
»  capital,  which  is  expcfted  to  be  extended  to  at  leafc  half  a 
million  of  dollars;  on  behalf  of  which  meafures  are  already  in 
train  for  prolecuting  on  a  large  fcale  the  making  and  printing  of 
cotton  goods. 

Thelie  circumftances  confpirc  to  indicate  the  expediency  of  the 
government  removing  any  obftruftions  which  may  happen  to  ejiift 
to  the  advantageous  profecution  of  the  maniifaftories  in  queftion, 
and  of  adding  fuch  encouragements  as  may  appear  ncccflary  and 
proper. 

.Cotton  not  teing,  like  hemp,  an  univerfal  produftion  of  the 
country,  it  affords  lei's  alturance  of  an  adequate  internal  fupply  ; 
but  the  chief  obje£iion  arifes  from  the  doubts  which  are  entertain- 
ed concerning  the  quality  of  the  national  cotton.  It  is  alledged 
that  the  fibre  of  it  is  copfiderably  fhortcr  and  weaker  th.in  tha.t 
of  fomc  other  places;  and  it  has  been  obl'crved  as  a  general  rule, 
that  the  nearer  the  place  of  growth  to  the  equator,  the  better 
the  quality  of  the  cotton ;  that  which  ct.mcs  fiom  Cayenne,  Su- 
rinam, and  Demarara,  is  faid  to  be  preferable,  eyen  at  n)atcrial 
diflFerence  of  price,  to  the  cotton  of  the  iflands. 

While  an  expefiation  may  reafonably  be  indulged,  that  with  due 
care  and  attention  the  cotton  in  the  United  States  may  be  made 
to  approach  nearer  than  it  now  does  to  that  of  regions  lomcwhat 
more  favoured  by  climate  ;  and  while  fafts  authorile  an  opinion, 
that  very  great  ufe  may"  be  made  of  it,  and  that  it  is  a  rcloiirce 
which  gives  greater  fecurity  to  the  cotton  fabrus  of  America  than 
can  be  enjoyed  by  anv  whi  :i'  depends  wholly  on  external  lupply 
it  will  certainly  be  wife,  in  %'Ery  view,  to  let  their  infant  manu- 
fafturers  have  the  full  bt  i.cnt  of  the  beft  materials  on  the  cheapeft 
terms.  It  is  obvious,  that  the  nc  •^iTity  of  having  lueh  materials 
is  proportioned  to  tic  mlicilfulnefs  and  inexperience  of  the  work- 
men employed,  wl.o,  if  inexpert,  will  net  fail  to  commit  great 
wafle,  where  the  materials  they  arc  to  work  with  are  of  an  in- 
different kind. 

To  lecurc  to  the  national  manufafturers  fo  cfTential  an  advan- 
tage, a  repeal  of  the  prefent  duty  on  imported  cotton  is  indif- 
pcniable. 

A  fubftitute  for  this,  far  more  encouraging  ifo  domcftic  produc- 
tion, will  be  to  grant  a  bounty  on  th;'.  vintton  grown  in  the  United 
States,  when  wrought  at  a  home  manufaftory,  to  which  a  bounty 
pn  the  exportation  of  it  may  be  added.  Either,  or  both,  would 
4o  much  more  towards  promoting  the  growth  of  the  article  than 
the  merely  nominal  encouragement  which  it  is  propoled  toabolifh 
The  firft  would  alio  have  a  dirc6l  influence  in  encouraging  th^. 
manufafturc. 


!*  P" ;  fi 


35S 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


MM 


The  bounty,  which  has  been  mentioned  as  exifting  in  Great 
Britain,  upon  the  exportation  of  coarfe  linens  not  exceeding  a 
certain  value  applies  alfo  to  certain  defcriptions  of  cotton  goods  of 
fimilar  value. 

This  furnifhes  an  additional  argument  for  allowing  to  the  ma- 
nufafturers  the  fpecies  of  encouragement  jufl  fuggefted,  and  in- 
deed  for  adding  fome  other  aid. 

One  cent  per  yard,  not  lefs  than  of  a  given  width,  on  all  goods 
of  cotton,  or  of  cotton  and  linen  mixed,  which  are  manufa£tured 
in  the  United  States,  with  the  addition  of  one  cent  per  lb. 
weight  of  the  material,  if  made  of  national  cotton,  would  amount 
to  an  aid  of  conAderable  importance,  both  to  the  produflion  and 
to  the  manufafture  of  that  valuable  article.  And  the  expence 
would  be  well  juilified  by  the  magnitude  of  the  obje£l. 

The  printing  and  ftaining  of  cotton  goods  is  known  to  be  a  dif- 
tinfl  bufinefs  from  the  fabrication  of  them.  It  is  one  edlly  ac- 
complifhed,  and  which,  as  it  adds  materially  to  the  value  of  the 
article  in  its  white  ftate,  and  prepares  it  for  a  variety  of  new 
ufes,  is  of  importance  to  be  promoted. 

As  imported  cottons,  equally  with  thofe  which  are  made  at 
home,  may  be  the  obje£b  of  this  manufa&ure,  it  is  worthy  of 
confideration,  whether  it  would  not  be  for  the  advantage  of  the 
States  that  the  whole,  or  part  of  the  duty,  on  the  white  goods, 
ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  be  drawn  back  in  favour  of  thofe  who 
print  or  flain  them.  This  meafure  would  certainly  operate  as  a 
powerful  encouragement  to  the  bufinefs,  and  though  it  may  in  a 
degree  counteraft  the  original  fabrication  of  the  articles,  it  would 
probably  more  than  compenfate  for  this  diladvantage  in  the  rapid 
growth  of  a  collateral  branch,  which  is  of  a  nature  fooner  to  artain 
to  maturity.  When  a  fufficient  progrefs  (hall  have  been  made 
the  drawback  may  be  abrogated,  and  by  that  time  the  domeflic 
fuppiy  of  the  articles  to  be  printed  or  ftained  will  have  been  ex- 
tended. 

If  the  duty  of  7^  per  cent,  on  certain  kinds  of  cotton  goods 
were  extended  to  all  goods  of  cotton,  or  of  which  it  is  the  prin- 
cipal material,  it  would  probably  more  than  counterbalance  the 
effeft  of  the  drawback  propofed,  in  relation  to  the  fabrication  of 
the  article ;  and  no  material  objeftiou  occurs  to  fuch  an  .extenfion. 
The  duty  then,  confidering  all  the  circumftances  which  attend 
goods  of  this  defcription,  could  not  be  deemed  inconveniently 
high  ;  and  it  may  be  inferred,  from  various  caufes,  that  the  prices 
of  them  would  flill  continue  moderate. 

Manufaftories  of  cotton  goods,  not  long  fince  cftablinied  at  Be- 
verly, in  Maflacufetts  and  at  Providence,  in  the  ftate  of  Rhode 
Ifland,  and  at  New-York,  and  condufted  with  a  perfeverance  cor- 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


$61 


rcfpondlng  with  the  patriotic  motives  which  begun  them,  feem  to 
have  overcome  the  firft  obftacle*  to  fuccefs,  producing  cordu- 
roys, velvfrrets,  fuftians,  jeans,  and  other  fimilar  articles,  of  a 
quality  which  will  bear  a  comparifon  with  the  like  articles  from 
Manchefter.  The  one  at  Providence  has  the  merit  of  being  the  firft 
in  introducing  into  the  United  States  the  celebrated  cotton  mill, 
which  not  only  furnifhes  the  materials  for  that  manufa£lory  itfelf, 
but  for  the  fupply  of  private  families  for  houfehold  manufafiiure. 

Other  manufaftories  of  the  fame  material,  as  regular  bufineflirs, 
have  alfo  been  begun  at  different  places  in  the  State  of  Conne3:i- 
cut,  but  all  upon  a  fmaller  fcale  than  thofe  above  mentioned. 
Some  eflays  are  alfo  making  in  the  printing  and  ftaining  of  cotton 
goods.  I'hcre  agrc  I'everal  fmall  cftabli(hments  of  this  kind  alrea- 
dy on  foot. 

w  o  o  t. 

In  a  country,  the  climate  of  which  partakes  of  fo  coniiderable 
a  proportion  of  winter,  as  that  of  a  great  part  of  the  United  States, 
the  woollen  branch  cannot  be  regarded  as  inferior  to  any  which 
relates  to  the  cloathing  of  the  inhabitants. 

Houfehold  manufactures  of  this  material  are  carried  on,  in 
different  parts  of  the  United  States,  to  a  very  interefting  extent ; 
but  there  is  only  one  branch,  which  as  a  regular  bufinefs,  can  be 
faid  to  have  acquired  maturity ;  this  is  the  making  of  hats. 

Hats  of  wool  and  of  wool  mixed  with  fur,  are  made  in  large 
quantities  in  different  ftates,  and  nothing  feems  wanting,  but  an 
adequate  fupply  of  materials  to  render  the  manufacture  commen- 
lurate  with  the  demand. 

A  promifxng  effay  towards  the  fabrication  of  cloaths,  cafllmeres, 
and  other  woolen  goods,  is  likewife  going  on  at  Hartford,  in 
Conneilicut.  Specimens  of  the  different  kinds  which  are  made, 
evince,  that  thefe  fabrics  have  attained  a  very  confiderable  de- 
gree of  pcrfeftion.  Their  quality  certainly  furpaffes  any  thing 
that  could  have  been  looked  for,  in  fo  fliort  a  time  and  under  fo 
great  difadvantages,  and  confpires  with  the  fcantinefs  of  the 
meJins,  which  have  been  at  the  command  of  the  direftors,  to  form 
the  eulogium  of  that  public  fpirit,  perfeverance  and  judgment, 
which  have  been  able  to  accomplifh  fo  much. 

Meafures,  which  tend  to  promote  an  abundant  fupply  of  wool 
of  good  quality,  would  probably  afford  the  moft  efficacious  aid 
that  prefent  circumftances  permit  to  this  and  fimilar  manufac- 
tures. 

To  encourage  the  raifing  and  improving  the  breed  of  (heep  in 
the  United  States  would  certainly  be  the  moft  defirable  expedient 
for  that  purpol'c  ;  but  it  may  not  be  alone  fufficicnt,  cfpecially  as 


vr^'M.   'I 


iii 


•$• 


OENERAl  DESCRIPTION 


.1 


-■14 


it  it  yet.  •  problem,  whether  their  wool  is  capable  of  fuch  a  de- 
gree of  improvement  as  to  render  it  fit  for  the  finer  fabrics.' 

Prrmiunta  would  probably  be  found  the  bed  means  of  pro. 
muting  the  domeilic,  and  bounties  the  foreign  fupply  ;  and  they 
ought  of  coMrie  to  bo  adjufted  with  an  eye  to  quality  as  wel}  as 
quantity. 

A  fund  for  this  purpofc  may  be  derived  from  the  addition  of 
s|  per  cent,  to  the  prel'ent  rate  of  duty  on  carpets  find  carpeting 
imported  into  the  dates ;  an  increafe  to  which  the  nature  of  the 
articles  fuggeds  no  objeftion,  and  which  may  at  the  lame  time 
furnilh  a  motive  the  more  to  the  fabrication  of  them  at  home, 
towards  which  fome  beginnings  have  boon  made, 

SILK. 

The  produftion  of  this  article  is  attended  with  ^reat  facility  in 
mod  parts  of  the  United  St:Ues.  Some  plcafing  ed'ays  are  making 
in  Connc£ticut,  as  well  towards  that  as  towards  the  manufafture 
of  what  is  produced.  Stockings,  handkerchiefs,  ribbons,  and 
buttons,  are  made,  though  as  yet  but  in  imall  quantities. 

A  manufaOoi  y  of  lace,  upon  a  fcale  not  very  extenfive,  has 
been  long  memorable  at  Ipl'wich  in  the  State  of  MaiTachufets. 

An  exemption  of  the  material  from  the  duty  which  it  now 
pays  on  importation,  and  premiums  upon  the  produftion,  feem 
to  be  the  only  Ipecics  of  encouragement  advifeable  as  fo  early  a 
dagc. 

GLASS. 

The  materials  for  making  glafs  are  found  every  where  ;  in  the 
United  States  there  is  no  deficiency  of  them.  The  fands  and 
dones  called  Tarfo,  which  include  flinty  and  cliryftalline  I'^b- 
dances  generally,  and  the  falts  of  various  plants,  particularly  the 
lea-wccd  kali,  or  kelp,  conditute  the  effcntial  ingredients.  An 
extraordinary  abundance  of  fuel  is  a  particular  advantage  enjoy- 
ed by  America  for  fuch  manufactures  ;  they,  however,  require 
large  "•>:  itals,  and  involve  much  manual  labour. 

Different  manufaftorics  of  glafs  are  now  on  foot  in  the  United 
States.  The  prel'ent  duty  of  iz^  per  cent,  laid  by  the  dates  on 
all  imported  articles  of  glafs  amount  to  a  conliderablc  encourage- 
ment to  thofe  munufa£iories ;  if  any  thing  in  addition  is  judged 
eligible,  tVc  mod  proper  would  appear  to  be  a  dircft  bounty  on 
window  glafs  and  black  bottles. 

The  fird  recommends  itlelf  as  an  objeft  of  general  conveni- 
ence, the  lad  adds  to  that  charafter  the  circumllancc  of  being 
an  important  item  in  breweries,.  A  complaint  is  made  of  great 
deficiency  in  this  rcJpcft, 


!  4  v--('>> 


4\*i« 


6f  THE  UNITED  ^TATE^. 


9S^ 


furh  I  do- 
ries. 

IS  of  pro- 
I  and  they 
as  wel|  its 

ddition  of 
t  carpeting 
ture  of  the 
I  lame  time 
n  at  home, 


:  facility  in 
are  making 
tianufafture 
sbons,  and 
s. 

enfive,  has 
hufets. 
ich  it  now 
£lion,  feem 
IS  fo  early  a 


:vc ;  in  the 
fands  and 
talline  I'vib- 
icularly  the 
[icnts.  An 
Itage  cnjoy- 
|er,  require 

Ithe  United 

le  ftates  on 

I  cncouragc- 

In  is  judged 

bounty  on 

i\  convcni- 
of  being 
Ic  of  great 


GUN    POWDER. 

No  ftnall  progrefs  has  been  of  late  made  in  the  manufaAure  of 
fhis  important  article ;  it  may,  indeed,  be  confidered  as  already 
cdabliflied,  but  its  high  importance  renders  its  farther  extenfiort  ■ 
very  dcftreable. 

The  encouragements  which  it  alrtady  enjoys,  are  a  duty  of  ten 
pej  cent,  on  the  foreign  rival  article,  and  an  exemption  of  fait- 
petr«,  one  df  the  principal  ingredients  of  which  it  is  compofed, 
from  duty.  A  like  exemption  of  fulphur,  another  chief  ingre- 
tiicnt,  would  appear  to  be  equally  proper.  No  quantity  of  thin 
article  has  yet  been  produced  from  any  intenal  fourccs  of  tho 
States.  This  confideration,  and  the  ufe  made  of  it,  in  finiihir ,;; 
the  bottoms  of  fhips^  is  an  additional  inducement  to  placing  it 
in  tho  clai's  of  fircc-  gix>dst  RegulatiMM  for  the  careful  infpe£lion 
uf  the  article  would  have  a  favour^l^  tendency. 

t>  A  f  R  R. 

Manufa£loncs  oi'  paper  are  among  thofe  which  are  arrived  at 
the  greatcd  maturity  in  the  United  States,  and  are  almofl  adequate 
to  national  fupply.  That  of  paper  hangings  is  a  branch  in  which 
reCpeflable  progrefs  has  been  made. 

Nothing  material  fcems  wanting  to  the  farther  fuccefs  of  this 
valuable  branch,  which  is  already  prote£led  by  a  competent  duty 
on  Amilar  important  articles. 

In  the  enumeration  of  the  I'evcral  kinds  made  fubjeA  to  duty 
on  importation  into  the  Slates,  fhcathing  and  cartridge  paper 
have  been  omitted ;  thcfe  being  the  mod  fimple  manufa£lures  of 
the  fort,  and  neceflary  to  military  fupply  as  well  as  Ihip-building^ 
recommend  themfelvcs  equally  with  thofe  of  other  defcriptions 
to  encouragement,  and  appear  to  be  as  fully  within  the  cumpalis 
uf  domedic  exertions. 

PRINTED    aOORS. 

The  great  number  of  prcflfcs  dilTeniinatcd  throughout  the  Un- 
ion fedm  to  afford  an  affurance,  that  there  is  no  need  of  being  in- 
debted to  foreign  countries  for  the  printing  of  the  books  which 
arc  ufed  in  the  United  State*.  A  duty  of  ten  per  cent,  on  the 
importation,  which  is  now  charged  upon  the  article,  will  have 
a  tendency  to  aid  the  bufincfs  internally. 

It  occurs,  as  an  obje^ion  to  this,  thai  it  may  have  an  unfavour- 
able afpeft  towards  literature,  by  raifing  the  prices  of  books  in 
univcrfal  ufe,  in  piiwuc  families,  fchools,  and  other  feminaries  of 
learning ;  but,  the  diffeicace,  it  is  canceivcii,  will  be  without 
effeft.  , 

As  to  books  which  ufuaih'  Eft  the  libraries  of  the  wealthier 
ciaffes,  and  of  profelfional  men,  futh  ^ra  augmentation  of  prices 


^9 


GENERAL  DESCRlFTiar 


1 1  f  '  ' 

I   III 


as  might  be  occafioned  by  an  iddhtoiul  duty  |{f  five  per  cent, 
would  be  too  little  felt  to  be  an  impediment  to  tfie  ac4uirition. 

And  with  regard  to  books  which  may  be  fpegally  imported 
for  the  ufe  of  particular  feminaries  of  learning,  and  of  public 
libraries,  a  total  exemption  from  all  duty  would  lie  advife^e, 
which  would  go  far  towards  obviating  the  objcftion  juft  mention- 
ed. j 

As  to  the  book^  in  moft  genend  limily  ufe,  the  conftMity  and 
univerlality  of  the  demand  would  enfure  exertions  to  fumiib 
them  in  the  different  ftates,  and  the  means  are  completely  ade- 
quate. It  may  alfo  be  expefted  ultimately,  in  this  and  in  other 
cafes,  that  the  exten{u>n  of  the  domeftic  manufa£iure  would  con- 
duce to  the  cheapnefalof  the  article. 

It  ought  not  to  pafli  unpi^rked,  that  to  encourage  the  print- 
ing of  books  is  to  em^ktuigqnp  manufa£ture  of  paper. 

Rl^FINED    SUGARS    AND    CHOCOLATE 

Are  among  the  number  of  extenfive  and  profperous  domeftic 
manufa£turcs,  in  the  United  Slates. 

Drawbacks  of  the  duties  upon  the  materials  of  which  they  are 
rerpe£lively  ihade,  in  cafes  of  exportation,  would  have  a  bene- 
ficial influence  upon  the  nianufa6lure,  and  would  conform  to  a 
precedent  which  has  been  already  furniflied  in  the  inftance  of 
molafTes,  on  the  exportation  of  diftilled  fpirits. 

Cocoa,  the  raw  material,  now  pays  a  duty  of  one  cent  per  lb. 
while  chocolate,  which  is  a  prevailing  and  very  fimple  manufac- 
ture, is  comprifcd  in  the  mafs  of  articles,  rated  at  no  more  than 
five  per  cent. 

There  would  appear  to  be  a  propriety  in  encouraging  the  ma- 
nufacture by  a  fomewhat  higher  duty  en  its  foreign  rival,  than  is 
paid  on  the  raw  material.  Two  cents  per  lb.  on  imported  choco- 
late would,  it  is  prefumed,  be  without  inconvenience. 

'  WINES. 

The  manufafture  of  wines,  is  an  bbjeft  worthy  of  legiflativc 
attention  and  encouragement  in  the  United  States.  Succefsful 
experiments  have  already  been  made,  by  fome  new  fettlers  of 
French  people,  on  the  river  Ohio,  which  evince  the  praftibility 
of  the  manufafture  of  wines  of  excellent  quality  ;  and  as  grapes 
are  the  fpontaneous  produftion  of  all  the  United  States,  and,  by 
culture,  might  be  raifcd  in  any  defirable  quantity,  and  in  great 
perfeftion,  this  manufafture,  with  proper  legiHative  encourage- 
ment, might  be  carried  on  to  fuch  an  extent,  as  greatly  to  di- 
minifh,  and  in  time,  perhaps,  wholly  to  preclude  foreign  im- 
portation?. 


aPTHM  UNiTMD  STATES. 


$61 


MA>LB.  IVOAlt 


'llie  BUiittfa^Tt  0f  maple  fuga/^  though  it  has  for  irtatiy  years 
beeqb,i6am!^i^'  ill  the  fmall  way, , in  the  eaftern  States,  has  but 
lii^^ieli'l|)^Me  an  dbjeft  of  pubiit  atteittion.--*The  eallern  s 
indimiii^te'  iStites  furntlh  •  fufident  number  df  maple  trees  to 
fufM^^tfie  Unltrd  States  With  the  article  of  fygaf ;  and,  it  is  aT- 
krBB&i  of  a  quality  "  equal,  in  the  ofiiniot^iF  competent  judges, 
td  Itie  bcft  fugars  imported  from  the  Wen  India  Iflands."  A 
^erfonj  whofe  judgment  on  this  fubjeft  ir  much  to  be  relied  on, 
as'  well  from  his  ejcperienee  in  tl#bufiilefii,  al  his  eftablifhed 
charaftcr  for  cSndor  and  3itgrity|;'lkflt  Jnvtn  it  as  his  opinion. 
**That  four  aftive  and  induit.  'ous  men^^eR  {iVovided  with  ma- 
terials and  conveniencies  proper  for  c JRying  on  the  bufinefs, 
may  make,  in  a  common  feafon,  whH||lj|ls  from  four  to  fix 
Weeks,  4odolbs.  of  fugar,  that  is  tt^^mii  to  each  man."  If 
fuch  be  the  amazing  produftof  fix  weri||s  labour  of  an  individual, 
jwh^t  may  be  expelled  from  the  labov^  of  the  many  thoufands 
of  people  who  now  inhabit,  and  may  hereafter  inhabit,  the  ex- 
tenfive  tra£ls  of  country  which  abound  with  the  fugar  maple 
tree  ?  This  manufa£lure  is  fo  importtnt  and  interefting,  that  it 
refpe^s  the  wealth  and  profpcrity  of  their  country,  and  the 
caufe  of  humanity,  that  it  dcferlfes  the  countenance  of  eveiry 
good  citieen,  and  even  national  encouragement «  No  lefs  than 
eighteen  millions  of  pounds  of  Weft  India  fugars,  manufa£lured 
by.  the  hands  of  flayes,  is  annually  imported  into  and  confumed 
in  tlie  United  States*  In  proportion  as  this  quantity  can  be 
leflened  by  their  own  manufafturers,  by  the  hands  of  freemen, 
the  wealth  of  the  United  States  will  be  increafed,  and  the  caufa 
of  humanity  promoted. 

The  foregoing  heads  comprife  the  moft  important  of  the  feveral 
kinds  of  manufa£lures  which  have  occurred  as  requiring,  and,  at 
the  fame  time,  as  moft  proper  for  public  encouragement  in  the 
United  States ;  and  offer  fuch  mcafures  for  affording  it,  as  have 
appeared  beft  calculated- to  ani'wer  the  end  propofed. 

The  meafures,  which  have  been  fubmitted,  tnough  fome  of 
them  may  have  a  tendency  to  infure  the  revenue,  yet  when  taken 
aggregately,  they  will,  for  a  long  time  to  come,  rather  augment 
than  decreafe  it. 

There  is  little  room  to  expert  that  the  progrefs  of  manufac- 
tures will  fo  equally  keep  pace  with  the  progrefs  of  population 
as  to  prevent  even  a  gradual  augmentation  of  the  produ£t  of  the 
duties  on  imported  articles. 

As,  neverthelei's,  an  abolition  in  fome  inflances,  and  a  reduc- 

Vol.  I.  3  A 


W'-  i 


M 


It 


3tf«  GENERAL  DESCRIPTt^tT 

tion  in  others  of  duties  which  have  been  pledfcd  for  the  puMi<l 
debt  is  propofed,  it  is  eflential  that  it  (bould  te  accompanied 
with  a  competent  fubilitute^  In  ordor  to  ihis,  it  ifrrequiftte  that 
all  the  additional  duties  which  ^atl  be  laid  be  appropr!ated|  in 
the  fir(t  inftance,  to  rt^iU  .r  all  defalcationf  which  ^y , 
trom  any  fuch  abolition  or  diminutioi\>  It  is  eridicMf^liriiri 
glance,  that  they  will  not  only  be  adequate  to  this^  but' 
a  confiderable  furphls. 

There  is  reafoA  to  Relieve  that  the  progrefs  of  particimriai* 
nufa£lures  in  the  United  States  haa  been  much  retarded  by  th«' 
wuiit  of  ikilful  Workmen ;  and  it  often  happens  that  the  capital* 
employed  arc  not  equal  tp  the  purpofirts  of  engaging  workmen  of 
a  fuperior  kind  from  J|urope«  Here,  in  cafes  worthy  of  it,  the 
auxiliary  agency  of  go^db'oraent  would  in  all  probability  be  ufe- 
ful.  There  are  al£i><  i^aliMblc  workmen  in  every  branch  who  are 
prevented  from  emigibtin§  I'olely  by  the  want  of  means.  Occe- 
ftonal  aids  to  fuch  perfpn^,  properly  adminiftered,  might  be  i 
fouree  of  valuable  acquifition  to  the  States. 

The  propriety  of  ftimulating  by  rewards  the  invention  and 
introduction  of  uieful  improvements  is  admitted  without  difficul- 
ty. But  the  fuccefs  of  attempts  in  this  way  mud  evidently 
depend  much  on  the  manner  of  condu£ling  them.  It  is  proba- 
ble that  the  placing  of  the  difpenfation  of  thofe  rewards  under 
fome  2'*"oper  difcretionary  dire£lion,  where  they  may  be  accom- 
panied by  collateral  expedients,  will  ferve  to  give  them  the  I'ur- 
cA  efficacy.  It  Teems  impraflicable  to  apportion  by  general 
rules  fpecific  comperiations  for  diicoveiies  c**  unknown  and  dif- 
proportionate  utility* 

The  great  ufe  which  any  country  may  make  of  a  fund^f  this 
nature  to  procure  and  import  foreign  improvements,  is  particu- 
larly obvious.  Among  thefe^  the  article  of  machines  form  a  moft 
important  item* 

The  operation  and  utility  of  premiums  have  been  adverted  to, 
together  with  the  advantages  which  have  refulted  from  their  dif- 
penfation under  the  dire£lion  of  certain  public  and  private  foci- 
dies.     Of  this,  feme  experience  has  been  had  in  the  inftance  of 
the  Pennfylvania  fociety  for  the  promotion  of  manufa6iures  and 
■  ufeful  arts  ;  but  the  funds  of  that  afl'ociation  have  been  too  con- 
tracted to  produce  more  than  a  very  fmall  portion  of  the  good 
•  to  which  the  principles  of  it  would  have  led.     It  may  confident- 
.  ly  be  affirmed)  that  there  is  fcarcely  any  thing  which  has  been 
;  dcvifed  better  calculated  to  excite  a  general  fpirit  of  improve- 
ment than  the  Inftilutions  of  this  nature.     They  are  truly  in- 
valuable. 


OF  THE  ON  it  ED  STATES. 


l%% 


In  countrlet  where  thtr«  it  great  private  wp  lih  much  may  b« 
^^lUBto^  by  the  volunttry  eontributiMU  of  patriotic  individuals ; 
b\k  in  a  community  fuuaee4.'(like  that  of  the  I'lyt^d  States  the 
pykiiie  pinrfc  muft  fiipply  4h|t.ao^lanoy  of  private  refuurce.  In 
<fPbit  can  it  be  fo  ufeful  ••  iiiir|rromoting  and  in^f roving  the  ef- 
liwti  of  induftry  ? 


BANK. 


4 


Connc€led  with  the  agriculture,  commerce,  andb.manufadur; 
is  the  bank  of  the  Lnited  States,  the  happy  effefi^,  and'l»er«uu% 
/of  which,  have  '  n  experienced  to  a  very  Mnftderable  <<:^ree. 
This  bank  was  u  <rated  by  ad  of  COn||^S»,  February  35th^ 

i-jQi,  by  the  nan  (lile  of  The  Frtji^tm^  JbireRorSf  and  Com^ 

Pany  of  the  Bank  0/  the  United  States.     The  anipuai  of  the  capital  > 
ftock  is  ten  million  dollars,  one  fourth  of  which  is  in  gold  and 
filver ;  the  other  three  fourths  in  that  part  of  the  public  debt 
of  the  United  States,  which,  at  the  time  of  payment,  bears  an 
accruing  intcreft  of  fix  per  cent,  per  a»num.     Two  millions  of' 
this  capital  ftock  of  ten  millions,  is  fubfcribed  by  the  Preftdent  in' 
behalf  of  the  United  States.  The  ilockholders  arc  to  continue  a  cor-: 
porant  body  by  the  aft,  until  the  4th  day  of  March  tSii ;  andi 
are  capable,  in  law,  of  holding  property  to  an  atnount  not  ex> 
ceeding,  in  the  whole,  Afteen  million  dollars,  including  the  afore- 
faid  ten  million  dollars,  capital  ftock.     The  corporation  may  not 
at  any  time  owe,   whether  by  bond,  bill  or  note,  or  other  con- 
traft,  more  than  ten  million  dollars,  over  and  above  the  moniei 
then  aftually  depoftted  in  the  bank  for  fafe  keeping,  unlefs  the 
contrafting  of  any   greater  debt  (hall  have  been  previoufly  au- 
thorifed  by  a  law  of  the  United  States.     The  corporation  is  not 
at  liberty  to  receive  more  than  iix  per  cent,  per  annum  for  or 
upon  its  loans  or  difcounts,  nor  to  purchafe  any  public  debt 
whatever,  or  to  deal  or  trade,  dtreftly   or  indire£ily,   in   any 
thing  except  bills  of  exchange,  gold  or  filver  bullion,  or  in  the 
fale  of  goods  really  and  truly  pledged  for  money  lent,  and  not 
redeemed  in  due  time,  or  of  goods  which  fhali  be  the  produce  of 
its  bonds ;  they  may  fell  any  part  of  the   public   debt  of  which 
its  ftock  fhall  be  compofed.      Loans,  not   exceeding    100,000 
dollars,  may  be  made  to  the  United  States,  and  to  particular  ftates, 
pf  a  fum  not  exceeding  50,000  dollars. 

Officers  for  the  purpofes  of  difcount  and  depofit  only,  may 
be  eftabliflied  within  the  United  States,  upon  the  fame  terms, 
and  in  the  fame  manner,  as  ftiall  be  praftifed  at  the  bank.  Four 
pf  thefe  ofEccs,  called  Branch   Banks,  have  been  alTea4y  efta* 

3A8 


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.3E<*i#ijff  *c  "Oft  p*^»  Ao«#P|f 

t|rf^|||C9*f«l  for  which,  »m  l^ 
,lh^'  imcBty  ^f(^ 

?ji?t|HUy  f  ncDunign 

govejr|iori»  m  ?rrcating  a  ,|Sii|^ - 
^Ij$(p0iiil  of' the  letter,  ha«  oft«n  hilifft; 

__  ..^  _ ^  .     _^  .  |»f  Ihofc  whoft  propcarty  i»  exh»tt(l«4 

^  iUHfiippbrt.  J^^         jpoUey  pf  k«teping  ftaw4inf  »nni^ 
was,  fully  invclligatei,  it  WouWbc  fwod  to  h«vf!  it*  qrigin*  not 
ia  the  jcaloufwa  of  one  nation  with  x^ffi^  U>  another,  hut  in 
thi||||Hri!^  pjrtittiples  aikdifearl  of  differed  governiaents,  i^ith 
i^sfpcja^^teiu!  ftibjeas  at  home.    The  faft  !i» :  notof4ou^|^t 
the  drigttrel  if^lk  of  the  old  govcrnmesnts!,  has  been  in  conqjpl 
and  wCiirpation^^lNw  itf  thcaa  which  iuhfti^  in  Europe,  h^o 
originated  wheipe'^h^  ought,  (I'-oro  t»»^  people)  the  confc<iuenc« 
of  which  ha».  beem  thit  princes,  aintJoiifty  concerned  for  th^ 
prefervatioo  of  their  owr  power,  tnd  di5ea4in|  that  th^  fub* 
jcas  &ould  xecoydr  Oieif  juft  "ghta,  have  fd«nd  it  neccflary  tq 
deta<^iA^e  patt  o?s them  from  the  generat  roaftj  and  by  nali* 
taryv|pppr^d  «e!wnrdt,  to  blind  them  to  their  own  interetU^ 
nKt^Stithammbre  intimately  to  thomWve*,     Sttndingwrt 
mies  alb  therefore  unneceffary,  and  inconfiftcnt  in  a  republican 
governments    America  of   courfo  ha»  none.      Their  military 
ftrength  lies  in  a  well-difciplined  militia.     According  to  the  late 
,  tenfua,  *hi|re  we»ihthe  United  Staces,  eight  hundred  and  four- 
iceA  ^pu[fi«/EK|  men  of -fixteen  ye       old  and  upwards,  whites 
mk  til|^e::lii^Vf  &nce  napidly  increafed,     Suppofe  that  the  fu^ 
pm&i^^tiMB^officers  of  government,  and  the  other  clafles  of 
peo^- -^rtiO  W  ejccufcd  from  military  duty,  amount  to  onfe  hun- 
dred JMSd  fourteen  thoufand,  there  will  remain  a  militia  of  more 
than  feven  hundred  thoufand  men.     Of  thcfe  a  great  proportion 
arelvell-dtftpiplined,  veteran  troops.      Scarcely  any  nation  or 
kingdom  in  Europe  can  bring  into  the  field  an  army  of  equal, 
numbers  or  more  formidable  than  can  be  raifed  in  the  United 
States. 


O^y/Pfi  1/NIT£D  STATES,  ||| 

|%«  tMfil^v>^g||ir  trodfit  ^v<w  honif^r,  been  enlifted  IoTm' 
tWrtc  3|m^  aitud  9iiY%tempi  fau.Secn  nu^e,i)^  tbc^  ifi^atjB,^^  jit; 
i;ouiU;  of  fhe,pre^^  to  ii^6»ia^jOhai  nunMi^r  ; 

|||  fif^ieeiii  thooTand,  but  the  HW^  of  Ki^}refeiiti|^09  W^  r^> 
ItM  ip  cowplyi  rather  chufiog,  in  cafe  of  a  war,  to>t|-uft  toitlie 
energy  and  efccrtipni^  of  the  militia,  than  thu?  to  rilk  |b^||i^ 
lh^Q»fl^,  ol.  a  iniUt?ry  ftandlng  force.  • 


/.' 


NAVAL    STREKGTH. 


Marine  ftltingtb^  in  a  ftrilk  fenfe,  the  United  Statcj^  llav* 
fifone,  many  ol  ihek"  inerchanta  veffels  might,  however,  i^M^^ 
JBOhVerted  into*  ihipii  df  war  of  confiderable  force,  •a|^^||N^ 
fitusttion  and  irefdufces  will  enable  th^iA  t&  «ftabliA(^tfiiS^l|^nt 
«  navy  equal  fo  thftt  of  any  nation  iM^«,«lNi»^,^4^ 
,  deCeVmine  on  fo  doing,  and  that  they  'ml&''WS^i^^nB^barjrt9 
ktalii^  *1Kd  fupport  tt  naval  power,  tltfttt'1^ie'ii|t1e;^^^ 
Th^idual;  habits  of  their  dtizens  attii^  1^iWf|^j^||^ 
They  will  ejt«rdie  it  for  <h«miclv«s.  Wait^thii^e^^Klft 
fonitStimea  be  their  tot;  and  all  the  wife  can  do,  will  W  (^a^^nd 
that  half  of  them  which  woiild  be  prodiiced  by  tlieir  own  iM^^ 
andiheir  a£b  of  injtiftice;  and  to  make  for  the  other  hail| 
preparations  they  can.  Of  what  nature,  it  may  be  aflu^l 
theie  be?  A  land  army  would  be  ufelefs  for  offence  an4,t(<>i^ihe 
beft  nor  fafeft  inftrument  of  defence.  For  eiit^^  thefe  pur* 
pofes,  the  fea  is  the  field  on  whi<^  they  Ihould  meet  ««i  Eiii^ 
pean  enemy.  On  that  element  it  is  heceifary  they  ibould  lli^- 
fore  po(Fef8  fome  power.  To  aim  at  fuch  a  navy  at Hie'greeteir 
nations  of  Europe  poiTefs,  would  be  a  fbolllh  and  wieked  wiAe 
of  the  energies  of  their  citizens.  It  would  be  t/i^''pM  on  their 
own  heads  that  load  of  military  expence,  which  ttiikes  the  £u- 

aOPXAN     LABOURSR   CO     SVPFBRLESS  TO  BED,  AMO    MOISTENS 

HIS  BREAD  wii;i|  THE  SWEAT  Or  HIS  BROW.  It  will  be 
enough  if  they  enable  themfelves  to  prevent  infult^,  from  thofis 
nations  of  Europe  which  are  weak  on  the  fea,  becaufe  circnm. 
ftances  extiftt  which  render  even  the  ftronger  ones  weak  as  to 
them.  Providence  has  placed  the  richefl  And  moft  defcnceleis 
European  pofleflipns  at  their  door ;  has  obliged  their  moft  pre- 
cious commerce  to  pafs  as  it  were  in  review  before  the  United 
States.  To  protect  this,  or  to  aflail  them,  a  I'mall  part  only  of 
their  naval  force  will  ever  be  riiked  acrofs  the  Atlantic.  The 
dangers  to  which  |he  elements  expofe  them  there  are  too  well 
known,  and  the  greater  dangers  to  which  they  would  be  expolicd 
at  home^  were  any  general  caliunity  to  involve  their  whole  fleet* 


•  »794- 


y 


V|6l  gMkERAL  DESCRlMBk 

■they  can  attack  t1ienfi>^  detachliiJ%i>niy  ||>nd#^1^ 
lii^  Uffitectv  States  (6  make  thfmfelVei  eq^I  to  what  ^^^^^%'  ni^ 
HietacK  EWmfiiifmaller  force  tlian  any  of  ihe  natt6n«'of'  Europe 
rnijiy  Httach/wUl  be  rendered  e^Ujd  or  fuperior  hy%b  ^ij^^ndl 
%^th  whidi  trty  check  may  be  repaired  with  the  Amirtciiti^ 
^kUlrtb&s  with  Eurdlpean  powers  Will  be  irreparable  tiH  too  laie, 
A  fxnall  nav^l  force  then  is  fufficient  for  the  Stitcii  aiidi^fmall 
or^Ma'neceffary.  What  this  Cbould  be»  w*  will  not  undertake  to 
fay  rit  ihould,  howerer,  by  no  meant  be  fo  great  at  they  are  ablb 
Ad  Wl^  in*  Mr.  Jefibrfon  obfcrvec,  that  Virginia  aUuM,  can 
ly  fpare  without  diftrefs,  a  ^miUioik  M  doUars,  or  thn»| 
thpu&nd  pounds ;  fuppolls  this  fum  to  be  applied  to  tb| 
crettMfii'W^Mry*  e  fingle  year's  contribution  would  buildi  equip, 
nan,!  •n^iim  to  %i|^|^  three  hundred 

^un».   \'ji»^0tll^-^mt  confederacy,  exerting  themfelves  i«  th« 
fimael|>roportidn^Pyiid|ti^  the  faaae  lime  fifteen  huii4ri4 

.jaaminlBn^  contributions  would  fet  up  aniiry 

'^cf^q^SMTliimwNid  guns.  Britilh  ikips  of  the  line  average  fe>< 
vent]^-iix  igdina,  and  their  frigates  thirty-ei|^t.  Eighteen  hub* 
,dr«d  guns'  thitm  would  form  a  fleet  of  thirty  (Kips,  eighteen  of 
.Ifihilhi  might  be  of  the  line,  and  twelve  frigates^  Allowing  eight 
mml^l^e  JSriti/h  average  for  every  gun,  their  annual  expence, 
induditigifuibriftcnce,  cloathing,  pay,  and  ordinary  repfiirs,  woul4 
be  about  itwdlve  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  for  every  gun,  or  two 
million  three  hundred  and  four  thoufand  dollars  for  the  whole. 
This  js  only  ftated  as  one  year's  poifible  exertion,  without  decir 
iding  whflUier  more  or  lefs  than  a  year's  e^ccrtion  Ihould  be  thuf 
^pp)ied«  or  would  bisnccelfary^ 


ft  ELI  ox  ON.  , 

Thb  conftitution  of  the  United  States  difcovers  in  no  one  in# 
(lance  more  excellence  than  in  providing  againft  the  making  tit 
any  law  refpeftingan  tfiaitijktneni  of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the 
free  exercife  of  it.  And  the  conftitutious  of  the  refpeftivc 
States  are  equally  entitled  to  praife  in  this  refpeft,  in  them  reli- 
gious liberty  is  a  fundamental  principle^  And  in  this  important 
article,  the  American  government  is  diftinguiihed  from  that  of 
every  other  nation,  if  we  excbpt  France.  Religiisn  in  the 
United  States  is  placed  on  its  proper  bads ;  without  the  feeble 
and  unwarranted  aid  of  the  civil  power,  it  is  left  to  be  fupported 
by  its  own  evidence,  the  lives  of  its  profeflbrs,  and  the  Almighty 
care  of  its  Divine  Author. 

AH  being  thus  left  at  liberty  to  choofe  their  own  religion, 
the  people,  as  might  eafily  be  fuppofcd,  have  varied  in  their 
chpice.     The  bulk  of  the  people  denominate  themfelves  Chrif' 


dt^i*  (/J^nfJEH  STATSS^ 


$h 


a#ncy^^  iuitttf^  rtHgion,  and  s^6t  civiUtton ;  4*  imaMefliiry 
an<l  filNdoiit  1 :  •!«][  aHiayi  iiMl  htfc  reaiiBiii  iur  ki0Uevev>tfa^e  yd 
Ihcirniligksillo  thsHtk*  CItriiUn*  profeft  ibeivi^ligion  «ndev 
variotit  fernlt,  and  #tf1i  diffciMik  ideas  of  ita  6oeMst^i  iit6im»i 
tu,  alid  pinecepta*  "^  The  felloWing  den<Mmiiationa  ^C^ii^Upa 
ireiiM»«dr  ku  numerona  in  the  Vnited  Stately  vis^  C<rifiML;%: 

CAT>t{f)tALUTS,PjlftSB«tKWlANa,  DuTCK  RavoiMaD  CM||)k,()P, 

EiiloorAtiAMi,  BArxuTf,  tJiriTARiAiiaf  QuAitsjrl^t  «p||k 
Fkiimdi,  MsTHOoisra,  RtOM^N  Catholics,  Gaani^it  |^V' 
THtKAMs,  GiaMAN  Calviniits  OS  pRiiayTsaiA^s,  }$4*^ 

VJ|AMI,  TuMKItS,  MtrMOMIpTS,  Un  IVEESALISTS,   and    $|IA»> 


Bit. 


*' 


C0NGaiGATIOtfAI.ISf», 


Of  thefi:  the  Congregattonalifta  are  did  19<^  llj^ei^Us;  In 
RiW  England  alone,  befidea  thofe  whtth  art  iatter«d' liiroUf^ 
the  middle  and  fouthern  States,  thtire  are  not  lefa  than  •  thoufaii^ 
cohiregations  of  this  denomination,  via. 


;ir- 


III  New  Hamp(hire 
Mailachufetts 
Rhode  lOand 
Connefticut 
Vermont  (fay) 


Total 


8Q0 

-     * 
tooo 


It  is  difficult  to  fay  what  is  the  prefent  ecclefiaiHical  conftitur 
titfnofthe  Congregational  churches.  Formerly  their  ecclefiafti- 
cal  proceedinga  were  regulated,  in  Maflachufetts,  by  the  Cam- 
bridge Platform  of  church  difcipline,  eftabliflied  by  the  fynod  in 
1648;  and  in  Conne£ltcut,  by  the  Saybrook  Platform  of  difci- 
pline; but  fince  the  revolution,  lefs  regard  has  been  paid  to  thefe 
coniUtutions,  and  in  many  inftancea  they  are  wholly  difuled. 
Cengreg^tionalills  are  pretty  generally  agreed  in  this  opinion, 
that,  .'*  Every  church  or  particular  congregation  of  vifible  faipts, 
in  gofpcl  order,  being  furniflied  with  a  Paftor  or  Bilhop,  and 
Walking  together  in  truth  and  peace ;  has  received  from  the  Lord 
Jcftts  full  power  and  authority  ecdeliaftical  within  itfelf,  regular- 
ly to  adminifter  all  the  ordinances  of  Chrift,  and  is  not  under  any 
other  ecclefiaiUcal  jurifdiftion  whatever."  Their  churches,  with 
feme  exceptions,  difclaim  the  term  Indeptndtnt,  as  applicable  to 
them,  and  claim  a  iiilerly  reUtion  to  each  other. 


GB^ERAl  PSSdttFfiffm 


CWibfA'IbAaitfWer  ^  the  eldiN^  ilid  ^^lMirme9eni(m  ot'ikd 
«3iuralia»aiiembled  at  iiflbii,  t|i  «1mi  y^r  i§ff%t  'll^lHii  ^ftMoht 
pn>p<^^i#'tfa|av^  order  of  tli«  Oeiieral  G«uHj  it  ap^^iiH^  tiMf 
tlMclmrcbelfitcliN  i»crio4»  ^pi<^iSM  to  Kbld  conmittf^iir^  %irltt< 
'^ili'Ol^riil'the  IbHbwingads,  ¥i«*'''--- -■  ^'"^^' :■  '-'''''  ^  fe'^vv  . 
•  ♦•  l^^iiisariy  cire  and  prayer  One  fdr  anotlief , ;  14  aJJirding 
teUtff^By  communicating  of  theiir  gilfta  ttl  temporal  ot  Ybi^ttuj 
nHsdeuljies.  In  Maintaining  unity  and  fMbtce^  by  giving  account 
oniJB  to  Another  of  t^ieir  public  a£Uona,  when  it  ts  properly  de« 
fired;  to  ftreHgthen  one  another  in  their  regular  aic^iniilmions } 
iii|i^cular  by  a  concurrent  teilimony  agailnft  pb'fenVjiifHy  cen- 
fiMltl)!  To  feek  and  accept  help  ft'Om,  and  afford  hel]^  to  eath 
other^  in  cafe  of  diviiiona  and  contentions,  whereby  the  peace  of 
any  Ihiin-Clifis  difturbed;  in  matters  of  more  than  ordinary  impor- 
tance, as  the  oir4ina{ioi»|'  riiftallation,  removal,  and  depolition  of 
-paftol-s^r  bilboii^i  ill  doubtful  and  difficult  queAions  and  <ipn-^ 
jlf overlKS^  do^rillal  qr  prafitfca^n  that  may  arife;  and  fqr  tl^e  i$|^ 
fyingipf  iniU*adnuniiftration,  ?nd  healing  of  errors,  and  fc9Ad4t 
that  fi|i|  not  pealed  anfiong  themfelves.  In  taking  ndticei  with; 
fpiritc»  love  and  faithfulnefs^  of  the  troubles  and  difidulties, 
errors  and  fcandals  of  another  church,  and  to  adminifler  help, 
ivhen  the^fe  manifeftly  calls  for  it,  though  lliey  fhonldib  negleft 
their  o<liii  ||Ood  and  duty,  as  -not  to  feek  it.  In  admonifhing  one 
another^  ivhen  there  is  caufe  for  it ;  s^nd  after  a  due  courfe  of 
means,  patiently  to  withdraw  from  a  church,  or  peccant  party 
therein,  obftinately  perftfting  in  error  or  fcandal/' 

A  confociation  of  churches  was,  at  the  period  mentioned, 
eonlidered  by  them  as  neceflary  to  a  communion  of  churches,  the 
former  being  but  an  agreement  to  maintain  the  latter,  and  there* 
fore  aduty.-^'The  confociation  of  churches  they  defined  to  be, 
Their  mutual  and  folemn  agreement  to  exercife  communiqn  in  the' 
afts  abpve  recited,  amongff  themfelves,  with  fp'ecial  reference 
to  thofc  churches  which,  by  Providence,  were  planted  in  a 
convenient  vicinity,  though  with  liberty  refervcd  without 
offence,  to  make  ufe  of  others,  as  the  aature  of  the  cafe,  or  the 
advantage  of  the  opportunity  might  lead  thereunto. 

The  miniilers  of  the  Congregational  order  arc  pretty  general- 
ly affociated  for  the  purpofes  of  licenfing  esndidates  for  the  mi- 
niilry,  and  friendly  int^rcovirfe  and  improvement ;  but  there 
are  few  congregational  churches  that  are  confociated  on, the 
above  principles ;  and.  the  pra&ice  has  vei;y  gencraUy.  gone  into 
difuie,  and  with  it  the  communion  of  churches  in  moft  or  the 
afts  before  recited.  In  Conne£licut  and  the  wefltern  parts  of 
Maifachufetts,  the  churches  have  deviated  lefs  from  their  original 
coniiitution.     The  degeneracy  of  the  Congregational  phurches 


;'f?v^ 


&1f'.fHk  (^kJTED  $TAt£S*^ 


■  V  «  ■  > 


m 

,\-^ 


htm  ihai  or^i  fetWibiip,  liid  harmony^  (ii  Jifi|i|^MM^, 
iiul  firi«|idlfi^vice^«nd  iiliftibcc  in  ecdifitftictl  niattej%  whitk 
ibnii«rlyl  fiiMAttl  bMwetn  tliem  ii  matuir,  of  diip?  iii^a  ^t» 
inanjr,  ii^td  fay  to  mod  people  of  the  dcn^miibitibiu  At^tfoif^ 
iaatiin,  or  •  redtfiin  td  i  pffftic^  cohfdrmible  to  the  otpiuil 
'jprin^iplis  oi^  th#  GongregAlidiul  churchei,  is  an  eyent^6i-6-ear- 
keitty  dcfired,  ttyn  confidently  expe^ed  by' them.  '^ 

G!nn|l«gatbnaiilb  alt  divided  in  dpinictoi  rdpe£ling  ^  4oc- 
in^ctof  the  gofpel,  and  (he  propct*  fubje6b  of  it*  orcPiiliM. 
The  body  of  them  are  Cillrjltiitb ;  a  refpcCbUe  propoi^ibn  Ire 
What  may  be  deniiminalvd  Hcpkenfian  Calvinifts;  be6<ll||ift1i#fe, 
feme  are  Anniniani,  fane  Airians,  a  feW  Socinians,  and  tWimbtr 
trho  have  adopted  t^^r  Chauncey'a  Icheme  of  the  finU  ffltrft- 
tionof  allnuin.  f 

■ .  *  .  -,■,■■■    ^  ■  ■  ■ ' 

■'■      *  >»ESBYT,liliA,#,ii. 

Next  to  the  CcHigregationalifts,  l>re(|^^)^^  «tt  the  moft  no- 
inefous  denomination  of  Chriftians'iniiMiOnitedi^iies.  T^ 
have  a  con^itution  by  which  they  regulate  «11  tht;ir,4|^^^ftibl 
proceedings,  anda«onfeflionof  faith,  which  all  chliirQp|lll:ers 
and  chtircli  members  are  required  to  fubfcribe.  HMC%,t)iey 
bave  preferved  a  fingular  imifonnity  in  their  religious  fenti- 
ments,  and  have  condufted  their  ecclefiaftical  affairs  with  a  |iplat 
dqpree  of  order  and  hafmdny. 

The  body  of  the  Preibyterians  inhabit  the  middle  and  (buthem 
Stiites,  and  are  united  under  the  fame  coniUtution.  By  this  con« 
ftitution,  the  Prftlbyterians  who  are  governed  by  it,  are  divided  into 
Synods  and  fev^nteenPreftyteries;  viz.—- Synod  or  New  York 
fiye  prefbyteries,  ninety>four  congregations  and  fixty*one  fettled 
minifter^ — Synod  of  Philadslphia,  five  prefbyterics,  ninety- 
two  congi^gatiohs,  and  yfixty  fettled  minifters,  befides  the  minif- 
ters  and  congregation^  belonging  to  Baltamore  ptefbytery.— Sr. 
NOD  OP  Vi&ciNiA,  four  prefbyteries,  feventy  congregations, 
and  forty  fettled  minifters,,  eicclufive  of  the  congregations  and 
minifters  of  Tranfylvania  prefl>ytery .—Synod  of  the  Caeoxi* 
NAs,  three  prefliyteries,  eighty-two  congregations,  and  forty-two 
fettled  minifters,  the  minifters  and  congregations  in  Abington 
preft>ytery  not  included.  If  we  fuppofe  the  nupiber  of  congre- 
gations in  the  prefbyteries  which  made  no  returns  to  their,  fy- 
nods,  to  be  one  hundred,  and  the  number  of  fettled  minifters  in 
the  fame  to  be  forty,  the  whole  number  of  preft>yterian  congre- 
gations in  this  cpnhe6lion  will  be  four  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
which  are  fupplied  by  two  hundred  and  twenty-three  fettled 
minifters,and  between  feventy  and  eighty  candidates,  befides 
.  3B 


^9  GSNERAL  nSSCRIFTiaU 

m  MWdMMjL.of  prdiki^miniftien  who  li«ve  BJ»  ^MrtkuUr  thvp$» 
Sidk  of  the  fynodi  liMet  aiinutllyv  beficbs,  whidi  ihty^lMyo 
^oint  isiMliig,  by^  jketr  commifltOBors,  ontetyMr,  ill  ftiieril 

'j^  Preibyferlin  churdhes  ue  governed  |iy  oHiireg^iofHiH 
"^f  Siyteri«l(  tad  Tynodical  aflcmblkt:  thefo  alftnibliet^^poaiii  no 
civil  jurirdiftion.  Their  power  u  wholly  inor»l  ot  fpi^uil,  ind 
that  oidy  miriiflerial  or  dedarative.  They  poffefa  by  their  #|pnfti- 
tutl^n^e  right  of  re<|uiring  obedience  to  the  rulct  of  theil^ib- 
cicitiettand  of  excluding  the  diibbedient  from  the  privilegea  of 
the  eharch}  and  the  powers  requifite  fdr  obtainiag  evidence  and 
infli^pljl  cenfure ;  but  the  higheft  pMatflimenti  to  which  their 
aitthcli|l^  extends,  is  to  exclude  the  contnitnacioui  and  impenitent 
fr<^  tlw  congregation  to  which  they  belong. 

"lite  Cfivi^H  StsiiON,  which  is  the  congregational  aiTMsbly  of 
judllMtory,  c<mjfiftt  of  Aii  minifter  or  minifters  and  elders  of  a 
particular  congiriiiiioit-'  ^Thisbody  is  invefted  with  the  fpirituid 
goverriitteatof  the  congiregation;  and  have  power  to  enquire 
into  tho knowledge  and  ChriiUan  condud;  of  all  its  members;  to 
call  b^Mlft  th^  offenders  and  witnefles,  of  their  own  denomina- 
tion;  to  admonilh,  fufpend,  or  exclude  from  church  fellowftip 
fuph  as  deferve  thefe  cenfures ;  to  concert  meafures  for  promot- 
ing,the  fpiritual  intereft  of  the  congregation,  and  to  appoint  dele- 
gates to  the  higher  judicatories  of  the  church. 

A  Pkibs^ytery,  conflfts  of  -all  the  minifters,  and  one   rul- 
ing elder  from  each  congregation,  within  a  certain  diftri£fc.    Three 
minifters  and  three  elders,  conftitutionally  convened,  are  com- 
petent to  do  bufinefs.    This  body  have  cognizance  of  all  things 
that  regard  the  welfare  of  the  particular  churches  within  their 
bounds,  which  are  not  cognizable  by  the  feffion.    Atfo,  they 
have  a  power  of  receiving  and  ifiuing  appeals  fr(»n  the  jfefiiohs; 
of  examining  and  licenfing  candidates  for  the  miniftry ;  of  or- 
daining,  fettling,  removing,  or  judging  minifters;  of  refolving 
queftions  of  do&rine  or  difcipline;  of  condemning  erroneous 
opinions,  that  injure  the  purity  or  peace  of  the  church ;  of  vifit- 
ing  particular  churches,  to  enquire  into  their  ftate,  and  redrefs 
the  evils  that  may  have  arifen  in  them ;    of  uniting  or  dividing 
congregations,  at  the  rcqueft  of  the  people,  and  whatever  elfe 
pertains  to  the  fpiritual  concerns  of  the  churches  under  their 


■«c^i 


care. 


A  Synod,  is  a  convention  of  feveral  prelbyteries.  The  fynod 
have  power  to  admit  and  judge  of  appeals,  regularly  brought 
up  from  the  perlbyterics — to  give  their  judgement  on  all  referen- 
ces made  to  them  of  an  ecclcfiaftical  kind ;  to  correft  and  regulate 
the  proceedings  of  prefbyteries ;  to  take  effectual  care  that  prelby- 
teries obfervc  the  conftitution  of  the  church,  &c. 


'•feji . 


OF  fIfE  UNITED  STAtp.  ffi 

:fni^hi^)i»di«Uoty9t  the  Prei^Tleriui  ^huiHrfl  f^«#; 

'\TM«<;iiiBtAfc AvffMSLT'^v  Till  T%Ktiifft^%tA)$>,Qmiienjk' 

*"  tiliJ^UMiTiBt  StatJI  or  4?^iii  CA.  This  gtand  Allmiy  Si^ 
fifti:of  an  equal  d^QgaUott  of  bifhopt  and  elders  front  each  j>ref- 
bytM)r  within  thjdlr  jurifd&ioil,  by  t1^  title  of  ConftUflioni(|^.to 
the  Geninral  AflTembly,  Fourteen  conunUIIoneri  nuke  a  <|MilM^m. 
Th«|  General  Aflcmbly  conftitute  the  bond  of  union,  pea^  cbr> 
ItfpMulence,  and  mutual  confidence  among  all  their  clunichni* 

#nd  have  pow«r  toreceiyc  and  iflue  all  appeals  and  renErrnces 
Vhich  may  regubtfiy  be  brought  before  them  from  inferior  jud^a- 
toiia;  to  regdate  a^  fcjrreft  the  proceedings  of  the  fynfpl^  4^c.. 
To  the  General  Ai^i9lily«lfo  belongs  the  power  of  co^tin|« 
reafoningi  and  judging  in  controverfies  refpefting  do^Nlt^e  |nd 
diri^plTne;  of  reproving,  warning^  or  bearing  teftlmei%  ii^ft 
<iirror  in  doftrioe,  or  immorality  in  pn^e  in  ij^jrj^urclVr  |N^ 
i^ery,  or  fynod;  of  eorrel^hdingwiih  |9fi|m  chiflrches;  of 
pntting  a  ftop  to  fchirmaticil  contentiimi  and  ^i|lntationfi  of  re- 
commending and  attempting  a  reformation  of  nunners ;  of  pro., 
moting  charity,  truth,  and  holinefs,  nn  all  the  churcheefellMl  alfo 
of  erefting  new  fynodt  when  they  judge  it  neceflary. 

The  confeffion  of  faith  adopted  by  the  preibyterian  church, 
embraces  what  are  called  the  Calviniftic  doftrines;  and  noWe  who 
disbelieve  thefe  doftrines  are  admitted  into  fellowihip  with  their 
churches;  The  General  A0embly  of  the  PreA)yterian  church, 
hold  a  friendly  correfpondence  with  the  General  Aijbeii^ibn  in 
Cohnefticut,  by  lettelr,  and  by  admitting  delegates  from  their  re« 
fpeftive  bodies  to  fit  in  each  other's  general  meetings, 

Unconne£ied  with  the  churches  of  which  we  have  been  fpeak* 
ing,  there  ai^e  four  fmall  prefbyteries  in  NewrEngland,  who 
have  a  fimilar  form  of  ecclefiaftical  government  and  difciplinc, 
and  profefs  the  fame  doftrines. 

Befides  thefe,  there  is  the  Associatb  Presbytery  op  Penn- 
tYLVAKiA,  having  a  feparate  ecclefiaftical  jurifdi^ion  in  America, 
'  and  belonging  to  the  AITociate  Synod  or  Edinburgh,  which  they 
declare  is  the  only  ecdefiaftical  body,  either  in  Britain  Or  Ameri- 
ca, with  which  they  are  agreed  concerning  the  doftrine  and  order 
of  the  church  of  Chrift,  and  concerning  the  duty  of  confefTing  the 
truth,  and  bearing  witnefs  to  it  by  a  public  teftimony  againft  the 
errors  of  the  times.  This  conne£tion  is  not  to  be  underftood  as 
indicating  fubjefiiion  to  a  foreign  jurifdiftion ;  but  is  preferred 
for  the  fake  of  maintaining  unity  with  their  brethren  in  the  pro- 
feflion  of  the  Chriftian  faith,  and  fuch  an  intercourfe  as  might 
be  of  fervice  to  the  intcrefts  of  religion.    This  feft  of  Prcfbyteri* 

3  B  a 


'V}"  ■'     BOTCH    RCVOMlIO' fiMVillBll.  *      ";■'*.,.•, 

^PjB  pu|cti  neformed  Churchei  in  the  Ualtcil  Sti^M,  iprhq 
maiktrai  the  doarine  of  the  lynod  of  Dort,  1iel4^  i|k  i.6t||»  n& 
betWtifn  feventy  and  eighty  in  numW»  conftituttng  fix  tiaiSkif 
Which lorm  one  fynod,  ftiled,  Tim  ouTfH  }iirpiiMKt>  iymoo  o!^ 
New  York  and  New  Jerfey.  live  c{iifre§  confift  of  minifterf ' 
and  ir^ng  elden ;  each  clafs  delegate*  ^^b  i^itiiftera  and  an  elder 
fo.rml^nt  them  in  fynod.  Fron)  tjic  Wi(  planting  of  the 
Jliyilhurclfes  in  New  York  and  l#ir  j^fty^  they  liave, 
uuHilir  i^  dlrti^on  of  tht  clafles  of  Amftefdam,  heen  formed 
exi^|^^d'|he  ^lan  <i{  the  eftablifHed  phurch  of  Hdlland  aft 
(sfaf&i^h  tcfli^^l^ciii^^':^  ftrift  corirefpondence  ia  maintained 
betw«se^  the  Dutih  iR^eformed  Synod  of  New  York  and  Ne|ir 
Jerfey,  an4  the  fyn9d  of  North  Holland  and  the  claQeaof  Aw. 
lUiidp^^  ThQ  9  of  their  fynoda  are  mutually  exchanged  every 
year^^lMplnutual  advice  is  ^ven  and  received  in  ^difputes  re^ 
fpe^fij^db^riiial  points  and  diurch  difciplinf. 

■ 't  fltOTSfTAVT   BriSCOVAL   CHVUCH. 

,  J'  , .  ■   ^  .,.':;,■ 

ihe  Proteftant  JEptfcopal  Church  in  j^he  United  States,  <i^4 
chufcket  (^ t^t  dtit^oniinatfon  i^  N<ut Enfj^Unndoccepiedy  met  in  Con. 
vmtion  at  Philadelphia^  ii)  QSUjiber  17851  and  revifed  the  book  pi 
Cominon  Prayer^  ^nd  ^dmiii^ration  of  theXacrcments^  and  oth^ir 
cites  an4  ceremonies,  with  a  view  to  renderthe  liturgy  cohfiftent 
with  tm  American  Revolution.  But  this  revifed  form  wai» 
adopted  by  none  p^  the  ^hurphc^^  except  one  of  two  in  Phila. 
delphia. 

In  Oftober  17891  at  another  meeting  of  their  convention,  a 
plan  of  union  amiong  all  the  Proteiltant  Epifcopal  churches  in  the 
United  States  of  America  >yas  agreed  upon  and  (tttled  :  and  an 
adequate  reprefentation  froni  the  feveral  States  being  prefent,  they 
again  revifed  the  book  of  con>mon  prayer^  which  is  now  publiih- 
ed  and  generally  adopted  by  their  churches.  '  They  alfo  agreed 
upon  and  pubUihed  fey enteen  canons  for  the  gpvemment  of  their 
churchy  the  firft  of  whiph  declares,  that  "there  (ball,  in  this 
.phurch,  be  three  orders  in  the  miniftry,  viz.  Bishops,  Priests, 
and  Deacons."  (^ 

At  the  fame  time  they  agreed  Upon  a  Conftitution,  which  pro- 
vides that  there  fliall  be  a  general  convenlion  of  the  Proteftant 
Epifcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  on  the  fecond  Tuefday  in 
September,  of  evfcry  third  year  from   1789 — ^That  each  ftate  is 


Pt  THMUNITID^  STAaLM. 

■'.  -  •  " 

^pltitled  t«  a  reprefentation  of  both  jthe  deny  aipd  1| 

^^ limn,  •nimy  (aid  depuiic^  not  excet^l^km 

cholen  by  the  conveaUon  of  th«  8ute--Y1i«t  Rl(9^ 

church,  when  three  ^r  mor^  are  prefent,  (hall,  ii^  IjBcff'^liifiiidf 

jOonTenliMM,  form  9  feperaUi  hpylie,  with  a  right  tp  Qtiginiil£fua4 

pTOp^e  a^  for  the  concurrence  of  the'houfe  of  ^^pifli^i^flgltni-- 

pofed  of  clergy  and  laity }  and  with  a  poWer  t0  i&igm^alU 

palildr  by  the  houfe  bf  deputies,  unlefs  adhered  to  be  ^^Uiftba 

jolihe  other  houfe— That  eV^ry.^ifhop  fluil  confine  the  i^rcAe 

I9f  hia  epifcopal  offet' to  jMa  proper  diocefe-7-IVt  n6  j^rftip 

Jhall  be  admitied^t^  J^  drdeh,  until  examined  by  thii  UQ^ 

and  two  prelbyteirMf^  Ihall  W  be  ordained  uiftil'fi^flu^ 

havo  lubfcriM  the'«bltowtng  declaration-."  1  do  bejii^  ti* 

|ioly  Scriptwea  of  the  Old  and  Mew  Teftament  toW  tiMif%roi^ 

p^Co^t  and  to  contlih  alt  thlngt  neteOai^y  to  ftlvaM  V  >^  I  <t^ 

Iblbnnly  engage  to  Conform  to  the  dO(|teine$aia4%iH|^  if  tl^ 

fl^ftant  Epiicopal  Church  in  the  Ul^Eii4  Statti/"  '  - 

They  have  not  yet  adopted  any  articles  of  reli|;ioQ  other  than 
jthofe  cohtained  in  the  Apoftlea  ind 'tlicene  r.rge^a^ "'  ■flfH^^m^- 


|>er  of  their  churches  in  the  United  States  is  not  a&eiHtai^  $  M 
New  England  there  are  between  forty  and  fifty;  but  ii)  t1i6 
fouthern  Otytes,  they.arp  much  more  numerous.  Four  BiChops. 
vfs.  of  Conneifticut,  New  York,  Pennfylvania,  and  Virginia,  hlo« 
beien  ele&ed  by  the  conventions  of  their  refpeftive  Suutf  a,  and 
have  been  duly  confecrated.  The  former  by.  the  Biihops  of  the 
Scotch  Church,  the  three  latter,  by  th»  3iihops  of  the  Englilh 
church.  And  thefe,  in  September  ij^^t  united  in  the  confe- 
cration  of  a  fifth,  eleoed  by  the  convention  of  the  ftate  of  Ma- 
|7land. 

BAPTISTS. 

The  Baptifts,  with  feme  exceptions,  are  upon  the  Calviniflic 
plan,  as  to  doflrines,  and  independents  as  to  church  government 
and  difcipline.  Except  thole  who  are  ftyled  "  open  communion 
baptifts,"  of  whom  there  is  but  ope  aflbciation,  they  rcfufe  to 
pomniunicate  in  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper  with  other 
flenominations ;  becaufe  they  hold  that  immerfion  only  is  the 
true  baptiim,  and  that  baptifm  is  ncceffary  to  communion  ;  it  is, 
therefore  inconfiftent,  in  their  opinion,  to  admit  unbaptized  per- 
fons  to  join  with  them  in  this  ordinance ;  though  they  allow 
mini^rs  of  other  denominations  to  preach  to  their  congregations, 
and  to  a  (Tift  in  ordaining  their  miniflers. 

They  have  regular  colleged  eflablifhmcnts,  and  maintain  a 
pnflant  communication  with  each  other  by  means  of  annual  and 


f  f. 


9ENMK4LM9CA^PTi$ifW 

>tlwCI|  iSb^iUoiiay  u  th&f  ftooid  in  the 


■  *»'■- 


-^  Ifaflkcfitilfettt  H 

_.^')iaipipflMre     —  New  Hupplliirt 

<|.|^(Mdftock  —  Newlili|^|Mi«  mA  Vfrmfliit 

Wtrreii  —  H»9mmm$t,  . 


Idmi         — 


Hhii  M  Maflkchufettt 


'^r 


•-       Rhode  lii»if#|qimiic 

.^  ^       ^onneftifwft:^'';'-'-'  .^ 

vW^.'illipjlfUild  eml  Viffliii* 
-ii  V  yirgbit 
Bk     —       Ditto 
—     ,  Ditto 
17    •Dovir  ditto         ^       Ditto 

*  Lower  do.f  &  Kehukey  Ditto  and  Nfirth  C»roltna 

Ditto  '  * 

Ditto  s 

Ditto  and  North  Carolina 


if  •Middle ditto        — 

80  .t^il^r  ditto     ..   - 

at  iMUftOikjditto^  ^ 

e«  *  South  Kentucky  ti.       Ditto 

83  North  Kentucky     •U.-       Ditto 

t%  Ohio  — 

t5  Holfton  •— 

a6  Sandy  Creek  — 

87  Yadkin  — 

s8  Charlefton  -— 

89  Bethel  — • 

go  Georgia  -r- 


Ditto 

North  Carolina 

Ditto 

Ditto 

South  Carolina 

Ditto 

Georgia 


Nqtt  —The  nine  Affpcittion*  in  the  above  lift  nuurlwl  •  meet  in  •  General 
Committee  by  their  reprefent^tivet  at  Richmond,  in  the  month  of  May  annually. 


f  A  reparation  of  thefe  Aflbdationa  hat  fince  tak^  ^ace,  and  this  now  bean 
the  name  oithe  Virginia  Portfmouth  AflTociatioa 


''HP%. 


'^'  ■ 


Fomth  Wtam<»y&itwnii|ii 
Firft  WfdMfilqr  in  0fti>U       ^  ., 
IVaefiivjr  aftiif  Um  iii  Wad.  in  ^ 
HiM  FrUhy  in  tilifHiit 
TWrdFridtyuijiS^ 
nirdTiMfdiylaOaokir^ 
FantOi  WfaiMii%  k  |||itr 

FiffftW«4iwrd«yia>M 

'mHSmf^Myiuoekim  ^ 

TPH  SMuidiy  in  Aii^ak'mti 
tUrd  Friday  in  Auguft  i' 

'^**  Wednefdty  an  8^ 

Splttd  Friday  ipQ^phii^AH, 

Firil  Friday  in  |&y«,dO«i; 
Fourtli  Saturday  in  May,  A  sd  _^ 

Firft  Saturday  ilk  May  and  Ofti^U      «« 
Fourth  Satuoiay  in  Ma/,  ft  ift  in  Oft.  1% 
Second  Sat.  in  June,  ^  4th  in  Oa.        «g   *' 
Foui«i  Fri^y  in  May  and  Oftober      i*^ 
May  and  Oftober      ♦  ...  ^q, 

Firft  Saturday  in  June,  A  ad  itf  01^  i  J 

Fourth  Sa£urday  in  0£bber        -i  to 

fourth  Saturday  in  April  ft  Sc^  it 

Fourth  Saturday  in  Oftober        -*  a6 

Second  Saturday  in  Auguft         q 

Second  Saturday  in  May  and  Oftober  »a 


Churchtea  not  belonging  to  AiToci- 
ations,  . 


Seventh  Day  Baptifta 

TTotal 


45a 

100 

is* 

#a 
564 


60979 


"■^-."ft*i 


Since 


H 

1^ 

1 

''    s 

^H 

1-   . 

11 

►"» 

H 

H 

HHi 

* 

ffl 

H 

^^Bai 

•■ 

H 

S' 


«.««li 


mscilpfiaif 


Since  the  tbo#l  perMi;i|,  M^counts  of  fix  OT^er  aflcNKiaUfnii  naf# 
t^hf4;1|iP^«tidy  'nwC'^VM^tng  to^akk. account  tikeh  bySMr. 
J<p|hn^^lNt^il<i,  « nrinMNnr  of  the  baptift  denolhination,  yirho  has 
f raVdIlfPilrougtiiibf ;  1^  States|  to  tfcerttiii  their  number 
%iid  kneii   llieiifcuient  of  their  diurchtf4minifters  and  clmrch 


i$w 


In  Ifew  |||pp(hirtf 
t^  MaflacKiiMtts 

^,-)||^odeJiiind  - 

Verai^nt 
>^v»rtorK 

^eiinfylvani* 
£wlaware 

y»^ma 

We%pf  Ten^itory 
North  Carol^   * 
Decedcd  Territory 
South  Carolina 
Georgiji 

Total 


'"'•fa'" 


:5?r.f 


ad 

1.,-^* 

9 

#1  ■ 

»5T 

n-^ . 

4® 

1^ 

68 
48 

868 


»5 
4« 
33 

710 


47 
♦  8» 

i  39 
it 

15 

ap 

9 

7 
1 

*^3. 

21 

6 
a8 

9 

422 


7»'i6 
8S0* 

3"4 
1610 

39»7 
«^79 
1^ 

4% 
77§ 

3105 

30 


88^ 

4012 
3184 

h$f5 


To  this  account,  it  is  prefumed,  that'ubout  two  thoufand  five 
hundred  members,  and  forty-five  churches,  ought  to  be  added— 
making  the  whole  number  of  churcbes  about  nine  hundred  and 
ten,  and  the  members  about  fixty-feven  thoufand.  But  at  lead 
three  times  as  many  attend  their  meetings  for  public  worftiip  as 
have  joined  their  churches,  which|  we  may  i'uppofc,  are  in  prin- 
ciple Baptifts,  thefe  will  make  the  whole  number  of  that  deno- 
mination in  the  United  States  two  hundred  and  one  thoufand,  or 
a  twenty-fifth  part  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  leading  principles  of  the  regular  or  particular  Baptifls  are 
— The  imputation  of  Adam's  fin  to  his  poflerity ;  the  inability  of 
man  to  recover  himfetf ;  e£Feftual  calling  by  fovereign  grace ;  juf- 
tification  by  the  imputed  righteoufnefs  of  Chrift ;  baptifm  by  im- 
mcillon,  and  that  on  profcflion  of  faith  and  repentance ;  congre- 
gational churches,  their  independency,  and  reception  into  them 
upon  evidence  of  found  converfion. 


M,: . 


«<€"' 


OT^JiS\(fNlT£D  Sa'HTfS. 


^rr 


Ij 


H  t  T  A  R  t  A  N  S. 


The  Unitaritns,  or  at  tliey  are  dcoominned,  though  not  with 
ftri£l  pibpriety,  Socinians,  are  far  from  being  nameroua  in  the 
Uifkttcd  Statet,.,  tl^,  ||i)Lyf|^.,bDwever,  receiv^  confiderableji  addi- 
tions of  l|keilr(^i|mMiiApartt^«f  Great  Britain}  theg(^crout 
•fcuch^^^£^|y|^|j||^l  ^hriiUana,  to  thccaufe  «f  civ>}^d  res 
Ugi9^8  J^Mn^yi^ltj^^^  out  at  objc£l»  of  the  dread  and 

Trnm^mpfj^mf^^  every  manoeuvre  has  been 

||rie%  and  cVeiy  jnjlfepe  exerted  to  ftnk  them  in  thc.edecm  of 
t|lij^f|^tfyi|pn»»,jt^  confequ^^  that  many 

|)li|h^,|^1^e  |o^nd|  b  neoifla^/:^*  fipell^^a  rc/i,dence  in  a- country 
lpn»'^<P(?tlgcnial  wiMt  their  i«intiaifliii||i|  «Qdr  views  of  the  right&of 
pinViQ4» If Hd  where  |:hey  ait  «tij|y,t)|eir  religious  principles 
.W^hovt;  iloliticaljde|(radajti99«<  '^PK^b|J^:^)k  char»£^rs  whfch  arc 
iflornunent  to  this  0^s  of^€l^ftia||f^' ikd  ««]^om  the  tingrateful 
^d  unrelentinff  han4>f  f<irfec^ioii|lt|; driven  to  the  f^bfpiuble 
H^tfes  pf  ehei^nited  StateS|  j^  names^f  ?fkiE$ttt^9^nt-L, 
tnMCoQrtu,  deferte  partl^ar  iH)t#:e;  the  fontse^'of.  thefe 
ch«r^6Urs  hu  long  been  celebrated  "is,  Si^hilofopher,  and  tKe  avow- 
ed :C$tiKl|i|ioo  .9!  the  y^itiM-ian  Baith.  .In  both  thefe  fituations, 
lu^iOT^er  we  may  •4iffer  from  hl4*in  opinion,  shis  candour,  zeal, 
tnd  per^verancej  entitle  him  to  our  adihiration ;  but  as  the  " 
rRitND  or  jiiANJIiN.0,  he  claims  more  than  admiration— 'H i. 
cpHMANDs.  OUR  iiTBSM— thediredion  of.his  philofophical  pur- 
fuits  to  the  benefit  of  his  fellow  creatures— 4he  warmth  and  abili-  t- 
tywrth  which  he  has  efpoufed  and  defended  th3C,caufe  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty^  the  patience,  fortitude^  and  refignation 
with  which  he  hastndured  the  mod  cruel  and  unjuft  perl'ecuti- 
ons— the  difcovery  of  the  moft  amiable  difpofition  to  thofe  who 
differed  with,  and  even  perfccuted  him,  will  endear  his  memory 
to  pofterity,  and  awaken  the  utmoft  abhorrence  and  indignation 
at  that  fpirit  of  bigotry  and  p^rty  rage,  which  forced  him  from 
his  country  and  friends,  and  obliged  him,  at  an  advanced  period 
of  life,  to  leek  an  afylum  acro(is  the  Atlantic :  America  will, 
however,  value  what 'Britain  defpii'cd,  and  will  no  doubt  amply 
reward  hi|n  for  all  \\\t  pad  fufferings>>— 4iis  name  will  live  in  the 
afFe£lions  of  fucceeding  ages,  whila  thole  of  his  pcrfccutors  will 
,be  configned  to  the  infamy  they  merit. 

It  will  he  unneCeifary  here  to  fay  any  thing  on  the  peculiar 
tenets  of  the  Unitarians,  asUhey  have  been  of  late  fo  amply. and 
ably  diculfcd,  and  iii.a  variety  of  forms,  sdaplcd  to  every  clafs  of 


1 


•;r 


M 


Vol.  I. 


i^t  GgNERALDESCXlPTIOir 

rea^lers,*  we  fhali  therefore  paifs  to  a  confideration  of  the  peeplef 
called  Quakers* 


Qo 


A  K  E  a  a. 


IfM^denothmhtlion  of  Chri(tians  arofe  a&ottt  the'yekr  1648^  atiii 
were  firft  toUe£led  into  religious  focieties  by  dieir  highly  refpeft- 
ed  elder,  Osoact  Fd-x.  They  emigrftteii^  to  America  ia  early 
as  i  6-56.  The  firfl  fettlei^s  of  PehnfylvailiA  Were  all  of  thir  dtetio. 
mination  t  aiulcheniitaiber  of  theif  meelingvin  the  United*  States^ 
it  prefent,  is  about  three  hundred  akid  twenty.  ^ 

Their  doftrinal  tenets  nSay  be*  coneifely  exprefifed  af  follows— « 
In  common  with  other  ChriflliartS,- tftn^  believe  inr  One  Eternal 
God,  and  in  Jefus  Chrift  the  Mefliah  and!  Medialbf  df  the  new 
Covenant.  To  Chrift  alone,  in  whofe  divinity  they  believe,'  they 
give  the  title  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  not  to  the  fcriptures ;  yet 
they  nrofefs  a  high  efteem  for  the  facred  writings,  in  fubordinttk. 
on  to  the  Sjurit  who  indited  them,  and  believe  that  they  are  abfe| 
through  feith,,^  to  make  men  wife  to  falvation— They  reverence 
the  exceilient  precepts  of  Scripture,  and  believe  them  pra£H<!able 
and  binding  on  every  Chriftian;  and  that  in  the  life  to  come, 
every  man  will  be  rewarded  according  to  his  works.  In  order  to 
enable  mankind  to  put  in  praftice  diefe  precepts,  they  believe, 
that  every  man  coming  into  the  world  is  endued  with  a  meafure 
of  the  Light,  Grace,  or  Good  Spirit  of  Chrift ;  by  which  he  is 
enabled  to  diftinguilh  good  from  cvit,  and  corrcffc  the  diforderly 
paflions'  and  corrupt  propenfities  of  his  nature,  which  mere  reafon 
iis  altogether  hifufficieht  to  ovf^^come— that  this  divine  grace  is,  to 
thofe  who  fmcerely  feelt  it,  an  all-fufficient  and  prefent  help  in 
time  of  need— and  that  by  it  the' faare»  of  the  enemy  are  detcAed, 
his  allurements  avoided,  and  deliverance  experienced^  through 
faith  in  its  efFcd:ual  operation,  and  the  foul  tranilated  out  of  the 
kingdom  of  darknbfs  into  the  marvellous  light  and  kingdom  of 
the  Son  of  God— Thus  perfuaded,  they  think  this  divine  influ- 
ence cfpeclally  neccfTary  to  the  performance  of  the  higheft  aft  of 
whicli  the  human  mind  is  capable,  the  worftiip  of  God  in  fpiVit 
and  in  truth  ;  and  therefore  conllder,  as  obftru£lion  to  pure  wor- 
ihip,  all  forms  which  divert  the  mind  from  the  fecret  influence 
of  this  unftlon  of  the  Holy  One—Though  true  worfhtp  is  not 
confined  to  time  or  place,  they  believe  it  is  incumbent  on  church* 
es  to  meet  often  together,  but  dare  not  depend  for  acceptance  on 
a  formal  repetition  of  the  M'ords  and  experience  of  others — They 
think  it  tlieir  duty  to  wait  in  filcnce  to  have  a  true  fight  of  their 

*  If  the  reader  Ihould  wifli  for  information  on  the  fubjc£l,  he  is  referffd  to 
Lindfey't  IhJlmCtU  FUm  of  the  UnitarutH  DtSnnt,  &c. 


CF  TU$  UNITSB  9TAT£S, 


'    319 


condition  beftowcd  on  them-;  and  believe  even  a  finglc  figl^  ari- 
fing  from  a  fenfe  .of  their  infirmitiea  and  need  of  divine  help  to 
be  more  acceptahle  to  God,  than  any  perjTonpancei  vrhich  .origi- 
nate in  .the  wiU  of  matn. 

They  helieve  the  renewed  aKftance  of  the  light  and  power  of 
Chrift,  which  is  not  at  coqunand»  nqr  attainable  by  (tuify,  but 
the  free  gift  of  God,  to  be  indllpenfahly  nojceflary  to  a  ti'iuc  gof- 
pel  miniftry-— Henc.e  4rifea  their  tefUpiony  againft  preaiching  for 
hire,  and  conCcieotiloufi  refufal  ^o  fupport  any  fuch  miniftry  by 
tythes  or  othpr  means.  As  ithey  dare  not  encourage  any  minif- 
try,  but  fuch  as  they  believe  to  ^ring  from  the  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit ;  fo  neither  dare  ,thcy  ajttempt  to  reftrain  this  influ- 
irnreto  perfons  of  any condition  in  life,  or  to  the  male  fex->-but 
allow  fuch  of  the  female  fex  as  appear  to  he  qualified,  to  cxerci.fo 
l^heir  gifts  for  the  genei^  edification  of  the  church. 

They  hdid  thalL  as  there  is  one  Lord  and  one  faith,  fo  his  bap 
'  tifm  is  one  i;i  nature  and  operation,  and  that  nothing  /hort  of  it 
can  make  ufr  living  members  of  his  myftical  body ;  nnd  that  bap- 
tifm  with  water  belonged  to  a  difpenfation  ii^^rior  to  the  prc- 
fient.  With  refped:  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  fhey  believe  that 
communication  between  Chrift  and  his  church  is  not  maii^tained 
by  that  nor  any  other  external  ordinance,  but  only  by  a  real 
participation  of  his  divine  nature,  through  faith  ;  that  this  is  the 
fupper  alluded  to  in  Rev.  iii,  20-«««nd  that  where  the  fubftance 
is  attained,  it  is  unneceflary  to  attend  to  the  fliadow. 

Believing  that  the  grace  of  God  is  alohe  fu^cient  for  falva« 
tion,  they  can  neither  admit  that  it  is  conferred  on  a  few  only, 
while  others  are  lefjt  without  it ;  nor,  thus  averting  its  uoiver- 
fality,  pvi  they  lim>t  it$  operation  to  a  partial  cleanfing  of  the 
foul  from  fin,  even  in  this  ljfe-«vQn  the  contrary  they  believe 
that  God  doth  vouchfafe  to  afllft  the  ob  dient  to  fubmit  to  the  guid^ 
ance  of  his  pure  fpirit,  through  whofc  aljfiilancc  they  are  enabled 
to  bring  forth  fruits  unto  holinefs,  and  to  ftand  perfeEl  in  their 
prefent  rank. 

As  to  oaths,  they  abide  literally  by  Chriid's  pofitive  injuncv 
tion,  ^'SwEAa  not  at  all."  They  believe  that  **  wars  and 
fightings"  are,  in  their  origin  and  effd^,  utterly  repugnant  to 
the  Qofpel,  which  breathes  peace  and  good-will  to  men*.  They 
alfo  are  firmly  perfuadcd,  that  if  the  benevolence  of  (he  Gofpcl 
were  generally  prevalent  in  the  minds  of  men,  it.  would  efFc£lu- 

*  During  the  lata  yrar,  (bme  of  their  numbert  contrary  to  this  article  or  their 
faith  thought  it  their  duty  to  take  up  arms  in  defence  of  their  country.  Thit  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  feceffion  from  their  brethren,  und  they  now  form  a  (ieparatc 
congregation  in  phiU^elphia,  by  the  nan^e  Qf  the  *' Refilling  or  iightiqg  Qua 

3^8 


#» 


cENmd^  AfiscniprJKfM' 


trA,*, 


Ally  Invent  them  firdAoppi^ffing  mudi  mere  from  enfiMrtiigr^ 
tlib^'^ethren,  of  whttevw  f^ntif^lexion ;  alul  would  eyeit  inflay 
eil^-tH^r  tfeattnent  of  ihe  briite  creation;  "Which  would  nci 
longer  groan  the  viftims  of  their  avarice,  Of  of  their  falfe  ideav 
of^tttifvUc^-^Thty  jph>fefs  that  their  printiptcs,  which  Inculcate 
fubmiCTidii  to  ^e  liWi  iff <  all  cafes  wher«n  confcienfe  i»*  not 
yiotatfed^  area  ieCurrty  to  the  falutary  piir|fofea  of  goirernn^ent* 
But  they  hold  that  the  civil  nia(|i(lratehwn«i  right  to  interfere 
ih  matters  of  religion,  and  think  perijKSutioi»,  in  apy  degree  un- 
wai'hintablet  They  rgeft  the  ufe  of  thofe^  iiiiines  of  the  months 
and  days,  which,  having  been  given  In  kMout  of  the  heroes  «r  gwb 
^  the  kedtkettf  orif^innUid  in  then-  Qattefy  or  fu]ilerftitioni  *,  anid 
the  Cuftom  of  fpeakinj;  ti?  a'fingle  p*rfoh  Itt  the  jp|ural  nuili^ri 
as  having,  arifen  alfo  from  motives  of  adu|i|i6nf  CompUmentSi 
fuperfluUy  of  apparel  br  furniture^  outvfard  (hews  of  «cjoictifi| 
or  mourning,  and  obfervationa  of ;  days  and  times,  they  deem  in- 
compatible with  the  iimplicity  and  fincerity  of  a  Chiiftian  life-r^ii 
and'thiey  condemn  public  diverifions,  gaimipg  and' other  vaaii 
^  jinniiemenLtl  of  the  world,  They  require  no  formal  fubfcripttoti 
to  any*  arii%|c5^'  cither  as  the  pondition  of  memberftiip,  or  to  t{ui* 
lify. 'for  thfe  fervice  of  the  church, 

To  effd^'  the  falutary  purpofe$  of  diftipUitt',  ^pNTHtv^ 
Qo  A  R  TE  R  L  y ,  and  Y  ?  A  k  tV  meetings  are  eftablilhed.  A  monthly  . 
tueeting  is  compofcd  of  foveral  ncighboUring>  Congrc^tions.  It* 
bufinefs  is  to  provide  for  the  fubfiftence  of  the  |ioorj  and  fpr  the 
education  of  their  offspring— fto  judge  of  the  fvuderity  and  fiiT 
nefs  of  perfpns  appearing  to  be  cohvihcedof  the  niAlgious  prin- 
ciples of  the  fopitty,  and  djfiring  to  be  idmifctcd-to  memberftiip  j 
^to  excite  diie  attention  jo  the  djfcharge  of  religious  and  moral 
duties ;  to  deal  with  diforderly  membcr£-^ttt  appoint  overfeers 
to  lee  that  the  rules  of  their  difcipline  are  put  in  praflice---tQ 
allow  of  marriages,  &c,+  » 

*  In  the  prefent  ftruggle  of  liberality  and  humanity,  a|ainft  av^ice  aodcrtalty, 
in  defence  of  the  Blacks,  the  Quake  as  have  had  the  rignal  honow  of  having  firft 
fet  the  illuilrious  example  of  aiming  at  a  total  emancipation. 

+  Their  mode  of  marrying  i»  as  follows— Thofe  who  intend  to  marry,  appear 
ti^ther,  and  propofe  their  intention  to  the  monthly  meeting,  and  if  not  attended 
by  their  parents  or  guar,dians«  produce  a  written  certificate  of  their  conCnrt,  fign. 
cd  in  the  prefcncc  of  witnefles.  The  meeting  then  appoint*  a  committee  to  in- 
quire whether  they  are  clear  of  other  engagiimcntt  ferpefting  marriage ; '  and  if  at  • 
a  fubffquent  meeting,  to  which  the  purties  alfo  come  aft j  declare  the  continuance 
of  their  intention,  no  o6je£lions  are  reported,  they  have  the  meeting's  confent  to 
folemnize  their  intended  marriage.  This  it  done  in  a  public  meetingfor  worfliip, 
towards  the  clofe  of  whicti  the  parties  ftand  up  and  folemnly  take  each  other  for 
hufband  and  wife.  A  certificate  of  the  proceedings  is  then  publicly  read,  and 
figned  by  the  parties,  and  afterwards  by  the  relatioAs  and  others  as  wit|»C%^» 
which  clofes  the  folemnity. 


A  quarterly  meeting  iscoi^pofed  of  fcvend  monthly  meeting* 
At  thia  meeting  are  produiced  wrttlell  anfWers  from  monthly 
meetings,  to  certain  «|ueftion8  r^lpeaing  the  conduft.  9f  their 
members  and  the  n^eejing's  qir^^y^r  j^fcem,  tfeaewnrnti  thus 
recewed,  are  digefted  and  font  hy  ttpWienjativeii  tt>  ific  vcirfv 
meetiijg,  i^pca^iy<mtheju 
brought  to  the  quarterly  meeting^;  ^^  *'  '^ 

The  yearly  meet%ha.  the  gei^,^  |uperinten4amiof  the 
fi^i«y  m  the  coumry  m  i^hich  it  is  eSibliflied.'  fi^  bufim^ 
of  this  meeting  i^  to  gjvfe  |orth  iijs  adyi«^„^c  Aw*  reguIatW 
asappear  t^  be  req^ifi^c.  or  excite  50  the  obfervncc  6f  t)^ 
already  wi<le,  &,  Appeals  froin,  thf  j„4|5ment  of  qusS 
meetings  sr«hj^  finsily  determine<i  ^  a^MycSS 

V    As^  bel^e^omen  maybejpgh%i^ilidto  the>^ 
$he  ^uuftry,  they  al^o  think  th^w«^y  |WJn  ,h?  C^fliandii: 
^  Accordingly  j^  ^  U^^^ 

place  with  t^ofe  of  the  i»en;  bM^  %^ratcly  and  wkhout  the 
power  of  making  rules,  ?^^^^»ttne 

_  Their  elders  and  njirj^fters  have  ,^e?i„gs  peculiar  to  th^i^es. 
n  '^^^^'^KS.^Ued  meetings  of  mini%s  and  eld^^g^ 
nera^ly  held  ,p  the  ^ompafe  pf  cadi  inpnthly,  quaS^^ 
yearly  meeting^for^he  purpofe  of  ^excltiiig  each  other  to  the 
difcharg.  of  their  le>.^  dutie^f  .^i^n,  advW  lo'ih^ 
whomay  appear  w<^k,^c.  They  alfo,  in jthe  intervals  6^^ 
yearly  meettngs,  |yc^  c<^ti6cates  to  thofc  pinifter,  who  trave}' 
abroad  in  the  work  of  the  miniary.  ^^^ 

Tbe  year^  mcc^n^  l^cld  in  London,  in  1675,  appointed  a 
njce^ing  to  be  held  m  that  pity,  for  the  pun>ofc  of  idwSnk  or 
aOifting  in  cafe^  of  Ibffering  for  confoie^  ^e,  cilled  a  ^,°' 
fng  for  fuffcnngs,  which  is  yet  cjontinued,  It  i,  compofcd  of 
Friends  under  the  pame  of  correfpondents,  chofen  by  the  fcveral 
quarterly  meetings,  who  refid-  in  and  near  the  city.  This 
meeting  IS  entrufted  with  the  care  of  printing  snd  diftributing 
books,  and  with  the  management  of  its  ftock.  Ind  confidered  as  I 
ftandmg  conimittee  of  the  yearly  meeting.  J„  „o„c  of  their 
meetings  have  they  a  Prefident.  as  they  believe  Divine  wifdom 
alohe  ought  to  pnrflde ;  not  has  any  member  a  right  to  claim  pre- 
eminence  over  the  reft.  *^ 


8«* 


CEtrSMAl  DESCRIPTION 


MStHOpitTt. 

The  Methodift  denomination  of  Chriftiarts  arofe  in  England 
»n  1 739  s  a|i4  i9)adc  their  firft  appearance  in  America  abbut  twen. 
ty-four  yeaw  llnce.  Their  gpneral  ilyle  is,  "  The  United ,  So- 
cieties of  the  Methodift  Epifcopal  ChurcW."  They  profeft 
themfelves  to  be  '*  A  company  of  xAiexi  having  the  form  and 
fcekirig  the  power  of  godlinefs,  united  in  order  to  pray  togc» 
ther,  to  receive  the  word  of  ejchoitation,  and  to  watch  over 
one  another  in  love,  that  they  may  help  each  other  to  work  out 
their  falvation.'*  Each  fociety  i»  divided  into  claffes  of  twelve 
perfons;  one  of  whom  is  (iiled  iiie  Leader,  whofe  bufiii^fs  it  is 
to  Tee  eacH  perfon  in  hit  daft  once  a  week,  in  order  to  enquire 
how  thci^  fouls  profper,  to  advife,  reprdye,  comfort,  or  exhort 
as  bccafion  may  require}  and  to  receive  contributions  for  the 
relief  of  Church  and  Poor,  In  order  to  admiMon  iiito  theij- 
focieties  they  rfe^uire  onl^one  condition,  vi*.  ♦*  Aitfirt  U  fia 
from  ihe  wrdik  to  cmt,  i.  e.  a  defire  to  be  faved  from  kheir  fins." 
It  Is  expdfted  of  alt  who  continue  in  their  fidcietics,  that  they 
^oi^  evidence  their  defire  of  falvation,  by  doing  no  harm,  by 
ayoidilME  jJji  manner  of  evil,  by  doing  all  manner  of  good,  ^ 
they  have  ability  apd  opportunity,  ei'pecially  t6  tbc  houfchold 
of  fiiiih;  cmployin|thcm  preferably  to  others,  tuying  of  one 
another,  ««/^  they  can  h  firved  htter^elfewjure^  and  helping  each 
Other  in  .bufmeiisr^An4  alfo  b^  aUendifig  upon  all  the  ordinan. 
cesof  pod  J  fuch  as  public  worlhip,  the  fupper  of  the  Lord, 
family,  and  private  prayer,  fcajr^hing  the  fcriptures,  and  failing 
pr  abftinence.  jhe)ate  ^t,  Johp  Wefley  is  confidered  as  the 
father  of  this  olafs  of  Mcthq^ifts,  who,  as  they  deny  feme  of 
the  leading  CalvihiftipdpAripc'r  and  hold  fome  of  the  peculiar 
tenets  of  Arminius,  may  be  called  A^mi^^j^n  Methobistsu— 
The  late  Mr.  Whitpfield  ^as  the  lea4er  ef  the  Calvii«istic 
MEtHODisTs,  who  are  not  very  numerpus  in  the  United  States, 
the  greater  part  being  how  formc4  into  Independent  Calvinift 
jchurches,  or  mixed  with  Congrcgationalifts  and  Prefbyterians* 

In  1788,  the  number  of  Wefieian  Mctjipdifts  in  ^he  ynite^ 
States  ftood  as  follows : 

P^elaware        \  . 
Pcnnfylvania  j 

New  Jcrfcy  -       • 

New  Vo»'k  r 


peorgia     -     - . 
South  Carolina 
North  Carolina 
Virginia       - 
Maryland     • 


soil 

6779 
^4.356 
ii,oi7 


^99^ 


»75» 
2004 


Total     43,2§? 


■m'- 


^ngltnd 
t  twen* 
ted,  So- 

profe^ 
)tm  and 
\y  toge» 
ck  over 
ork  out 
f  twelve 
«ft  it  is 
l  enquire 
it  exhort 
'  tot  the 
i(to  theii: 
r*  t9  fitt 
eir  fin*." 
that  they 
harm,  ky 

good,  a;s 
hioufehold 
a  of  one 
piffg  each 

ordinan*. 

he  Lor^t 
id  fafting 
:d  as  the 
fome  of 
[p  peculiar 

)Pl8TS!i-» 

IviifisTiC 
\ed  States, 
Calvinift 
lerianst 

United 


or  THE  UNITED  StMTEX 


i«3 


199* 
2004 


,  Siiide  thitefUmate  of  their  numbervwu  ttl(eii|  Iktaim  few  fcai- 
tering  fooictiin  have  been  cdlefted^  in  diffirent  puru  off  the  New 
EngUnd  Statc%  and  their  nunlMrt incMafed  tnetharputt;  (• 
that  in  179^  die  whaik  connexion  amountdd  tp  fifty^feyentheu^ 
land  fix  hundred)  and  tvrentypone.  To  fuperintend  the  HMt^M* 
dift  connexion  in  America^  tlwy  had^  in  fj9$,  twehiihopv^ttitr*' 
ty  elders,  and  fifty  deac«ms.^ 

ROMAM    CaITHOXICS. 

Tlhe  whole  number  of  Romait  CAxAOtics'  ih  tfief  United 
$Utes  it  eftioMted  at  aboiit  fi^y  tlun^and ;  oHe  half  of  which  ard 
in  the  State  of  Maryland.  Their  ptculiar  ahd  leading  dbftrines 
andJBittiBtt  are  too  generally  known  to' need  a  recital  here;  They 
havlt  Ji  Bisaor,  who  refides  in  Baltimore,  and  many  of  thetf 

dongregrtJons  are  large  and  refpeAable. 

■  '    ■  -'■<-     •■  ■  *  ,,'■•' 

GxiiiAIt    LtJTHERAKS   AND    CALVIlTISTf. 

The  German  inhabitanta  in  thefe  ftatel,  who  princip^y  be- 
long to  Pennfylvania  and  New  York,  are  divided  into  JMriety 
of  fe^  {  the  principal  of  which  are  Lvthbraks,  CAi^iipii|sT», 
MoRAviAMs,  TvwxiRs,  and  MfNMioMiSTs.  Of  thefe  the 
(krman  Lutherans  are  the  moft  numerous.  Of  this  denomina« 
tion,  ind  the  Germrn  CalVinifts,.  who  are  next  to  them  in  num- 
bers,-there  are  upwards  of  fixty  miniftcrs  in  Pennfylvmiift-rfand 
the  -former  have  twelve,  and  the  latter  fix  churches  in  the  ftate 
of  New  York.  Many  of  their  churches  are  large  and  fplendid, 
and  in  fome  inftances  furnilhed  with  organs*  Thefe  two  deno- 
minations  live  together  in  the  greateft  harmony,  often  preaching 
ifk  each  other's  churches,  and  fometimes  uniting  in  the  credion 
of  a  church,  in  which  they  alternately  worlhip. 

M  O  R  A  V  I  AN  S. 

The  Moravians  are  a  refpeftable  body  of  Chriftians  in  thefe 
States.  Of  this  denomination,  there  were,  in  1788,  about  one 
thoufand  three  hundred  fouls  in  Pennfylvania ;  via.  at  Bethlehem, 
between  five  and  fix  hundred,  which  number  has  fince  increafed 
—•at  Naiartth,  foUr  hundred  and  fifty*— at  Litiz,  upwards  of 
three  hundred.  Their  other  fetttements,  in  the  United  States,  arc 
at  Hope,  in  New  Jcrfey,  about  ofic  hundred  fouls ;  at  Wachovia, 
on  yadkin  river.  North  Carolina,  containing  fix  churches.  Be- 
fidcs  thefe  regular  fettlements,  formed  by  fiich  only  as  arc  mem- 
bers of  the  brethren's  church,  and  live  together  in  good  order 
♦nd  harmony,  tl\crc  are  iti  different  parts  of  PfTinlylvaTiia,  Mii- 


I«4 


ettrikiit  HiiisviitjtTia/i 


^fV^' 


t)dahd,  and  Neyr  JeiTsy,  aAd^ia  the  dtiite  ofrH«Wpo^V  (fthb^ 
l^rfd)  K«W  T^dc^  inubildphM,  LancafterfiVorlutbwhf  riAc. 
Mngtegatittiii  «f  th^  braib^mH  ^^Atf  have  thctfi  ow^tMr^g  jmd 
huniftertfi  ind  Hotd  UielifM~pviiietplBS,'n<d  diB^bftaiit^et^  tnd 
ehumh  vil«t  and  ocMmontel  «•  the  ibnncr,'-  thndgh  tiieij^  locaf 
fituiituM»dM4  not  tdnui  df  (uch  p«Hicular  «e||uhKiiMiii  m  are  pe* 
Culiar  to  the  regular  fettlements.         .       >     .       n  i>r-. 

They  call  themfelvea  **The  XJmirxb  ButtHRtir  6r  the 
l*ROTE«fADT  Eri»edpAt  GHVRtH."  They  are  called  Mora. 
Vians,  beetufe  the^rft  feujer*  in  ihe  EngUfii  dqimnion»;;were 
chiefly  emigrants  from  Nlonyp|^  tlieie  werei.ti^e  rfn^n^ntaofl 
geouine  defcepidai^^s  of  the  antieht  llnited  Brf^ffn,  e|iabli^«(i 
in  Bohemia,  and  Moravia,  aacarty  aa  (he  year  <;^'$6.  ^^ut  the 
im<^le  of  the  laft  century,  they  left  thejr  na^jjyi?  cjwntiy  to 
avdd  perfecution^  i(nd  to  enjoy  Liberty  of  .cen{i:ici)ypji|j,^jhe 
true  etercifeof  the  religion  of  their  forefathers.  Th^y  were 
received -in,&iy<myi  and,otli|cr  Prpteftant  dpntin^o^s,  a|i^  wct« 
encouraged  to  fettle  among  them,  and  were  joined  by  many  {t^ 
rtoult^^tf  W  mhtt  dotniniona;  i  Thhy  adhera  to  tht ;i^|u|[ine 
CoiniftA'-^of  Faith)  xvhich,^aa^dnwiii  4tp»  bfthe  Frnftartt  Di> 
Vinea^ <l«e tiineiof » the  riformatibn iii  Certiutny^  Ak  th^  year 
<530^  i^d  pi^efented  at  fh«  ^Vpfthe  .empire mi' AtigARM^j  and 
whichj'it  that  time,  contained  Uie  do^#inal  fyftianctf  dl  the  efy> 
blilhed  Proteftalit  churches*  l^hey  retain  the  diftnplfAe  of  «heir 
ancientf  ehtii'ch,  and  niak^  ufe  of  Eptfcopal  ordination,  if(iich 
has  been  handed  down  to  them' iii  adire6t  linb  of  fuceeflion  for 
more  than  three  hundred  years/*  ' 

They  prof^fs  to  live  in  ftriS  obedience  to  the  ordinances  of 
Chrift,  fuch  as  the  obfervatioh  of  *He  Sabbath,  Infant  Baptifnt, 
and  the  Lord's  Supper;  and  in  addition  iothefe,^  they  pra^ice 
the  foot  wafliingi  the  kifs  of  love,  «n«i  the  ufe  of  tho  lot*  ■  '  •  ''■'•^ 

They  were  introduced  into  America  by  count  Zin^endorf, 
and  fettled  at  Bethlehem,  which  is  their  principal  fettlcment  in 
America  as  early,  as  1 7.41.  Regularity,  induftry^  injgeoui(y,  and 
economy,  are  chara£terillics  of  this  people/     '..,'" 

*  See  David  Crants'  Htft.  bf  ^Tfw  'tocieiit  iMl-  ittttiLtitii  VtMA'^tfUhnoh 
,Church»  tranflated .  from  tl»-G«fai»aii»  kf  diet  t^Bfi  B«i#a»io  |#|;1Vol^.'^  Loadoa, 
1780.  Thofe  w^  wiflt  to  obtain  a  t^miugh  pd  Jnipart^'kaoi|^)e)i^($  of  their  rf. 
ligjous  fentiments  aqd  cufionu,  in^y  (it  thiem  excellently  ruin9|.edvp  in  a  plain, 
but  nervDUt  iUle,  in  *  An  expofitibn  of  Chriftian  Dofifrine,  at  t«flght4n'tbe  Protef- 
tant  church  of  the.  Iftiited  Brethren,!  written  in  .German,  by  .A«  Gj:S^n|enklK 
and  tranflatcd  and  publiflied  in  Engliih  in  1784.  ,   ,   '       j:  .' 


i*'*^ 


:  riftc.' 
THE 

Mora- 
int.  aofk 


putt)ie 
ttfry  to 
iitd  thef 
sy  were! 
^  vret« 
lany  fc- 
ugulCine 
tartt  Di- 
iWi'  year 

theefb^ 
df  their 
<^iich 
»flion  for 

Ounces  of 

Bap^ifn*t 
pitaAicfc 

liendorf, 
Lcment  in 
ity^and 


■  of  their  i^ 
ingenbtC 


^      ^jyjS  UiflTEb^ STATES. 


T  V  N  R  B  Rt. 


i*-* 


The  TuMKiRi  are  To  called  in  derifion,  from  the  word  Tun^k< 
PN,  to  put  a  morfd  infaMce,  The  Englifli  wdrd  that  conveys  the 
proper  meaning  of  Tunkers  is  Sops  or  Dippers,  They  have  been 
aifo  called  Tumblers  from  the  manner  in  which  they  pcrforiii  bap. 
tifm,  which  is  by  putting  the  perfoiii  while  kneeling,  head  firft 
under  water,  fo  as  to  refemble  the  motion  of  the  body  in  the  ac- 
tion of  tumbling.  The  Germans  found  the  letters  <  and  ^  Hke  d 
•nd  j^;'  hence  the  words  Tunkers  and  TumlilerSi  have  been  cor- 
ruptly written  Dunkefi  and  Dumplef s* 

The  firft  appearing  of  tl.cfs  people  in  America  was  in  the  year 
1719,  when  about  twenty  families  landed  in  Philadelphia,  and 
di^rfed  themfdvei  in  various  parts  of  PeaYifylvania.  They  are 
wlut  are  called  General  Baptifts,  and  hold  the  doftrihe  oi^gen^. 
ral  redemption  and  general  (alvation.  They  ufe  great  ^]|innefs 
of  drefs  and  language,  and  will  neither  /wear  norfighty  nor  go  to 
laWf  nor  take  interejl  for  the  money  they  tend.  They  commonly 
wear  their  beardsU^keep  the  firft  day  Sabbath,  except  one  con- 
gregationx-^have  the  Lord's  Supper  with  its  ancient  at^i^ants  of 
Love-feafts,  with  walking  of  feet,  kits  of  charity,  and  i^ht  hand 
of  fellowflifp.  They  anoint  the  fick  with  oil  for  their  ri;covery, 
ami  tife  the  trine  immertion,  with  laying  on  of  hands  and  prayer, 
even  while  the  perfon  baptifed  is  in  the  water.  Their  church 
government  and  difcipline*  are  for  the  moft  part  fimilar  with 
thofe  of  the  Englifli  Baptifts,  except  that  ev6ry  brother  is  al- 
lowed to  fpeak  in  the  congregation }  and  their  beft  fpeakcr  is 
tifually  ordained  to  be  thtkir  minifter.  They  have  deacons,  and 
deaconelfes,  from  among  their  ancient  widows,  and  exhorters, 
who  are  all  licenfed  to  ufe  their  gifts  ftatedly.  On  the  whole^ 
jndtwithftanding  their  peculiarities,  they  appear  to  be  humble, 
WEtL-MEANiNG  Chuistians,  and  have  acquired  the  chara£ler 
of  the  Atfrm/^/^*  Tunkers, 

Their  principal  fettlement  is  a  Ephrata,  fometimes  called  Tun- 
kers To%vn,  in  Lancafter  county,  fixty  miles  weftward  of  Phila- 
delphia, It  conlifts  of  about  forty  buildings,  of  which  three  are 
places  ai  wprftiip  ;  one  is  called  Sharon,  and  adjoins  the  flftcr'a 
apartment  as  a  chapel ;  another j  belonging  to  the  brother's  apart- 
ment, is  called  Bethany.  To  thefe  the  brethren  and  fiftprs, 
refort,  feparately  to  werihip  morning  and  evening,  and  feme- 
times  in  the  night.  The  third  is  a  common  church,  called  Zion, 
where  all  in  the  fettlement  meet  once  a  week  for  public  worfhip, 
.^  *  It  would  be  exceedingly  happy  for  mankind,  if  this  epithet  could  be  be« 
ftqwed  on  the  profcfled  followers  of  every  other  religious  perfua&on, 

VoU  3  a 


i^^^^4f^  x^^^C'^ip  THyn 


The  brethren  have  idopted  the  WItte  Frier'i  dref%  with  fome 
•Iterations ;  the  fiflera  that  of  the  nuns ;  and  nuny  of  both  like 
them  have  taken  the  vow  of  celibacy.  AIF,  however,  dornot 
keep  the  vow.  When  they  marry,  they  leave  their  celU  and  go 
among  the  majrried  pepple.  They  fubfift  by  cultivating  thf(ir 
landi,  by  attending  a  printing  office, .%  grift  mill,  a  p^per  mill,,in 
oil  mill,  Ac.  and  the  fifters  by  f|^ti^ii^,  vreaying,  (ewii^g,  jAc, 
They  at  firft  fl^pt  .on  t^rd  couches,  but  nqw  on  bedi,  and. have 
otherwife  abated  nuach  of  their  former  fevei;ity,  This.coQgrega* 
tion  keep  the  feyenth  day  Sabbath.  Their  finging  ia  charming, 
owing  to  the  pleafantnefs  of  their  voices,  .{the  variety  of  pa^rts, 
and  the  devout ,  manner  of  perfonoance,  ,Bcfides  this  cpngrtega*. 
tion  at  Ephrata,  there  were,  in  1779,  fourtjSipn  .others  in  Various 
other  parts  of  PennfyWtkpia,  and  (biue  Jn  Marylai^.  ^The 
whole,  exdufive  pf  thofe  in  Maryland,  aii^uoted  to  upwaf4&<tf 
two  thouiand  fouls.         / 

M  c  N  M  O  N  I  s  T  s.     I 

The  MitM'ONiaTs  derive  their  name  from  Menno  Simon, ^a 
native  (i!|Wttmars  in  Germany,  a  man  of  learning,  bom  in  the 
year  t^o^in  the  time  of  the  reformation  by  Lutber  and  Calvin. 
He  was  a  famous  Roman  Catholic ,  preacher,  till  about  the  year 
1531,  when  he  became  «Baptift.  Some  of  his  fojloweri  cwne 
into  Pcnnfylvania  from  N'c^w«York  and, fettled  at. German-town, 
as  early  as  1692.  This  is  at  prefent  their  principal  congregation, 
and  the  mother  of  the  reft,  Thqr  whpte  .number,  in  1^70,  in 
Pennfylvania,  was  upwards  of  four  thouiand,  divided  into  thir« 
teen  churches,  end  fortyotwo  congiiegations,  under  the  care  of 
fifteen  ordained  minifters,  and  fifty-three  Ucenifed  preachers. 

The  Mennut^ifts  do  not,  like  the  Tunkejcs,  hold  the  doftri^e  of 
general  falvatio.n  ;  yet  like  x^vrciythey  mil  neither. futar  norjlght, 
nor  hear  any  civil  ofice,  n^r  go  to  law,  nor  take  intntefifor  thevAn^ 
they  lend  j  many,  however,  break  this  laft  .rule.  Some  yf  them 
wear  their  beards;  waOi  each  others  feet,  &c.  and  all  ufe  plain* 
nei's  of  fpcfch  and  .drefs,  .Some  have  been  expelled  their  fociety 
for  wearing  .buckles  in  their  ihoes,  and  having  pocket;-holes  in 
their  coats.  Their  church  government  is  denipcratical.  Hiey 
call  themfelves  the  Harmless  Christians,  REVENGitsss 
Christians,  and  Wsaponlbss  Christians.  They  are  Baptiftg 
rather  in  name  than  in  faft ;  for  they  do  not  uHe  immerfion. 
Their  common  mode  of  baptifm  is  this ;  the  perfon  to  be  baptii'ed 
kneels;  the  minifter  holds  his  hands  over  hiijri,  into  which  the 
deacon  pours  water,  which  runs  through  upon  the  head  of  the 
perfon  kneeling.  After  this,  follows  impofuipn  pf  bapds  iuad 
prayer. 


V<en  in 
The 
advocate 
who  em 
ciples 
which  tl 

Ankle 
aienttfor 


or  Tk£  l/}fITMB  STATES^ 


••7 


UnIvirsaiIiti. 

IClie  denomination  ililed  UNiviR*Atiita»  tlidugh  their  fcHemes 
•re  very  VairiouS)  may  properly  enough  be  divided  into  two  claf- 
l'e%  vl«k  Thofe  who  emlince  the  fcheme  of  Or.  Chaiinceyi  exhi- 
bited in  hit  book  entitled  "The  Salvation  of  all  Men;*'  ahd  the 
diiToiples  of  Kf  r»  Winchefter  and  Mr.  John  Mum^^ 

A'  judicious  Ajmmary  of  Dn  Chauncey^a  fentlmentft,haa  been 
gfven  in  H»  AdamU  View  of  Religions,  u  follow^:  \ 

**  That  the  fcheme  of  revelation  haa  the  happihefa  of  all  man- 
kind lying  at  bottom^  aa  its  great  and  ultimate  end)  that  it  gi«du- 
tlly  tends  to  thii  endi  and  will  not  ^ail  of  its  accom|>liJhment, 
When  foUy.completedii  Smne,  in  conQ^guence  of  its  operation, 
•f  conduced  by  the  Son  of  God|  will  be  difpofed  and  enabled. 
In  this  prefent  ftatei  to  make  fuch  improvements  in  virtue,  the 
only  rational  preparative  for  happinefs,  as  that  th^y  fhall  enter 
upon  the  enjoyment  of  it  in  thtftpext  ftate*  Others  who  have 
proved  incurable  under  the  me;(ns  Whieh  have  been  ufed  ^ith 
them  in  thia  ftat^,.  iaftead  of  bein^  haj^y  In  the  next,  will,  b'q 
awfully  miferable ;  not  to  continue  fo  finally,  but  thi|  they  msy 
be  convinced  of  their  folly,  and  recovered  to  a  virtuous  frame  of 
sand:  and  this  will  be  the  effeft  of  the  future  torments  upon 
many }  the  conf(^quence  whereof  will  be  their  fidvation,  they 
being  thus'  fitted  for  it.  And  there  may  be  yet  other  ftates,  be- 
fore the  fcheme  of  God  may  be  perfeftedi  and  mankind  univer- 
fally  cured  of  their  moral  diforderS)  and  in  this  way  qualified  for, 
and  finally,  inflated  in,  eternal  happinefst  But  however  many, 
ilates  fomeof  the  individuals  of  the  humani  fpecies  may  pafs 
through)  and  of  however  long  contiiiuance  they  may  be,  the 
whole  ia  intended  to  fubferve  the  grand  defign  of  univer/at  hap- 
pineftf  tnd  will  finally  terminate  in  it}  infomuch,  that  th^  Son  of 
.  <«0i^and  Saviour  o^.  m«»  will  not  deliver  up  his  truft  into  the 
<  halidsof  his  Father,  who  committed  it  to  him,  till  he  has  dif- 
<;hirged  his  obligations  in  virtue  of  it;  having  finally  fixed  all 
vien  in  heaven,  when  God  will  heAU  in  Alt/* 

The  number  of  this  denomination  is  not  known.  The  open 
advocates  of  this  fcheme  are  few ;  though  the  number  is  larger 
who  embrace  the  doftrinn  of  the  falvation  of  all  men,  upon  prin- 
ciples fomewhat  fimilar,  but  varioufly  differing  from  thofe  on 
which  the  above-mentioned  fcheme  is  grounded. 

Ankle  Umivtrfitijls,  where  the  reader  nay  find  tita  a  fumanry  ef  dw  ug*' 
asentt for  aad againfthif  fchetoe. 

3D  a 


ai% 


dKNEnmi  JOESCRIPTIOM 


The  latter  ciifii  of  Untverfilifts  hive  •  nei^  fcheme,  differing 
effentMlly  from  that  of  the  former^  which  they  rejeft  as  ihcon<' 
fifte^nt  and.  abAird :  and  they  cannot  conceive  how  they  whcr 
embrace  tt>  caft,  **  wiih  «ny  degree  of  propriety,  be  called 
llNtVftRlAiiiTi,  on  Apoiiqiic  principles,  at  ii  doca  not  appear 
that  they  have  any  idea  of  being  favcd  by,  or  in  th^  Loid,  with 
aii  everiading,  or  with  any  falvaiion."  Hence  they  call  them 
"  Phakiiaicai  \JHi\iA$.,^.%it,  ^ho  arb  ti/itUitg  <«  j*P/j^ 
ihmfelves,^ 

It  is  difficult  to  fay  what  is  Ui^  prefent  fclieme  bf  the  denomi- 
nation of  which  We  are  now  fpeaking ;  for  they  differ  hot  only 
from  sU  other  Univerfal^ffs,  and  frohti  eath  (Aher,  but  even  from 
iiiemfelves  at  different  periods^  tlie  reader,  lioweVer,  may  form 
in  idea  of  (bme  of  their  ienets  fif-bm  what  fdllows,  colleftcd  fromf 
ifijeleUer  referred  to  in  the  note.  This  letter,  Hvrittdtt  by  i  Man 
«if  fii-ft  tate  talents,  and  thcf  head  of  the  denomination,  and  pro- 
fdfltng  tb  reftify  miftakes  refpeAing  doftrines  propagated  uiider^ 
the  Chriftian  name — to  give  the  iharafter  bf  a  C^^i^'^TtNt 
U^lViiiSAti^f — and  to  acquaint  the  world  with  their  ksal- 
ientiSjnents,  we  have  reafon  to  coftdude,  gives  as  truti  an  account 
of  their  fchlhiie  ai  can  be  obtained. 

From  this  letter  it  ajppears,  that  they  belietre  '*  that  Religion  of 
fomt  fort  or  othtr^  is  a  pitblic  benefit ;"  and  that  every  pcrfon  ia» 
tt  liberty,  and  is  boiind  to  ftipport  what  he  conceives  to  be  the 
true  Religi6n-»Thali  (Public  worftiip  on  tvcry  firft  day  of  the 
week,  is  an  incumbeiu  duty  on  altvaX  lover!  of  divine  huth— 
that  prayer,  asit  iinidicates  truft  tn,  and  dependenee  on  God,  is 
part  of  his  worihip-^They  believe  that,  the  Deceivtry  who  bc' 
guilcd  £ve^  and  not  out  'fiififArinti  themfelves,  did  the  deed 
which  brought  fuin  and  death  on  all  the  hurtian  race— ^Tfaat  thferd 
are  two  clailes  of  fallen  finners— the  Angels  who  kept  nOi 
their  firft  eftate,  and  the  hu Man  mature,  deceived  by  ihe  for- 
mer, and  a/|^ar«nt(y  deftroyed  confequent  thereon  ;-^hat  a  jufi 
God,  in  the  law  given  by  Moles,  has  dehbunced  death  and  the 
curie  on  every  one  who  coniinueth  not  in  ail  things,  tuHttenin  the 
hook  of  th  lam  to  do  them — but  that  theyame  God  was  manifelted 
in  the  flcih  as  the  head  of  every  man^  ma<2e  linde^  the  law,  to  re-. 
deem  them  that  are  undet  the  Idzu,  being  made  d  curfe for  lA«»— . 
that  he  tafted  death  for  every  man,  being  is  SaViour,  not  of  a  fetu 
only,  but  of  ail  men— and  tha^  the  declaraftion  of  thia  is  tho  Gofftet. 
They  believe  that  when  God  denounces  on  the  human  race, 
woes,  wrath,  tribulation,  death,  damnation,  Ac.  in  the  Scriptures, 
he  fpeaks  in  bis  Icgiffative  capacity,  as  the  juft  God  who  will  l>y 

*  Mr.  Murray'*  ««  Letter  to  a  tx'mid,"  p*ge  fD,  ^t.  printed  ovBofton,  1791. 


or  ttiM  vKtTkbsfAfti. 


^ 


«0  ntant  cUtt  tki  fuill/>— (ha  wh«n  he  fpcikt  of  mdrcy,  gftofi 
peace,  of  life  ■•  the  gift  of  God,  end  filvatioQ  in  whole  or  in  pert, 
he  fpeikft  in  the  chancer  of  the  jujt  G^d  mni  Saviioiif,»-tlMt  (ho 
former  ia  the  laoguage  of  the  Uw  |  the  Utter  u  the  language  of 
the  Gofpil. 

They  believe  that  the  Prince  of  Peace  came  to  rtv«  the  hn* 
MM  ntunu  from  the  power  and  dominion  of  the  Dtvilf  and  hie 
worka-<4hat  he  came  to  dcftroy  the  lattdt,  that  he  might  fave  the 
former-<-That  **Sin  is  the  work  of  th^  Devil— that  he  U  the 
Worktr  and  Dmt  of  whatever  givea  offence*'— That  Jeftu,  at  .l(ho 
Saviour  of  the  world,  flull  fcparate  from  hi*  kingdomi  both  tho 
tvii  Worker  and  hit  evil  works ;  the  evU  Worktr  in  the  chara&er 
of  $oMs — the  tvit  i»rks  in  the  charaftcr  of  taref.  They  fupp9fo 
thatwlttt  il  wicked  in  mankind,  is  reprefentcd  by  the  evitjied 
fown  by  the  evil  One  inhuman  ii4l«rtfj  and  that  "when  the 
^wer  of  the  evil  feed,  and  all  the  evtt  (bed  Ibwn^  (hall  be  repa<» 
htedfrom  the  ft^ed  which  God  fowed,  then  the  feed  which  i* 
properly  God's  feed^  will  be  like  him  who  Ibwed  it,  /ere 
znd  hofy." 

They  confider  all  ordinances  at  Hufefy  Jkadpwsj  yet  they 
ieiebrate  the  Lord's  Supper,  by  eating  and  drinkiiig  wine — and 
fome  of  them  Aippofe  that  every  time  they  eat  bread  and  drink, 
Wine,  they  comply  with  our  Lord's  injunftion,  **  Do  this  itt 
remembrance  of  me."  Various  other  opinion^  prevail  among 
them  refpc^ing  this  ordinance,  and  that  of  baptifm.  They 
"admit  of  but  one  baptifm,  the  baptizer  Jefus  Chrift}  the  cle^ 
talents  made  ufe  of,  the  Holy  Ooft  and  fire">-^yet  they  are  wil-; 
ling^  in  order  to  avoid  contention,  "  to  become  all  things  to  ali 
men,"  andtobaptiae  infamts  by  iraiNKLiNO,  or  aovets  by' 
immersiont— or  to  <Hnit  thefe  figns  altogether,  according  as  tho', 
opinions  of  parents  may  vary  upon  this  lUbjcft<«-^ome  think  it 
proper  to  dedicate  their  childrea  to  the  Lord^  by  putting  them 
into  the  arms  of  tlie  minifter,  to  be  by  him  prefented  to  Chrift, 
to  be  baptized  with  his  baptifm,  in  the  name  of  the  THnity,  the 
minifttfr  at  the  fame  time  to  blefs  thiem  in  the  woMs  in  which 
God  commanded  Aaron  and  his  fons  to  blcfs  the  children  of 
Ifrael— •"  The  Lord  blcfs  thee,  &c."  It  appears  in  fhort,  that 
their  notions  refpe£ling  thele  ordinances  are  various,  and  yfitti 
many,  vague  and  unfettlcd. 

They  believe  in  a  judgment  pafi  arfd  a  judgment  to  come — ^that 
the  pajl  judgment  is  cither  that  in  which  the  world  was  judged 
jn  the  fecond  Adam,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Sayiourj  "  New 
is  the  judgment  of  this  to  arid— now  is  the  Prince  of  this  world  cqjt 
out  and  judgment  executed  on  them  and  on  the  whole  human 
9aturej   according  to  the  righteous  judgment  of  God-'-or  that 


S90 


a£  If  ERA  I  DUSCRlPtlON 


Vviiich  eV^ry  man  is  to  ekercife'  upon  himfelf,  according  ttitht 
Words  **  judge  ytfurfdvei  arid  yeJhaUnot  hi  judged'' — "  The  judg-» 
ment  to  comi  is  that  in  which  all  who  haVc  not  judged  theni'' 
felves — all  unbeliei^ers  of  the  human  race^  and  all  the  fallen 
angels,  ftiall  be  judged  by  the  Saviour— >but  thcfe  two  chataflers, 
viz.  unbelievers  of  the  human  tace^  ind  the  fallen  angels,  (hall  be 
placed,  thi/owiwr*  on  the  n^A<,  the  latter  on  the  /«/<  hand  of  ^their 
Judge ;  the  one  under  the  denomination  of  Jheep^  for  Mrhofe  fal- 
Vation  the  Saviour  laid  down  his  life — the  other  under  the  deho- 
mmation  of  goaW,  who  are  the  accutftd,  whofc  nature  he  paflcd 
by— «  The  human  nature,"  u  ei  tht  Jhtep  or  unbelievers  of  the 
human  race,  "as  the  offspring  of  the  everkfting  Father,  and  the 
fanf<med  of  the  Lotd — fliall  be  brought,  by  divine  power,  into 
the  kingdom  pt^patid  for  them^  before  the  founditioh  of  tht  world 
-^he  other  nature,  i.  2.  the  goats,  or  fallen  angels,  "  will  hi6 
fent  into  the  fre  prepared  fdr  them."*  From  which  it  appears; 
that  it  is  their  opinion,  iiat  unbelievets  of  the  human  race,  or 
jRtt^  arid  the /A/fen  angels,  or  goats,  will  be  the  only  clafles  of 
creatures  Concerned  in  the  awards  of  the  lafl  judgment— -and  that 
the  righteous,  or  believers  in  Chrlft,  will  not  then  be  judged^ 
having  previoufly  judged  thcmf6lves+— "  But  thie  reft  of  man- 
kind," fay  they,  "  will  be  the  fubjeQ:s  of  this  judgment,  when 
our  Saviour  fiall  be  revealed  from  ^heaven  in  flaming  f  re,  taking 
vengeance  on  them  that  how  not  God,  and  obey  not  the  gofpel;  and 
fhey  fhall  then  be  pvnifhed  with  everlafling  defltuction  from  the  pte-^ 
fencf  of  the  Lord  and  the  glory  of  his  pb^er."  Their  inferences 
from,  and  expofition  of  this  paflagc,  are  peculiar,  and  will  ferve 
to  give  the  reader  an  idea  olF  their  manner  of  explaining  Other 
parallel  pafTages  of  Scripture.  From  this  awfdl  reVehtion  of 
the  Saviour,  to  take  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not  God,  anid 
obey  not  the  gofpel,  they  infer  this  confequence,  they  fliall  then 
be  made  to  know  God,  and  obey  the  gofpel.  The  everlafling 
deftruftion,  from  the  prelence  of  the  Lord  and  the  glory  of  his 

•  The  reider  will  doubtlcfs  notice  that  the  plural  pronoun  ikem,  it  fcveral 
times  ufed  to  exprcfs  the  Angulat  noun  hum-in  nature,  and  Prince  of  this  werli^ 
«s  the  human  nature,  &c.  fhall  be  brought  into  the  kingdom  prepared  for  thnu 
the  other  nature  will  be  fent  into  the  fire  prepared  for  thm ;  the  Prince  eftki$ 
world  fhall  be  caft  out,  and  judgment  be  executed  on  thm.  This  is  a  phrafeology 
apparently  peculiar  to  this  denomination. 

+  In  the  following  paffage,  the  contrary  feems  to  be  affericd.  Speaking  of 
th;  laft  judgment  it  is  faidj  "  Here,  inftead  of  bead  and  members  being  judged 
together,  by  the  head  Chrijf,  the  divine  natHte,  the  members  arc  confidered  in 
their  diftinft  charaftcrs,  as  good  and  evil,  or  believer  and  unbeliever,  as  childrn  (f 
light,  and  children  of  darknefs,  and  judged  by  their  pvn  head  " 


/OFmUE  UNJTBD  STATLS. 


<W» 


power,  tyith  which  th^y'y^a//  be  punifliecl,  they  fuppofe  isfuf- 
fcred  by  unbelievers,  in  confequence  of  the  revelation  of  the 
everlafting  deftruflion,  previous  to  this  awful  period->and  that 
they  will  fuifer  no  punifliment  after  it— for  "  i^  is  not  faid,"  they 
fay,  **  that  they  (hall  be  everlajlingly  puniflied  with  deilrudion." 
They  explain  their  i4ea  of  everfafiing  punj^ment  n^dfufering.  the 
pain  of  eternal  fire,  thus,  "  Were  it  poffibU  to  find  a  culii^ary 
fire  that  never  would  be  extinguiflied,  but  remain  in  the  ftri£le(t 
fenfe  of  the  word,  everlajling  or  c/erna^lhould  any  member  of 
the  body  pafs  through  that  burning  flame,  .though  but  a  moment 
of  time  had  been  thus  fpcnt  in  pafling  through;  yet  even  in  that 
moment^  it  would  Tuffer  the  pain  of  eternal  /re."  But  whether 
they  believe  it  ^o/^^/e  that  there  (hould  be  fuch  a  fire,  or  that 
unbelievers  ihall  be  doomed  to  fufFcr  the  punijhm<tnt  of  eternal 
jire  by  thus  pafling  through  it,  I  do  not  find  exprefsly  aflTerted* 
but  it  is  highly  probable  that  they  do. 

They  do  not  fuppofe  that  <*  all  mankind  will  be  on  a  level  in 
the  article  of  death,  but  that  they  who  die  in  unbelief,  will  lie 
down  in  f arrow ^  and  rife  to  the  refurreftion  of  damnation,  or 
condemnation  ;  and  when  the  books  {hall  be  opened,  and  the 
dead,  both  fmall  and  great,  (hall  be  judged  out  of  the  things  writ- 
ten in  the  books — every  mouth  (hall  be  ftopped,  and  9II  the 
world  become  guilty  before  God  ;  and  while  confcious  of  guilt, 
but  ignorant  of  a  Savi«)ur — they  (hill  call  on  the  rocks  and 
mountains  to  fall  on  them  to  hide  them  from  the  Tvrath  of  the 
Lamb — But  that  in  this  judgment  ihtJMdge  is  the  Saviour — they 
will  be  judged  by  their  own  head ;"  and  as  the  head  of  every 
man  is  Chrift— all  of  courfe  muft  be  acquitted  and  faved. 

Although  tliey  believe  that  the  Devil  is  the  doer  pr  worker  of 
every  thing  that  gives  offence ;  yet  tliey  aflfert  that  "  tdl  men  at 
(lU  times  are  finners,  and  come  (hort  of  the  glory  of  God" — -but 
they  believe  that  what  Chrid  fuffered,  "  was  confidered  by  the 
Great  Lawgiver^  as  done  and  fuffered  by  every  man  in  his  own 
perfon  ;  and  that  every  man  is  as  much  interefted  in  what  Chrift, 
the  fecond  Adam  did,  as  they  were  in  what  the  firft  Adam  did" 
—This  idea  appears  to  be  incongruous  with  any  future  judg- 
ment of  any  kind.  The  Conjijlent  Univerlalijls,  therefore  "  does 
not  confider  himfelf  under  the  law  any  more  than  a  woman  cpn- 
fiders  hcrfclf  under  the  dire£iion  or  dominion  of  a  hufband 
that  is  dead  and  buried — nor  is  he  afraid  of  death,  being  af- 
fured  that  Jefus  hath  aboli(hcd  death,  and  left  nothing  of  it  but 
the  Jhadow." 

The  Univerfalifts  pf  this  denomination,  in  common  with  other 
Chriftians,  profefs  themfelvcs  to  be  the  advocates  of  piety ^  relim 
gion,  and  morality, -r-Thcy  affert  the  duty  of  doing  right  as  men— 


»9* 


GENERAL  hESCRIPtiON 


as  members  oJF  tivil  fociety— and  as  Chriftians.  As  mtre  men,'* 
they  hold,  that  ^*  they  muft  foUoxo  nature^  or  they  will  fmk  be-, 
neath  the  level  of  tEe  beafts  of  the  field," — and  yet  they  alTcit 
that  "  all  the  fighttqufnefs  found  in  the  hej^  oi  inert  human  nature 
is  but  z  filthy  rag"-.That  as  members  of  civil  fociety  they  mufl 
fubmit  to  the  j^ws,  or  if  thouglit  too  fevere,  tjjiey  may  avoid  them 
by  a  removal^rom  the  ftate."— rThat  as  Chriftians  they  muft  be 
under  the  dlre&ion  of  Chrift,  and  do  whatfoover  he  commands 
them  ':  and  thcfe  are  his  commandnients,  "  that  tot  believe  in  him^ 
.  and  love  one  another.^* 

This  denomination  of  Univerfalifts,  are  q^ot  v«ry  numerous  in 
the  United  States,  fpmcH^ire  in  Pennfylvania— rfome  in  different 
parts  of  New- York,  Connefticut,  Rhode-Ifland,  and  New-Hamp- 
{hire ;  but  the  body  of  ^hcm  are  in  Bofton,  an4  Cloucefter,  in 
Maffachufetts.  They  have.feveral  confti|ut«d  churches,  whicht 
are  governed  by  an  pcclefiaftical  constitution,  formed  in  1789, 
by  a  conyentioix  of  (heir  miniftcrs  at  Phiiadelphia.. 

S  H  A  KB  R  S.. 

This  is  a  (inall  and  Angular  fed:  of  Chriftians,^  which  hav6 
fprung  up  in  America  as  lately  as  1774  ;  when  a  few  of  this  fed; 
went  from  England  to  New- York,  and  there  being  joinjed  by  a 
few  others,  they  fettled  at  Nil^ueunia,  above  Albany,  iyrhich  i^ 
their  principal  fettlement :  a  few  others  are  f<pattered  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.  i, 

The  head  of  this  party,  while  (he  lived,*  was  An^na  Leefe, 
ftylcd  the  Ele£^  Lady^  Her  followers  afferted,  that;  ft^e  was  the 
woman  I^oken  of  in 'the  twelfch  chapter  of  th«  Revelations,  and 
that  Ihe  fpoke  feventy-two  tongues  :  and  although  thefe  tongues 
were  unintelligible  to  the  living,  fhe  converted  with  the  dead 
who  underftood  her  language.  They  alledged  aMb  that  flie  was 
the  mother  of  all  the  £iect  ^  that  ftie  travailed  for  the  whole 
world — that  no  blefling  could  defcend  to  any  periqitf  but  only 
by  and  through  her,  and  that  in  the  wuy  of  her  being  poffeffed 
of  their  (Ins,  by  their  confcfl\ng  and  ropcnting  of  them,  one  by 
one,  according  to  her  direftion. 

Their  leading  doftrinal  tenets,  as  given  by  one  of  their  owrt 
denomination,  are,  "  That  the  firft  rci'urreftion  is  already  come, 
and  now  is  the.  time  to  judge  themfelvcs.  That  they  have  power 
to  heal  the  fick,  to  raife  the  dead,  and  caft  out  devils.     That  they 

•  Tliis  woman  afferted,  that  (he  (hould  never  die;  but  notwithftandinj 
her  prediftions  and  alFcrtions  to  the  contrary,  (he  died  in  1784  ;  and  was  luc-. 
cceded  by  one  James  Whjtakcr,  who  alfo  died  in  1787.  Jolcph  Meacham,  wlia 
has  attained  the  reputation  of  a  prophet  among  them,  is  at  prefent  their  kadei,. 


/ 


0^  T^SVNITED  STAl^BSi -^ 

tijive  a.cQrrefppndence  witb  angels,  the.  ^icitf  ;6f  ,the.ikii^t&  and 
their  departed  fr^endv.;  That  they  fpijiak  ^itji   divers ,  kind,  of 
toogues  in  thalin  V*M\p  a|nrend>Ues.    Jhat^t  is  lawful  to  pra^ife^ 
vocal  mujic  with  dancing  in  the  Chriftiap^rhurches,  if  it  be  prac-^; 
tif(^d  iti  praifing  -^hc  Lord.  .  That  thei^' ^^^I'ch  is  come  out  of 
tj^ebrdel:,  of  rta|)^al;gener:itiqn^  to  be  as  Chrift  wa^)  an4i^Ka^- 
thofe  who  have  wivel.M-c.as  though  they  had4»one;    Thiat.by 
thefe  means  HIpayen  begin^  upon  earth,  and  they  thereby   loie 
their  earthly  and  fenfual  relation  to  Adam  the  firft,  and  come  to 
be  tranfparent  in  their  gid^as,  in  the  bright  and  heavenly  vifto;is 
of  God.     That  fon*e  of  tKeir  people  are  of  the  hunibcr  of  ^he. 
hundred  and  forty-foi^r  thousand)  wlip  We^e.  redeemed  from  tKe 
earth,   and  were  npt  denied  with  wpnien.     That  the  word  ever- 
lalling^  when  applied  to  the  punilhtilgnt  of  the  wicked,  mcf&'hi' 
only  a  /iwii/crf  period,  except  in  the  cufe  of  thofe  to  Ho  fall  ft  am 
iheir  church  ;  and  that  for  fuch  there  is  no  forgivcricfs,  nelilier 
iti  this  world  lior  that  wliich  is  to  <^ome.'     That  it  is  urilafwful  id 
fwear,  ^amc^  ot'  lilb  cbttipfimdnts-^lalnd  that  water  b'aptifiW''ahdt 
the  Lord*s  Siipfier  are  abbfiflied.     That  Adam's  fin 'is  not  im- 
puted to  his  'pollerity— and  that  the  (lo£ibrifies  of  eleflioii  and 
rcprobati6ri  arc  to  be  Tcjefted.'" 

The  difcipfine  df  this  deriomiriatibn  is  fouhded  ofi  the  fu?pi()ofed 
perfeSion  of  their  feadefs.  The  Mother,  or  thfe'  Eleft  Lady,  it 
IS  faid,  obeys  Cod  through  Chrift.  £Mro^«o«  elders  obey^ '  her. 
American  labou^jqHr^',  arid  Common'  people  obey  them' :  whild  con. 
fcflion  ismade  of  every  i'ccret  thing,  froini  the  oldeft:  to  the 
youhgeft.  Thte  people  afe  made  to  believe  that  they  ar^  feen 
through  imd  throu^i  in  the  g^fpel  glafs  6f  petfbfbion,  by  their 
teacher^,  Who  behold  the  fta'te  of  the  dead,'  and  innumerable 
worlds  of  fpirits  good  and  bad.  *     . 

Thefe  people  are  generally  inftruftcd  to  be  very  induflrious, 
and  to  bring  in  according  to  their  ability^  to  keep  up  the  meeting. 
They  \faiy  in  their  e'xercifcs;  Their  heavy  dancing,  as  it  is 
called,  is  performed  by  a  perpetual  fpringing  from  the  houfe 
floor,  about  four  inches  up  and  doWn,  both  in  the  mens  and 
womens  apartment,  moving  about  with  exti'aordinary  tranlport, 
Tmging  fomctimes  one  at  a  time,  fometinies  more. 

This  elevation  affe£ls  the  nerves,  fo  that  they  have  intervals  of 
Jhudderingy  as  if  they  were  in  a  ftronq  fit  of  the  ague,  they 
lometimes  clap  hands  and  leap  fo  as  to  ftrike  the  joills  above  their 
heads.  They  throw  ofF  their  outfidc  garments  in  thefe  cxcicifcs, 
and  fpend  their  ftrength  very  cheerfully  this  way.  Tlicir  chiet 
fpeaker  often  calls  for  attention  ;  when  they  all  flop  and  heai- 
feme  harangue,  and  then  fall  to  dancing  again.  They  aflcit 
*hat  their  dancing   is    the   tukcn  of  the  great   jov  and  happiuels 

Vol.  I.  3  E  ■ 


m 


m 


CENMkAl  DtSCAlfflOi^ 


«f  the  new  Jttujakm  jtatt{  ^vA  denote*  tlie  viOory  evef  ittii 
One  of  the  poftures  which  increafts  among  them,  is  turning 
round  veryfwift  for  ah  hour  tt  two.  Thisy  they  lay,  it  tc 
{how  the  great  power  of  Ood*       '^y  ^ 

They  foxnetimes  fait  on  their  knees  and  make  a  found  Kke  the 
roaring  of  many  waters^  in  groana  and  cries  to  Gody  as  they  fay^ 
for  the  wicked  world  who  perfeCute  fhem;* 


J  X  w  ». 

The  Jaws  are  tfot  numerous  in  thef  Vntfed  States.  They 
liave,  however,  fynagogues  at  Savannah^  Charkflon,  (South- 
Carolina)  Phttadelphia,  New>York,  and  Newport.^  Befides 
thofe  who  reftde  at  thefe  plates,  there  are  others  fluttered  ;n 
different  towns  in  the  United  States^ 

The  Jews  in  Charlef^onv  among  ether  pe^uKaritie's  in  bury-' 
ipg  their  deady  have  thefe :  After  the  luneral  dirg<e  is  fung,  and 
jwfl  before  the  coapfe  is  depoftted  in  tht  grave,  the  coffin  \s 
opened,  and  a  fnull:  bag  of  earthy  taken  from  the  gra^e,  is  ear- 
fully  put  under  the  head  of  the  deeeafed ;  then  fome  powdery 
faid  to  be  earth  brought  from  Jerufakm,  and  earefuUy  kept  for 
this  purpofey  is  taken  and  put  upon  the  eyes  of  the  corpfe,  in 
token  of  their  remembrance  of  the  holy  land,  and  of  their  ex" 
pe£btions  of  returning  thither  in  God's  appointed  time,^ 

The  articles  of  their  fiith  are  well  Jbnown,  andf  therefore  need- 
no  deiCcription.  They  generally  e^ipeft  a  glorious  return'  to  the 
Holy  Land,  when  they  flhall  be  e^taked  above  all  the  nations  of 
the  earth.  And  they  flatter  themfelves  that  the  period  of  their 
>  return  will  fpeedtly  arrit^ey  though  they  do  not  venture  to  fix 
the  precife  time. 

The  whole  number  of  perfons  who  profefs  the  JewiOk  religiony 
in  all  parts  of  the  world,  is  fuppofed  to  be  about  three  millions,- 
who,  tu  their  phraft  rx,  are  witnefles  of  the  unity  of  God  in  all 
the  nations  in  the  world.' 

Befides  the  religious  felb  here  enumeratedy  there  are  a  few 
of  the  German  inhabitants  in  Pennfylvania,  who  are  ftylcd 
SwiKSEiLviAMs,  and,  in  Marylandy  a  fmall  number  called 
NicoLiTEs  OK  New  QuAibERs<;  but  the  diftinguiihing  fcnti- 
ments  of  thefe  fe£ts  are  not  material,  con&ding^  chiefly  of  a  few 
peculiarities. 

♦  Vk  Adam»»i «» View  of  *eligioiw."  Article  Shakirs. 


HIST  O   R  Y 


Of  »pe 


ftlSE,  PROGRESS,  ANp  ESTAJBLIJ5J3MSNT 


QV    THE 


INP^PENPENCS 


I 


Of 


T»B  UNITEP  STATES  OF  AMERICA* 


IN  addition  to  what  we  have  already  written  of  the  difcovery 
and  fettlement  of  North  America,  we  {hall  give  a  brief  hiftory 
of  the  late  war  with  Qreat  Briuin,  with  a  fketch  of  the  event* 
which  prefceded  and  prepared  the  way  for  the  revolution.  This 
jgeneraH  view  of  the  hiftory  of  the  United  States  will  ferve  as  a 
fuitable  introduj^ioji  to  the  p^rtifTular  hiftories  of  the  fevcr4 
Aatei,  whi|:h  wiU  be  ||iven  in  their  proper  placea. 

America  was  originally  peopled  by  tfncivilizcd  nations,  which 
^ved  tnoflly  by  hunting  and  fifhing.  The  Europeans,  who  firl^ 
vifited  thefe  fhores,  treating  the  natives  as  wild  beads  of  the 
fore^  which  have  no  property  in  the  woods  where  they  ronm, 
planted  the  ftandard  of  their  refpeftive  maimers  where  they  firfl 
landed,  and  in  their  names  claimed  the  country  by  right  of  dij^ 
coveryf 

Henry  the  Seventh  of  England  grafted  to  John  Cabot  and 
hi$  thr^e  fons  a  com«niflion,  *<  to  navigate  all  p>rta  of  the  ocean 
for  th^  purpofe  of  difcovering  inlands,  countries,  regions,  or 
provinces,  either  of  Qentiles  or  InHdels,  which  have  been  hi- 
therto unknown  to  all  Chriilain  people,  with  power  to  fet  up 
his  ftandard,  and  to  take  poflelUon  of  the  fame  as  vaflals  of  tho 
(:rqwn  of  England/'     By  virtue  of  this  coinmiflion,  in  >498» 

8«;a 


89^ 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Sebadian  Cibot  explore^afed  t6ok  polTefllon  of  a  gfeat  part  of 
the  North  American  coimncnt,  iii  the  name  ahd  on  behalf  of  the 
King  of  England. 

The  country  thus  difcovcrcd  by  Cabot,  was  poneiTed  by  nu- 
merous tribes  or  nations  of  people.  As  thefc  had  been  till  then 
unknown  to  all  other  princes  or  flates,  they  could  not  pofTibly 
have  oivred  their  allegi^rice  or  rubje£libh  to  any  foreign  pdwer  6n 
earth ;  they  nmft  have  therefore  been  independent  communities, 
and  as  fuch,  capable  of  acquiring  territorial  property,  in  the 
jfame  manner  as  other  natiotis.  Of  the  various  principles  on 
which  a  right  to  foil  has  been  foi;nded,  there  is  none  fupcrior  to 
immemorial  occupancy.  .  From  wliat  time  the  Aborigines  of 
America  had  refided  therciii,  or  from  w^a^  place  they  inigrate4 
thither,  were  quedions  of  doubtful  folution,  but  it  was  certain 
that  they  had  long  been  fole  occupants  of  the  country.  In  this 
ilate  no  European  prince  could  derive  a  title  to  the  foil  from  dif- 
covery,  becaufe  that  can  give  9  right  only  to  lands  and  things 
whiqb  j^uher  fiavfe  never  been  owne'd  oif  poffelfed,*  or  whjcff,  af- 
ter being  owned  or  poffeflcd,  have  been  voluntarily  deferted. 
The  right  of  the  Indian  nations  to  the  foil  in  their  pofleflion  was 
founded  in  nature.  It  was  the  free  and  liberal  gift  of  heaven 
to  them,  and  fuch  as'ho  forcij^nei"  coiild  HghtfuUy  annul.  The 
blinded  fuperfliti on  of  the  times  regarded  the  Deity  as  the  par- 
tial God  of  Chriflians,  and  not  as  the  common  father  of  faints 
and  favages.  The  pervading '  influence  of  philofophy,  reafoq, 
and  truth ,  has,  fince  that  period^  jgiven  us  better  notions  of  the 
rights  of  mankind^  and  of  the  obligations  of  morality.  Thcfe 
linquefli'onably  are  not  confined  to  particular  modes  of  faith, 
but  extended  univerfally  to  Jews  and  Gentiles,  to  Chriilians  and 
infidels. 

Unfounded,  however,  as  ^he  claims  of  European  Sovereigns 
to  American  territories  were,  they  feverally  proceeded  to  aft 
upon  tliem.  By  tacit  confent  they  adopted  as  a  new  law  of  na- 
tions, that  the  countries  which  each  explored  fhould  be  the 
abfolute  property  of  the  difcoverer.  While  they  thus  fported 
with  the  rights  of  unoffendinjg  nations,  they  could  not  agree  in 
their  refpeftive  fharcs  of  the  common  fpoil.  iThe  Portuguefe  and 
Spaniards,  inflamed  by  the  fame  fpirit  of  national  aggrandize- 
r.ent,  contended  for  the  exclufive  fovcreignty.  of  what  Colum- 
'  js  had  explored.  Animated  by  the  rancour  of  commercial 
.  :aloufy,  the' Dutch  and  Portuguefe  fought  for  the  Brazils. 
Contrary  to  her 'genuine  ihterefts,  England  commenced  a  war  in 
order  that  her  contra.band  traders  on  the  Mexican  coaft  claimed 
by  the  King  of  Spain,  might  no  longer  be  fearched.  No  farther 
back  than  the  middle  oF  the'prefcnt  century,  a  cdnteft  concern- 


AMiRlCAN  REVOLVriON, 

ing  1)nun(larles  of  American  territory  belonging  to  neither,   oc- 
caltoned  a  long  and  bloody  war  between  France  and  Engrahd.    ' 

Though  Queen  Elizabeth  and  James  the  FiM  denied  thfe  au- 
thority of  the  Pope  of  Rome  to  give  away  the  country  of  infidels, 
yet  they  fo  far  adopted  the  fanciful  diftinftion  between  thciHghts 
of  Heathens  and  the  rights  of  Chriftians,  as  to  make  it  the  foun- 
dation of  their  relpeftive  grant?,.  THcy  freely  gaVe  away  what 
did  not  belong  to  them  with  no  other  provifo,  than  that  f*  the 
territories  and  diftri£ls  fo  granted,  be  not  previoufly  occupied  and 
poireffed  by  the  fubjefts  of  any  other  Ghriftain  prince  or  date.'* 
The  firft  Englifli  |)iitent  which  was  given  for  the  purpofe  of 
colonizing  the  country  difcovercd  by  the  Cabots,  was  granted 
by  Queen  Elizabeth  to  Sir  Humphry  Gilbert,  in  1578,  but  thik 
proved  abortive.  In  1584,  Ihe  licenced  Walter  Raleigh,  "to 
fearch  for  Heathen  lands  not  inhabited  by  Chriftian  people/'  and 
granted  to  him  in  fee  all  the  foil  "within  two' hundred  leagues  of 
the  places  where  his  people  fhould  make  their  dwellings  and 
pbidings."  Under  his  aulpices  an  inconfidcrable  colony  took 
pofleflion  of  a  part  of  the  American  coaft,  which  now  forms 
North-Carolina.  In  honour  of  the  Virgin  Queen  his  foverejgn, 
he  gave  to  the  whole  country  the  name  of  Virginia.  Thcfe  firft 
fcttlers',  and  fevcral  others  who  followed  them,  were  either  de- 
ftroyed  by  the  natives,  removed  by  fucceeding  navigators,  or 
died  without  leaving  any  behind  to  tell  their  melancholy  ftory, 
for  they  were  never  more  heard  of.  No  permanent  fettlemen^ 
was  efFefted  till  the  reign  of  James  the  Firft. 

in  the  courfe  of  little  moie  than  a  century,  was  the  Englifh 
North  American  continent  peopled  and  parcelled  out  into  diftin£l 
governments.  Little  did  the  wifdom  of  the  two  preceding  cen- 
turies forefee  the  confequences  both  good  and  evil,  that  were  to 
rcfult  to  the  old  world  from  difcovering  and  colonizing  the  new. 
When  we  confider  the  immenfe  floods  of  gold  and  filver  which 
have  flowed  from  it  into  Europe,  the  fubfequent  increafe  of 
induftry  and  population,  the  prodigious  extenfion  of  commerce, 
inanufa£tures,  and  navigation,  and  the  influence  of  the  whole  on 
manners  and  arts,  we  lee  fuch  an  accumulation  of  good,  as  leads 
us  to  rank  Columbus  among  the  greateft  benefaftors  of  the  hu- 
man race :  but  when  we  view  the  injuftice  done  the  natives,  the 
extirpation  of  many  of  their  numerous  nations,  whole  names  arc 
no  more  heard  : — The  havoc  made  among  the  firft  fettlers ; — 
The  flavery  of  the  Africans,  to  which  America  has  furniflied  the 
temptation;  and  the  many  long  and  bloocly  wars  which  it  has 
occafioned,  we  behold  fuch  a  crowd  of  woes,  as  excites  an  ap- 
prehenfion,  that  the  evil  has  outweighed  the  good. 


i 


|9» 


HJSTO^Y  OF  Tli4 


In  vain  do  we  look  among  ancient  nations  for  examp)|!S  of 
colonies  eftablifhcd  on  principles  of  policy,  fimilar  to  thofe  of 
the  colonies  of  Qreat-Britain.  England  did  not,  liHe  the  ret 
publics  of  Gresf  c,  oblige  her  Tons  to  form  diftant  communities  ii^ 
the  yriles  of  the  earth.  Like  Roi^e  (he  did  not  give  )and^  as  a 
gratuity  to  fol4iers,  who  became  a  military  force  for  the  defence 
of  her  frontiers^  She  did  not,  like  Carthage,  fubdue  the  neigh- 
bouring ftate^,  in  order  to  acquire  an  exclufive  right  to  their 
commerce.  No  conquejl  was  ever  attempted  over  the  Abori- 
gines of  America,  Their  right  to  the  foil  was  difregarded,  and 
(heir  coMntry  looked  upon  as  wafte,  which  was  open  to  the 
occupancy  and  ufe  of  other  nations,  \t  was  fonfidered  that  fet- 
tlements  might  be  there  formed  for  the  advat^tage  of  thofe  who 
(hould  migrate  thither,  as  well  as  of  the  Mother  Country.  The 
rights  and  interefls  of  (hp  fiatiye  proprietor)^  were,  all  this  time, 
deemed  of  no  apcpunt, 

What  ^as  the  extent  pf  obligations  by  which  cplopief  planted 
finder  thqfe  pirpt^mftances  were  l:K>und  to  the  Mother  Country^ 
is  a  fubje£l  of  nipe  difpulfion.     Whether  thefe  nrofe  from  nature 
and  the  conl^itution,  qr  from  compa^,  if^  a  queftion  iieceiTariiy 
f:onnefted   yfith   many   others.      While   the  friends  of  UnIoi> 
contended  that  the  king  of  England  had  a  property  in  the  foi^ 
pf  America,  by  virtue  of  a  right  derived  from  prior  difcovery  ; 
and  that  his  fubjefls,  by  migrating  from  one  part  of  his  domi- 
nions to  another,   did  not  ledfen  their  obligations  to  obey  th^ 
.  fupreme  power  of  the  nat^oii,  it  was  ijiferred,  that  fhe  emigrant; 
%o  Englifh  America  continued  to  owe  the  fame  obedience  to  the 
king  and  parliairxenf,   as  if  they  had  never  quitted  the  land  of 
^heir  nativity^.      But  if  as  others  contended,  the  Indians  were 
|he  only  lawful  proprietors  of  the  cquntry  in  which  their  Creator 
had  placed  them,  and  they  fold  tlji^ir  right  to  einigrapts  who,  as; 
men,  had  a  right  to  le»yc  their  native  country,  and  as  fubjefls, 
had  ordained  cliartcred  permiiliop  to  do  fo,  it  follows  from  thefe 
prcmifes,  that  the  obligations  of  the  colopif^  to  their  parent  fbte 
muft  have  refulted  more  from  compafl,  and  the  profpe^  of  reci- 
procal advantage,  than  from  natural  obligation.     The  la^er  opi-r 
nions  feem  tq  have  been  adopted  by  feveral  of  fhe  colonifts,  par* 
ticularly  in  New-England.     Sundry  perfons  of  influence  in  that 
country  always  held,  that  birth  was  no  tieceffary  caufe  of  fub- 
jc£lion,  for  that  the  fubje^  of  any  prince  or  ftate  had  a  natural 
natural  right  to  remove  to  any  other  ftate  or  quarter  of  the  globcj 
efpecially  if  deprived  of  liberty  of  confpience,  and  th^t*  "P°" 
fuch  removal,  his  fubjeflion  cealed. 

The  validity  of  charters  about  which  the  emigrants  to  America 
were  uniyerfally  ai^xious,  refts  upon  the  fame  foundation,    if 


ideal 
Whai 
tiulli 
no  ri 
gram 
reigr 
godai 
there 
Thefe 
they 
their 
tieithe 
J>rince 
did  nc 
a  parli 
of  advi 
prbtcflt 
<lifemei 
fion  of 
*nd  th 
clearly  | 
than  eij 
tvere  g< 
Receptee 
feveral  < 
and  wit 
i'ance  of 
Sea,  oV( 
to  this  c 

Ideal 

pofe.    : 

excited 

pcan  poi 

W  of  t 

Vcred   I 

fovereigi 

and  grofs 

*he  coIoL 

Some  gci 

periods  o 

lutJon. 

the  colon 

to  be  tax( 

confiderc 


afc  of 
le  ret 
lie»  ii^ 

efence 
ncigh- 
>  their 
Abori- 
ed,  and 
to  the 
hat  fet- 
>fe  wh« 
^     The 
lis  time, 

i  planted 
Country, 
m  nature 
cceffarily 
)f  Uniot> 
I  the  io\\ 
fcovery ; 
his  domi- 
o\)ey  thq 
emigrant? 
ice  to  thq 
c  land  of 
ans  were 
ir  Creator 

s  whoj  '^ 
s  fubjcfts, 

xom  thefc 
arent  ftatc 
.^  of  rcci- 
la^cr  opir 
•nifts,  par- 
tce  in  that 
ife  of  fub- 
\  a  natural 
the  globe, 
that,  upon 

to  America 
latidn,    \^ 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTidit, 

tile  right  of  the  fovereighs  of  Engbnd  to  the  foil  of  America  wa« 
ideal,  and  contrary  tp  natural  juftice,  and  if  no  one  can  give 
What  is  not  his  oWn^  their  charters  were  on  feveral  accounts  a 
nullity.  In  the  eye  of  reafon  and  philofophy,  they  could  give 
no  right  to  American  territory*  The  only  Validity  which  fuch 
grants  could  have,  war,  that  the  grantees  had  from  thei^  fove^ 
reign  a  permiflion  to  depart  from  their  native  country,  and  ne^ 
gociate  with  the  proprietors  for  the  purchafe  of  the  foil,  and 
thereupon  to  acc(uire  a  powef  of  jurifdiftion  fubjeft  to  his  crown* 
Thefe  were  the  opinions  of  many  of  the  fettlers  in  New-England. 
They  looked  u|ton  their  charters  as  a  voluntary  compaft  between 
their  fovereign  and  themfelVes,  by  which  they  were  bound 
neithtr  to  be  fubjeft  to,  nor  fcek  protection  from  any  other 
prince,  nor  to  make  any  laws  repugnant  to  thofe  of  England :  but 
did  not  Coufider  them  as  inferring  an  obligation  of  obedience  to 
a  parliament,  in  which  they  were  unreprefented*  The  pro('pe£ls 
of  advantage  which  the  emigfslnts  to  America  expe&cd  from  the 
prbteGbion  of  thdir  natiVe  foVereign,  and  the  profpeft  of  aggran- 
difement  Which  their  native  fovereign  elcpe£led  from  the  exten- 
lion  of  his  empire,  made  the  former  very  folicitous  for  chattersy 
ind  the  latter  Very  ready  to  grant  (hem^  Neither  reafoned 
elearly  on  their  nature,  nor  well  underflood  thei^"  eictent.  In  lefs 
than  eight  yeafs  ont  thoufand  five  hundred  miles  of  the  fea  coiid 
were  gf^nted  away,  and  fo  little  did  they  who  gave,  or  they  wha 
iiccepted  of  charters,  undcfdand  theif  own  (ra(nfa£lions,  that  in 
feveral  cafes  the  fame  groUrid  was  covered  by  conf  radi^ry  grants, 
and  with  ar.  abfurdity  that  can  only  be  palliated  by  the  igno- 
rance of  the  parties.  Tome  of  the  grants  extended  to  the  South 
Sea,  oVer  a  country  whofe  breadth  i$  yet  unknown,  and  which^ 
to  this  day  is  unexplored. 

Ideal  as  thefe  charters  wefe^  they  anfwe'red  a  temporary  pUr- 
{>ofe.  The  Cofonifts  repofcd  confidence  in  them,  and  were 
excited  to  induftry  on  their  credit.  They  alfo  deterred  Euro- 
pean powers  froin  difturbing  them,  bccaufe,  agreeable  to  the  I'afe 
law  of  nations,  relative  to  their  appropriation  of  newly  difeoo 
Vered  Heathen  countries,  they  inferred  the  proteftion  of  the 
fovereign  who  gave  them.  They  alfo  oppofed  a  barrier  to  opctv 
and  grofs  encroachments  of  the  mother  Country  on  the  rights  of 
the  colonifls;  a  particular  detail  of  thefe  is  not  now  ncccflary. 
Some  general  remarks  may,  neverthelcfs,  be  made  on  the  early 
periods  of  colonial  hiftory,  as  they  caft  light  on  the  late  revolu- 
lution.  Long  before  the  declaration  of  independance,  feveral  of 
the  colonies  on  different  occafions  declared,  that  they  ought  not  , 
to  be  taxed  but  by  their  own  provincial  alfemblies,  and  that  they 
confidered  fubjcftlon  to   a£ls  of  a  Britifli    Parliament,  in  w\\\ch 


^m 


\'i 


m. 


'\\\^ 


Urn, 


i9^ 


HISTORY  Of  the 


they  had  no  reprefenUtion,  «s  a  grievance.  It  is  alfo  iv6rth^ 
of  being  noted,  that  of  the  thirteen  eolonit^s,  formed  into  (laui[ 
at  the  end  of  the  war,-  no  one  (Georgia  e^tcepted)  was  fettled 
at  the  expence  of  goveritment.  Towards  th^  fetttemient  of  that 
fouthern  froiltidr,  conftderablc  fums  had  at  different  times  been 
granted  by  pa'rlitoiint,  but  the  twelve  more  northern  provinces 
had  been  who%  fettled,  by  private  ad\/.cnturert,  without. any 
advantjes  froin  the  national  trcafury^  It  dues  no^  aftpear,  from 
cxifting  record^  that  any  cotnpcnfation  for  their  lands  was  ever 
made  to, the  Aborigines  of  America  by  the  croytrn  or  pa\rliamcnt' 
of  England ;  but  policy,  as  well  as  juflicc,  ted  the  coloi^ifts  to' 
|>urchafe  and  pay  fuf-  What  they  occupied..  This  was  ^one  in 
almoft  every  fettlement,  and  they  prol'pcrcd  moft,  who,  by  juf- 
tice  a(»d  fcindnefs  to^k  the  gicatcil  painS  to  Conciliate,  the  good- 
will of  the  Aa'tives^ 

,  It  ii  in  vixh  to  look  for  wellrbalan'ced  co^flitutipns  in  the  early 
periods  of  Colonial  hidory.  Till  the  revolution  in  the  year 
16&8,  a  period  fubfeqVicnt  to  the  fettlement  of  the  colonies, 
England  herfelf  cfip,  f^arcely  be  faid  to  have  h^d  a  fixed  confli- 
tution,.  At  thiii;  fcVttitful  a:i;a  the  line  ytAi  firil  dra>vn  bety'een 
the  privileges  df  fubje£i$,  and  "the  prerogatives  of  fovcreigns. 
The  legal,  and  eonftitutional  hiftory  of  the,  colonies,  in  their 
(iarly  periods,  thei'efor^e<  4fFord&  biit  lUtlc  indru^ion  It  is  fuf- 
licient  in  general  to  6brcrve,  that  in  lefs  than  eighty  years  from 
the  firfl  pcrniahent  Englifh  f^tdement  in  North- America ;  the 
two  original  patents  gfantcd  to  the  Plymouth  and  London  Com- 
panies were  divided^  and  fubdivided,  into  twelve  dilUnfl  and 
uncoAneAed  provinces,  and  in  fifty  years  more  a  thirteenth,  by 
the  name  of  Georgia,  was  added  to  the  i'uQChern  extreme  of,  pre-* 
vious  eflablifhments. 

To  each  of  chefe^  after  variotls  changes, .  there  was  ultimately 
granted  a  fomi  of  government  rcfembling,  in  its    mod  eircntial 
parts,  as  far  as  10f!:al  cirCumflances  would  permit,' that  which  was 
eflablifhcd  in  the  parent  date.     A  minute  dcicription  of  condi- 
tutions,  which  no  longer  exid,  would  be  both   tedious  and  un- 
profitable.     In  general,  it  may  be  oblervcd,  that  agreeably  to  the 
fpirit  of  the  Britifh  conditution,  ample  provifion   was  made  for 
the  liberties  of  the  inhabitants.     The  prerogatives  of  royalty  and 
depcndance  on  the  mother  country,  were  but  feebly  impreflcd  on 
the  colonial  forms   of  government.      In  fome  of  the  provinces 
the  inhabitants  chofe  their  governors,  .nndall  other  public  officers, 
and  their   legiflatures   were    under  little   or    no    controul.     In 
others,  the  crown  delegated  mod  of  its  power  to  particular  pcr- 
fons,  who  were  alio  inveded  with  the  property  of  the  foil.     In 
thofc  which  were  mod  immediately  dependent  on  the  king,  he 


rope,  a 

lands 

growth 

profit^. 

natural 

but  flov 

The 

governn 
has  raif 

>nd  ma  I 
ledgcd 


(HcerciCed  no  hi|hcr  prerogatives  over  the  colonifti  than  over. 
Ihetr  fellow  fubjeas  in  EngUna,  ind  hi*  power  over  the  pro* 
Vinfetal  legiflitive  aflethblict  wU  not  greater  than  what  he  wae 
conftitutionally  Veiled  with,  oveir  the  Houfe  ot  Commont  in  tho 
mother  country^  From  the  acquiefcence  of  the  parent  (btc,  iKd 
(jpirit  of  her  conftitution,  and  daily  experiences  the  cploniftf 
grew  up  in  a  belief,  that  their  local  aflembliei  ftood  in  the  lame 
relation  to  thttn^  a»  the  parliament  of  Great-Britain  to  the  inha«> 
bitant*  of  that  illandt  the  bencftta  of  legiflation  were  conferred 
on  bothv  onty  thtxmgh  thefe  conftitutional  channcltk 

U  ia  remarhable^  xhkx  though  the  Englifli  pofibflions  In  Amt<^ 
Hea  were  hy  inferior  in  nitunl  richea  to  thofe  whitfh  fell  to  th# 
lot  of  o(h«r  Europeansi  yet  the  fccurity  of  property  and  of  H* 
bcrty,  derived  from  the  Engliih  conftitutioii)  gaVe  them  a  (on* 
foquehce  to  which  the  colonies  of  other  powers^   though  fettled 
at  an  earlier  day^  have  not  yet  attained*     The  wife  and  liberal 
policy  of  England  towarda  her  eoloniel,  during  the  firil  century 
and  half)  after  their  fettlement^  had  a  conftderable  influence  in 
exalting  them  to  thia  pre-eminence.     She  gave  them  full  liberty 
to  govern  themfelvea  by  fuch  laws  aa  the  local  legiflaturea  thought  * 
neceflaryv  and  left  their  trade  open  to  every  individual  in  her 
dominionti     She  alfo  gave  them  the  ampleft  permiiBon  to  pur- 
iue  their  rcfpeftivc  interefta  in  I'uch  manner  u  they  thought 
proper,  and  refcrVed  little   for  herfelf^  ibut  the  benefit  of  their 
mde,  and  that  of  a  political  union  under  the  fame  head»     The 
colonies,  founded  by  other  powers^  experienced  no  fuch  indul* 
genciest     Portugal  and  Spain  burdened  theirs  With  many  vexa- 
tioua  regulations^  gave  encouragement  only  to  what  waa  for  their 
own  intereft,  and  puniihed  whatever  had  a  contrary  tendency. 
France  and  HuUand  did  not  adopt  fuch  oppreflive  maxims,  but 
wefO)  in  faA,  not  much  lefs  rigorous  and  coercive*     They  parted, 
as  it  were,   with  the  propriety  of  their  colonies  to  mercantile 
aiTociationS,  Which  fold  to  the  colonifts  the  commodities  of  £u» 
rope,  at  an  enormous  advance,  and  took  the  produce  of  their 
lands  at  a  low  price,  and)  at  the  fame   time,  difcouraged  the.. 
(irbWth  of  any  more  than   they  could  difpofc  of,  at  excef&ve 
profit^.     Thefe  oppreflive  regulations  were  followed  with  their 
natural   confequence :   the  feitlements  thus  reftri&ed  advanced 
but  (lowly  in  population  and  in  wealth. 

The  Englifh  Colonies  participated  in  that  excellent  form  of 
government  with  which  their  parent  iile  was  bleiled,  and  which 
has  raifed  it  to  an  admirable  height  of  agriculture,  commerce, 
and  manufaftures.  After  many  ilruggles,  it  had  been  acknow- 
ledged to  be  elfential  to  the  conl^itution  of  Grcat-Britaifi,  that 
Vol.  I.  3  F 


1! 


A^ 


'''Ji'MTORydFtki 


Ac  people  couW  nol  be  oompellctl  t6  pay  tny  taxes,  nor  he 
hqu»d  by  my  laws,  but  fuch  as  had  been  granted  or  enaded  with 
dte  confent  of  themrelvea,  or  of  their  reprcfentativet.  It  vra* 
alfjS  one  of  their  privileges,  that  they  could  not  be  afFcaed  either 
m'ihdr  property,  their  Kbertiea,  or  their  perfons,  but  by  the 
unanfmoiis  confent  of  twelve  of  their  peers. 

Prom  the  operation  df  ihefe  general  principles  of  liberty,  and 
Che  wife  policy  6f  Gr«(t-Britain,  her  American  fettlements  in- 
ereafed  hi  nunlber,  wealth  and  refources,  with  a  rapidity  which 
furpaflied  all  previous  calculations.  Meither  ancient  not  modern 
hiftory  can  produce  an  example  of  Colonies  governed  with  equal 
#4ftiMn,  or  flourifhing  with  equal  rapidity.  In  the  (hort  fpace 
ef  hn4  hiirt<li^  »i^  fifty  years  their  numbers  increared  to  three 
milltonSi  and  their  commerce  to  fuch  a  degree,  as  to  be  more  than 
li  ihirl  of  that  of  Groat-Britam.  They  alfo  extended  their  fet. 
llettienta'  fifteen  hundred  miles  on  the  fca  coall,  and  three  hun- 
dred to  the  weRward.  Their  rapid  population,  though  partly 
accelerated  by  the  influx  of  ftrangers,  was  principally  owing  to 
rotemal  caufes*  In  confequence  of  the  equality  pf  fortune  and 
flmplicity  of  manners^  which  prevailed  among  them,  their  inha- 
bitants multiplied  far  beyond  the  proportion  of  old  nations,  cor- 
rupted  and  weakened  by  the  vices  of  wealthy  and  above  all,  of 
Canity,  than  wlncb^  perhaps,  there  is  no  greater  enemy  to  the  in-« 
creafe  of  the  human  fpecics. 

The  good  effefts  of  a  wife  policy  and  equal  government  were 
not  only  difoemible  in  ratfing  the  Colonies  ef  England  to  a  pre- 
eminence over  thofe  of  other  £%Trppean  powers,  but  in  raiting 
fbme  among  themielvcs  to  greater  importance  than  others.  Their 
relative  population  and  wealth  were  by  no  means  correfpondent  ' 
IQ  their  retpe^ve  advantages  of  foil  and  (^tim^te.  From  the  com. 
mon  dirproportion  between  the  natural  and  artificial  wealth  of 
different  coui^tjric^  it  fq^nntobc  a  general  rule,  that  the  more 
nature  docs  for  any  body  of  nies),  t^«  licfs  they  are  difpofied  to  do 
for  th^mfclves. 

The  New-England  provwace^,  though  poflcffcd.of  comparatively 
%barrencountry,  were  improved  much  fa^er  than  others,  which 
were  bicflcd  with  a  fuperipr  foil  an4  milder  climate.  Their  firft 
(fettlorsi  were  animated  with  a  high*fk:gv?e  ot  I'^^t  religious  fervor 
which  excites  to  great  undertakings :  they  alio  lettled  their  va- 
cant land*  on  principles  of  the  wiicft  policy.  Indcad  of  granting 
l^rge  tra^  to  indivlduHls,  they  fold  the  foil  in  imall  farms,  to 
thofe  who  pcrfonally  cultivated  the  fame.  Inflcad  of  diiTcminat- 
ijig  their  inhabitants  over  an  extcnfive  country,  they  formed 
iucceflive  fettlements^  in  townfhips  of  fix  miles  iquare.  They 
alfo  made  fuch  arrangements,  in  thefe  townihips,  as  co-extended 
the  blefUngs  of  education  and  of  religious  inftruftion  with  their 


AMERICA'S  KEV&lVTtOS. 


fettlementi.  By  Ihofe  bimm  induAry  and  vv»r«lity  wcrt  pr<^ 
gtt«d|  and  knowledge  wa«  generally  diffufcd*         naai  H.m  *n  to 

In  proportion  to  their  refpeftive  numbtra,  it  i»  pcokablc  4|m^ 
no  other  country  in  the  world  contained  mnr-  fobcr  orderly  citif 
sena,  and  fewer  who  were  profligate  and  abandoned.  Thofie  high 
crimes  which  are  ufually  pvuiiflied  with  death,  were^  fo  ^irarc  i^. 
New- England,  that  many  years  have  elapred,  in  large  ponulous 
fettlcments,  without  a  Tingle  execution.  I'heir  lefa  fertile  foil 
difpofcd  them  to  a  fpirit  of  adventure,  and  their  yiOorious  indulj. 
try  rofc  fuperior  to  every  obftacle.  In  carrying  on  the  whale 
fifliery,  they  not  only  penetrated  the  deepell  frozen  receflea  oF 
Hudfon's  Bay,  and  Davis'  Straits ;  but  pierced  into  the  oppofite 
regions  of  polar  cold.  While  fome  of  them  were  ftriking  the 
harpoon  on  the  coaft  of  Africa,  others  purfued  their  giganti^ 
game  near  the  (hores  of  Brazil.  While  they  were  yet  in  their 
infancy  as  a  political  fociety,  they  carried  on  this  perilous  buftnefs 
to  an  extent  exceeding  all  that  the  perfeverance  of  Holland,  the 
a£livity  of  France,  or  the  vigour  of  Englifh  enterprise,  had  ever 
•ccompliflicd.  A  fpirit  of  liberty  prompted  their  ihduftry,  ana 
a  free  conftitution  gutrdcd  their  civil  rights.  The  country  Wa^ 
fettled  with  yemonry,  who  were  both  proprietors,  and  cultiva^ 
tors,  of  the  foil.  Luxury  was  cftran^ed  from  their  borders. 
Enervating  wealth  and  pinching  pove*  'v  were  both  equally  rkt^. 
Early  marriages  and  a  numerous  offspring,  were  common>-thehce^ 
population  was  rapid,  and  the  inhahitants  generally  poflefTcd  that 
happy  ftate  of  mediocrity,  which  favours  the  improvement  both 
of  mind  and  body,  '   ~" 

New- York  joined  New-England,  hut  did  not  incritafe  wltK 
equal  rapidity,  A  fcW,  by  monopolizing  large  trafts  of  landi 
reduced  many  to  the '  necellity  of  being  tenants,  or  of  removing 
to  other  provinces,  where  land  could  be  obtained  on  more  fa- 
vourable terms.  1  he  increafe  of  population,  ,in  this  provinci^, 
was  ncverthblefs  great,  when  compared  with  that  of  old  coun* 
tries.  This  appears  from  the  following  ftatement  of  their  num*' 
hers  at  different  periods.  In  1 756,  the  province  of  New-York 
contained  eighty-three  thoufand  two  hundred  and  thirty-thre^ 
whites,  and  in  1771,  oni  huhdred'  and  forty-ftvwht  thoufand  on* 
hundred  and  twcnty-foUr,  ari  increafe  Of  nea;]y  two  for  one,  in 
the  fpace  of  fifteen  yesirJ,'    •  '  •     *       ""; 

•  Plehrifylvania  was  at  fii  li'  fittkdf  Under  the  aufpiccs  of  the  cei 
lebrated  William  Penn,  who  introduced  ;*  number  of  indud'rious 
inhabitants,  chiefly  bf  the  feft  of  Quakers.  The  populatidn  oi 
this  country  advanced  equally  with  that  of  the  Ncw-_.ig!!ind 
|)rovinccs.  Amohg  the  inducements  operating  on  foreigner^  to 
fottlc  in  Pennfylvartia  was  a  moft  excellent  form  of  provincial 


li 


!| 


.1  li 

I.I    '! 


I:  I 


404 


HISTORY  Of  THE 


goyemmentf- AvKich  fecured  the  reIigiou»  ••  well  n  the  civil  rights 
of  its  inhatiitants*  While  the  Mother  Country  laboured  under 
tH-Appreflliye  ecclefiaftical  eflablifhmont,  and  while  partialities  of 
the  fame. Kind  were  fan£lioned  by  law,  in  fisme  of  the  American 
provinces,  perfeft  liberty  of  confcience,  and  an  exaft  equality  of 
«11  fe6U,  Was  in  every  period,  a  part  of  the  conditution  of  Penn- 
fylvania, 

Quaker  fimplicity,  induftry,  and  fhigality,  contributed,  in 
like  manner,  to  the  flourilhin^  of  that  province.  The  habits  of 
that  plain  people  correfpond,  admirably,  with  a  new  country, 
and  with  republican  conftitutions«  Oppofed  to  idlenefs  and  extra- 
vagance, they  combined  the  whole  force  of  religion,  with 
cuftoms  and  laws,  to  exile  thefe  vicc«  from  their  fociety.  The 
iirfl  quaker  fettlers  were  foon  followed  by  Germans,  whofc  in- 
duftry  was  not  inferior  to  their  own.  The  emigrants  fVom  other 
countries  who  fettled  in  Pennfylvania,  followed  thefe  good  ex- 
amples, and  induftry  and  frugality  became  predon\inant  virtues 
over  the  whole  province. 

The  policy  of  a  Loan-Office  was  alfo  eminently  beneficial.  The 
proprietaries  of  Pennfylvania  fold  their  lands  in  fmall  tra(b,  and 
on  long  credit*  The  purchafers  were  indulged  with  the  liberty 
of  borrowings  or\  intereft,  paper  bills  of  credit,  put  of  the  Lpan- 
OiEce,  on  the  mortgage  of  their  Unds«  Perhaps  there  never 
vras  an  inftitution  which  contributed  more  to  the  happincCs  of 
the  people,  or  to  the  flouri(hing  of  a  new  country,  than  this  land 
Loan-Office  fcheme.  The  province  being  enriched  by  the  cha^ 
intereft  of  its  loaned  paper,  was  thereby  enabled  to  defray  the 
cxpences  of  government  with  cioder^te  taxe«.  The  induftriou^ 
farmer  was  furniOied  with  the  mesns  of  cultivating  Snd  (locking 
his  farm.  Thefe  improvements,  by  increafing  the  value  of  the 
land,  not  only  eftabliihed  the  credit  of  the  paper,  but  enabled 
the  borrower,  in  a  few  years,  to  pay  off  the  original  loan  with  the 
produftions  of  the  foil.  The  progreflive  improvement  of  Penn- 
fylvania may  be  eflimat.'d  from  the  increafe  of  its  trade,  \n  the 
year  1704,  that  province  imported  goods  from  the  Mother  Coun- 
try, amounting  in  value  only  to  eleven  thoufand  four  hundred, 
and  ninety-nine  pounds  fterling,  but  in  1772,  to  the  value  of  five 
hundred  and  feven  thoufand  nine  hundred  and  nine  pounds,  an 
incresfe  of  ncavly  fifty  for  one,  in  little  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tury. 

In  Maryland  and  Virginia,  a  policy  lefa  fivourable  to  popula- 
tion and  ibmewhat  different  from  that  of  Pennfylvania,  took 
place.  The  church  of  England  was  incorporated  V'ith  the  firft 
i'ettlemcdt  of  Virginia,  and  in  the  lapfe  of  time*  it  alfo  became  tht? 
eflabliihed  religion  of  Maryland,    In  both  thefe  provinces,  \o^^ 


AMERICAN  ]^£VOLUtlON, 


405 


rightt 
under 
itict  of 
lerican 
ility  of 
'  Penn- 
ed,  in 
abits  of 
ountry, 
d  e»tra- 
1,  with 
^    The 
hofe  in* 
im  other 
;ood  ex- 
t  virtues 

al.    The 
aCb)  and 
e  liberty 
he  l^pan- 
Te  never 
pincCs  of 
this  land 
;he  thai: 
fray  the 
[duftriou^ 
(locking 
le  of  the 
enabled 
with  the 
|of  Penn- 
In  the 
ler  Coun- 
hundred 
ic  of  five 
lunds)  an 
laU  a  ecu* 

lo  popula- 
Inia,  took 
the  firft 
scatne  th«} 
Lees,  lopj 


before  the  American  revolution,  that  church  po(re(red"a  legal  pre> 
eminence,  and  wM  maintained  at  the  expence,  fiot'i^Iy  of  its 
own  members,  but -of  all  other  denominations.  Thui:«deterred 
great  numbers,  efpecially  of  the  Preibyterian  denomiinitton,  who 
had  efnigrated  from  Ireland,  from  fettling  within  tfa^  limits  of 
thafe  governments,  and  fomented  a  fpirit  of  difcord  betweeih  thofe 
who  belonged  to,  and  thofe  who  difl'ented  from  the  eftabliihed 
church. 

The  iiril^  emigrants  from  England  for  colonifing  America,  left 
the  Mother  Country  at  a  time  when  the  dread  of  arbitrary  power 
was  the  predominant  paflion  of  the  nation.    Except  the  very 
modern  charter  of  Georgia,  in  the  year   1732,  all  the  Englilh 
Colonies  obtained  their  charters  and  their  greateft  number  of 
European  fottlers,  between  the  years   1603  and  t688.    In  this 
period  a  remarkable  ftruggle  between  prerogative  and  privilege 
commenced,  and  was  carried  on  till  it  terminated  in  a  revolution 
highly  favourable  to  the  liberties  of  the  people.     In  the  year 
1691,  when  the  Englifh  Houfe  of  Commons  claimed  freedom  of 
fpeech,  *'  as  their  ancient  and  undoubted  right,  and  an  inheritance 
tranfmitted  to  them  from  their  anceftors  ;'*  King  James  the  Firfl 
replied,  **  that  he  could  not  allow  of  their  ftyle,  in  mentioning 
their  ancient  and    undoubted    rights,  but    would  rather  liave 
wilhed  they  had  iaid,  that  their  privileges  were  derived  from  the 
grace  and  permifllon  of  their  fovercign,"     This  was  the-  opening 
of  a  difpute  which  occupied  the  tongues,  pens,  and  iwords,  of 
the  mofl  a£ilve  men  in  the  nation,  for  a  period  of  ieventy  years. 
It  is  remarkable  that  the  fame  peri<)d  is  exa£ily  co-incidcnt  with 
the  fettlcment  of  the  Englifli  Colonies,    James,  educated  in  the 
arbitrary  fcntimrnts  of  the  divine  right  of  Kings,  conceived  his 
fubjeAs  to  be  his  property,  and  that  their  privileges  were  mat* 
ters  of  grace  and  favour  flowing  from  his  generofity.    litis  high 
claim  of  prerogative  excited  oppufition  in  fupport  of  the  rights  of 
the  people.     In  the  progrefs  of  the  difpute,  Charles  the  Firft, 
fun  of  King  James,  in  attempting  to  levy  Oiip^money,  and  other 
revenues  without  conient  of  Parliament,  involved  himfelf  in  a 
war  with  his  fubje£ls,  in  which,  after  various  conflicts,  he  was 
brought  to  the  block  and  fuffereU  death  as  an  enemy  to  the  con- 
fUtution  of  his  country.-    Though  the  monarchy  was  redorcd 
under  Charles  the  Second,  and  tranfmitted  to  James  the  Second, 
yet  the  fame  arbitrary  maxims  being  purfued,  the  nation,  tenacious 
of  its  rights,  invited  the  Prince  of  Orange  to  the  fovereignty  of 
the  ifland,  and   expelled  -the  reigning  family  from   the  throne. 
While  thefe  fpirited  exertions  were  made,  in  fupport  of  the  li- 
berties of  the  parent  ifle,  the  Englifh  Colonies,  were  fettled,  and 
chiefly  with  inhabitants  of  that  cUfs  of  |icoplc,  which  was  mpft 


4*6 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


•7^5 


hoftiIie,t(}  the  claims  of  prerogative.  Every,  tranfaAion  in  that 
period  of  JEngUfli  hiftory^  fupported  the  pofition  (hat  the  people 
have  a  right  to  refift  their  lovereignf  when  he  invades  their  li« 
hertieS)  ^nd  to  transfer  the  crown  from  one  to  another,  when  the 
good  of  the  community  requires  it. 

The  Enj^liih  Colonifts  were  from  their  firft  fettlement  in  Ame- 
rica,  devoted  to  liberty,  on  Engliih  ideas,  and  Englifh  principles. 
They  not  only  conceived  thcmlelves  to  inherit  the  privileges  of 
fnglifhrnen,  but  though  in  a  colonial  fituation,  a^ually  poflcdcd 
ihcm. 

After  a  long  war  between  King  and  Parliament,  and  a  Revn« 
lution-^thefe  privileges  were  fettled  on  the  following  iundamen'. 
tal  principles ;  *'  That  it  was  the  undoubted  right  of  Engliih 
fub}tf£b,  beiiAg  freemen  or  freeholders,  to  give  their  property, 
only  by  their  own  confent.  That  the  Houfe  of  Commons  exer. 
cifed  the  fole  right.of  granting  the  money  of  the  people  of  Eng- 
land, becaufe  that  Houfe  alone,  rcprcfented  them.  The  taxrs 
were  theiiree  gifts  of  the  people  to  their  rulers.  I'hat  the  autha- 
ritry  of  fovereigns  was  to  be  exercifed  only  for  the  good  of  their 
fuhje^.  That  it  was  the  right  of  the  people  to  meet  together, 
and  peaceably  to  confider  of  their  grievances — to  petition  for  a 
redrefs  of  them,  and  finally,  when  intolerable  grievances  were 
unrcdrelTed,  to  feck  relief,  on  the  failure  of  petitions  and  rcmon-* 
ilrances,  by  forcible  means," 

Opinions  of  this  kind  generally  prevailing,  produced,  among 
the  Colonifts,  a  more  determined  Ipirit  of  oppolition  to  all  en- 
croachments on  their  rights,  than  would  probably  have  taken 
place,  had  they  emigrated  from  the  Mother  Country  in  the  prc-» 
ceding  century,  when  the  do&rines  of  pafTive  obedience,  non. 
refidance,  and  the  divine  right  of  kings,  were  generally  received, 

That  attachment  to  their  fovereign,  which  wa*  diminifhed  in 
the  firft  emigrants  to  America,  by  bein^j  removed  to  a  great  dif, 
tance  from  his  influence,  was  ftill  farther  diminifhed  in  their 
(defcendant^.  When  the  American  revolution  commenced,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Colonies^  were  for  the  mod  part,  the  third  and 
fourth,  and  fometimes  the  fifth  or  fixth  generation,  from  the 
original  emigrants.  In  the  feme  degree  as  they  were  removed 
Jrom  the  parent  ftock,  they  were  weaned  from  that  partial  attach. 
ment,  which  bound  their  forefathers  to  thi  place  of  their  nati- 
vity.  The  affeftion  for  the  Mother  Country,  as  far  as  it  was  a 
natural  pafTion,  wore  away  in  ructellive  generations,  till  at  lart 
it  had  fcarccly  any  e^iftcnce. 

The  mercantile  intercourfe,  which  conne^s  difPerrat  coun- 
tries, was,  in  the  early  periods  of  the  Engliih  Colonies,  far  ihort 
of  that  degree,  which  is  neccifary  to  perpetuate  ai  friendly  union. 


AMERtCAlf  AtiVOth  TiOif, 


4flf 


n  that 
people 
ticir  U« 
len  the 

1  Ame. 
iciples, 
icgcs  of 
oiTciTed 

t  Revo» 
idainen^ 
Englilh 
ropcrty, 
ns  cxcr- 

of  Eng- 
ic  taxrs 
L«  autho- 

of  their 
together, 
ion  for  » 
ces  were 
4  rcmon-* 

I,   among 
to  all  cn» 
ve  taken 
the  prc- 
ice,  non- 
received, 
nifhcd  in 
jreat  dif-» 
I  in  their 
aced,  the 
third  and 
from  the 
removed 
ial  attach, 
their  nati- 
it  was  a 
till  at  lart 

tnt   coun- 
far  (hort 
dly  union, 


Mad  the  firft  great  colonial  eflibliflimeftts  been  made  in  the 
Southern  Provinces,  where  the  fuitablettcra  of  native  cotnthbdt^ 
ties  wontd  haVfr  maintained  a  brilk  and' direft  trade  Vkh  Eng- 
land—4he  eonftant  exchange  of  good  ofiRces  betvireen  the  two 
countries  would  have  been  more  likely  <o  perpetuate  fhcsir  friend- 
fhip.  But  as  the  Eaftern  Provimics  Vei«  the' firft,  which, Wer» 
thickly  fettled,  aiid  they  did  not  for  a  long  time  cultivate  an  ^x» 
teniive  trade  with  England,  their  defeendants  fpeedily  foil  the 
fotid  attachment,  which  their  fot-efathers  felt  to  thet»  Parent* 
State.  The  bul!^  of  the  people  in  New-En  inland  knew  little  of 
the  Mother  Country,'  having  onl)r  heard  of  her  ^s  a  dift'ant  king- 
dom, the  rulers  df  which  had,  in  the  Jirc  •f''ug  century,  perfc- 
cuted  and  bahifhed  their  anccflors  to  the  woods  of  America. 

Hie  diftance  of  America  from  Great-Britain  generated  idi^bs  ih' 
the  minds  of  thi-  C<)lonifts  favourable  to  Uherty.  Three  thbufand 
miles  of  ocean  fi^parated  theni  flrdnl  the  Mot W  Country.  Sea» 
rolled,  and  months  pafled,  between  drdbrs  iiind  iheik'  eireCution; 
In  large  governments  the  circulation  bf  pdwcr  is  cnfedi>led'  at  the 
extremities.  This  refults  from  the  nature  of  things,  and  is  thfl 
eternal  law  of  cxtenfive  or  dctacKcci  cmpli*e.  Cdlonifts,  growing, 
up  to  maturity,  at  fuch  an  immei}f<^  di^ance  from  the  feat  of  go- 
vernment, perceived  tl^e  obligation  of  dependence  much  more 
feebly,  than  the  inhabitants  of  thjs  parent  ifle,  who  not  only  faw 
but  daily  felt,  the  fangs  of  power.  Th<!  wide  extent  and  nature 
of  the  country  contributed  to  the  fame  effefl.  The  natural  feae 
of  freedom  is  among  hig^  mountains  and  pathlefs  defcrtSj  Ktich  as 
abound  in  the  wilds  of  Ameriba. 

The  religipn  of  the  Colonifts  alf(x  nurtured  a  love  for  liberty. 
They  were  chieity  Proteftants,  and  all  Proteflantifm  is  founded 
on  a  (Irong  daim  to  natural  liberty,  and  the  right  of  private  judg- 
ment. A  m^ority  of  them  were  of  that  clafs  of  men,  who,  in 
England,  are  called  Diflentcrs.  Their  tenets  being  the  Proteflant- 
ifm of  the  Proteilant  rcligio|i,  ai-e  hoftjlc  to  all  interference  of  autho- 
rity in  thatter^  of  opinion,  and  predifpofc  to  a  jealoufy  for  civil  liber-  * 
ty.  They  who  belonged  to  the  Church  of  England  were  for  the  mod 
part  independents,  as  far  as  church  government  and  hierarchy 
were  concerned.  They  ufcd  the  liturgy  of  that  church,  but 
Were  without  bifhops,  and  were  ftrangcrs  to  thofe  fyftem^,  which 
make  religion  an  engine  of  ftate.  That  policy,  which  unites  the 
lowed  curate  with  the  greateft  metropolitan,  and  conneAs  both 
with  the  fovereign,  was  unknown  among  the  Colonics.  Their 
religion  Was  their  own,  and  neither  impofed  by  authority  nor 
made  fubfcrvient  to  political  purpofes.  Though  there  was  a  va- 
riety of  fe£lt$,  they  all  agreed  in  the  communion  of  liberty,  and  all 
reprobated  the  courtly  doctrines  of  pafldve  obedience,  and  non- 


^  JaiSTORY  of  Titt  - 

tefifUncct  iThti  fame  difpofuions  were  foftered  by  the  Ufuat 
tnodes  of  education  in  the  Colonics.  The  fludy  of  law  was  com. 
mon  and  fa(hionaMe«  The  infinity  of  difputesi  in  a  new  and  fre« 
countryi  made  it  lucrative,  and  multiplied  its  followers.  No  or- 
der of  men  haS)  in  all  ages^  beein  more  favourable  to  liberty,  than 
lawyers*  Where  they  are  not  won  over  to  the  fcrvice  of  govern- 
ment, they  are  formidable  adverfaries  to  it.  Profefiionally  taught 
the  rights  of  human  nature^  they  keenly  an4  quickly  perceive 
every  attack  made  on  them.  While  others  judge  of  bad  princi- 
ples by  the  aQual  grievances  they  occafion,  lawyers  difcoVer  them 
at  a  diAancC)  and  trace  future  mifchiefs  from  gilded  innovations* 

The  reading  of  thofe  Cplonies:  wKu  were  inclined  to  books, 
generally  favoured  the  caufe  9f  liberty*  Large  libraries  w'Cre  un- 
common in  tkb  I4^w  World*  Pifqu^iittons  on  abftrufe  fubjefts^ 
and  curious  refearchi^s  into  antiK|uity^  did  not  accord  with  the 
genius  of  a  people^  fettled  in  an  uncultivated  country,  where 
every  furroimding  objeft  impelled  to  aftion,  and  little  leifure  was 
left  for  fpe(^lation«  Their  books  wel-e  generally  fmall  in  fize, 
and  few  in  fiumber :  a  gt'eat  part  of  them  cod  (i  lied  of  thofe  fafli' 
lonable  authors,  who  have  defended  the  caufe  of  liberty*  Cato's 
tetters^  the  Independent  Whig,  and  fuch  produ^oins^  were  com-* 
mon  in  one  extreme  of  the  Colonies,  while  in  the  other,  hiflo-> 
ries  of  the  Puritans  kept  alive  the  remembrance  of  the  fufferings 
of  tlieir  forefathers,  and  infpii'ed  a  warm  attachment,  both  to  the 
civil  and  religions  rights  of  human  nature* 

In  the  Southern  Colonies,  flaVery  nurtured  ai  fpitit  of  liberty 
among  the  free  inhabitants.  All  mailers  of  (laVes  who  enjoy 
perfonal  liberty  will  be  both  proud  and  jtfaloul  of  their  freedom* 
It  is,  in  their  opinion,  not  only  an  enjoyment,  but  a  kind  of  rank 
and  privilege*  In. them,  the  haughtinefi  of  domination  combines 
with  the  fpirit  of  liberty.  Nothiag  could  mofc  elfeftually  ani- 
mate the  oppolkion  of  a  planter  to  the  claims  of  Great-Britain, 
than  a  conviflion  that  thofe  claims  in  their  extent  degraded  him 
to  a  degree  of  dependence  onhis  fellow  fubjefls,  equally  Humiliating 
with  that  which  exiftcd  between  his  Haves  and  himfelf.J 

The  (late  of  fociety  in  the  Colonics  favoured  a  fpirit  of  liberty 
and  independence.  Their  inhabitant^  were  all  of  one  rank.  Kings^ 
nobles,  and  biihops,  were  unknown  among  them.  From  their 
hrfl  fettlements,  the  Engliih  , provinces  received  impreifions  fa- 
vourable to  democratic  forms  of  government.  Their  dependent 
fituation  forbad  any  inordinate  ambition,  among  their  native  fons 
and  the  humility  of  their  fociety,  abdrafled  as  they  were  from 
the  fjjlendour  and  amufcments  of  the  Old  World,  lield  forth  few 
allurements  to  invite  the  rcfulcnce  of  fuch  from  the  Mother  Coun* 
try  as  afpircd  to  hereditary  honours.     In  modern  Europe,  the 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION: 


40^ 


i^e^»ins  of  the  feudal  fyftem  have  occifioned  an/brder  of  menL 
fuperior  Co  that  of  the  commohaltty,  but^  al  few  of  that  dala 
migrated  to  the  Cblotiiei;  they  vCerc  fcttkd  with  the  jrebmaiiry* 
Their  inhabitant!,  unactuftdmed  to  that  difUn£Uoh  of  ranks,  which 
the  policy  of  fiufope  hac  eftablifhed,  ^ere  ftrongly  iijnprefled 
with  an  opinion,  that  all  mtti  aire  b;^  nature  equal;  Th^  could 
not  eafily  be  perfuaded  that  their  gtants  of  land;  or  their  civil 
jrights^  flowed  from  the  munilicente  of  Princes;  Many  of  tfaeni 
had  neVer  heard  of  Magna  Charta;  arid  thofc  who  knew  the  cir* 
cumiUnces  of  the  Remarkable  period  of  Englifh  hiftory;  Wheii 
Chat  was  bbiained,  did  not  reft  tKelr  61aimS  tb  liberty  and  pro- 
l^erty  on  the  tranfaftionS  of  that  itripbrtam  d»y.  They  looked 
tip  to  Heaven  as  the  fource  of  theif  rights,  «tn«i  claimed,  i^6£ 
from  the  prbmifeS  bf  kings;  bfit  from  the  parent  of  the  univerfe. 
The  political  creed  of  tn  American  Colbnift  was  {h6rt  but  Tub. 
ftantial;.  He  believed  that  God  rhade  all  mankind  originally 
e(||ual:  ihathci  endowed  theni  with  the  rights  bf  life,  property^ 
and  as  niuch  libefty  as  viti  colififtehi  with  the  rlghis  of  others* 
That  he  had  beftowed  on  his  tiaft  family  of  the  human  raie*» 
the  earth  fbi-  their  filppbrt;  and  that  all  government  was  a  pbli-i 
tical  inftitutloft  bctitreen  meft  natufally  equal;  not  for  the  aggtah-> 
ditenteflt  bf  one,  oi*  a  few,  but  for  the  general  happinefs  of  tho'^ 
ivhole  community.  ImpfeiTcd  With  fentimcnti  of  this  kind^ 
they  grew  up,  from  their  eaHieft  infancy,  with  that  cfonHdencei 
which  is  well  calculated  to  infpire  a  itvc  for  libertjr,  and  a  pre- 
^oiTeflloti  in  favor  cf  independence. 

in  cbrifequeniie  bf  the  vail  extent  of  vacant  cbuntry,  eVery 
Colonift  was,  o^  eafily'  might  be,  a  freeholder.  Settled  on  lands 
of  his  own,  he  was  both  farmei  and  landlord — ^producing  all  the 
heceflaries  of  life  from  his  bwn  grounds,  he  felt  himfelf  both  free 
and  independent.  Each  individual  might  huht!*,  fifb,  or  fowl 
without  injury  to  hii  heighbouri.  Thefe  immunities  which,  in 
bid  countries,  are  guarded  by  the  faii^ion  of  pdnal  laws,  and 
inonbpolizied  by  a  few,  are  the  con^ikion  privileges  of  all  in  Ame- 
rica. Colohifts,  growing  up  in  the  enjoyment  of  fuch  rights,  felt 
the  reftraint  of  laW  more  feebly  than  they,  who  are  educated  in 
countries,  where  long  habits  have  made  fubmiflion  familiar.  The 
mind  of  man  naturally  reli(hes  liberty-— wherever  from  the  extent 
of  a  new  and  unfettled  country,  fome  abridgements  thereof  are 
ufelefs,  and  others  impra£licable,  this  natural  defire  of  freedom 
is  ftrcngthened,  and  the  independent  mind  revolts  at  the  idea  of 
fubjeftion. 

The  Colonics  were  alfo  preferved  from  the  contagion  of  mini- 
ilerial  influence  bv  their  diilance  from  the  metropolis.    Remote 
•  Vol.  h     -      •'-  ■      3  G     '    •      •■  '■''^'■-     ■'    ' 


i.d 


HtStOtLY  OFtHM 


'■--n^ 


Irom  the  feat  of  poWcr  and  corraptton,  they  were  not  ovenr-M^cfci 
hy  the  one^  nor  debauched  by  the  other.  Few  were  the  mean» 
6f  detaching  individuaU  from  the  intoreft  of  (he  public.  High 
offiibea  were  neither  fufficiehtly  nuteerous  nor  lucralite  to  pur- 
«h»fe  many  adherenti,  and  the  moft  valuable  of  thefe  wertt  con-' 
fjbrred  on  natives  of  Britain.  EVcry  nan  occupied  that  rankt 
only,  Which  hi^  owri  industry,  or  that  of  his  near  aneeftora^  had 
procured  him^  £ach  individual  being  cx^X  qti(t«m  all  mesota  of 
filing  to  importance,  but  by  hia  perfonal  talents,  Wa^  cncQuragi^ 
to  make  the  moft  of  thofe  with  which  he  W9s  endpwed. .  Frof- 
peds  of  this  kind  ex '.ittfd  emulation^  and  produced  an  entetprif-^ 
ing  laborious  fet  of  men,  not  eaftly  overcome  by  dif&culties,  an^ 
full  of  projed:Si  for  bettering  their  conditioni* 

I'hflf  cfnervating  opulence  o(  Europe  had  not  yet  reached  thef 
colonilUr*  They  were  deftitute  of  ^Id  and  filver,  but  abounded 
in  the  riches  of  nature*  A  fame'nefs  of  ciccumftances  and  occu^ 
pations  created  a  great  fenfe  of  equaUty^  and  difpofed  them  to 
union  in  any  Cbmtnon  caufe',  from  the  fuccefs  of  Vrhicb,  they 
might  expcf^  to  partake  of  equal  advai^tages* 

TKe  Colonies  were  ccMntiunittes  of  feparate  independent  indi- 
viduals, under  no  general  influence,  but  that  of  their  perfoniil 
feelings  and  opinions^  They  were  not  led  by  powerful  faililies^ 
nor  by  great  of&cers  in  church  or  ftate^  Refiding  chie%  on 
lands  of  their  own,  and  employed  in  the  wholefome  labours  of. 
the  field,  they  were  in  a  great  meafure  ftrangers  to  luxui^.-^ 
Their  wants  were  few,  and  among  the  great  bulk  of  th^  people, 
for  the  mo{l  part,  fupplied  from  their  own  grounds.  Their  en- 
joyments were  neither  far-fetched,  nor  ^rly  purchafed,  and 
were  fo  moderate  in  their  kind,  as  to  leavcf  both  mind  and  body 
unimpaired.  Inured  frpm  their  early  years  to  the  toils  of  a  Coun- 
try life,  they  dwelled  in  the  midft  of  rural  plenty.  Unacquain- 
ted .with  ideal  wants,  they  delighted  in  perfonal  independence. 
Removed  from  the  preiTures  of  indigence,  and  the  indulgence  of 
affluence,  their  bodies  were  ftrong,  and  their  minds  vigorous. 

The  great  bulk  of  the  Britifh  colonics  were  farmers,  or 
planters,  who  were  alfo  proprietors  of  the  foil.  The  merchants, 
mechanics,  and  manufa£turers,  taken  coUcfiively,  did  not  amount 
to  one  fifteenth  o^  the  whole  number  of  the  inhabitants.  While 
the  cultivators  of  the  foil  depend  On  nothing  but  Heavca  and 
their  own  indufUry,  other  claflies  of  men  contraft  more  or  lefs 
of  fervillty,  from  depending  on  the  caprice  of  their  cuftomers. 
The  exccfs  of  the  farmers  over  the  collsftive  numbers  of  all  the 
other  inhahitf^nts,  gave  a  caft  of  independence  to  the  manners 
of  the  pcoplci^  andi.diiTufed  the  exalting  fentiments,  which  "have 
always  predominated  among  thofe  who  are  cultivators  of  their 


s,  or 


4MER/C4H  KEVVIUTION,         ^    r  ^ 

Awn  gr<Minds:  thefe  were  farther  promoted  by  their  modeme 
(circumilanccs,  which  deprived  them  of  a|l  fuperftui^  ior  idle- 
ficfs,  or  cfFciriiute  indulgence. 

The  provincial  conftitution*  of  the  i^ngUfli  ^olooiei  nurtturod 
»  fpiric  of  liberty.  The  king  aod  goiremnwnt  of  Qrett  Britain 
lietd  no  patropiage  in  Americs^  which  could  create  a  portton  of 
ettachment  and  influence,  fufficient  to  counktcfaft  4liil  (j^rit  in 
popular  affBoiblies,  ^hkh,  when  left  to  itfelf,  .^  bro<^  any 
{authority  that  interf<qre$  with  i^s  own. 

.  ,  The  inhabiuntf  of  the  colprici  from  the  bffginning,  efpeciaMy 
an  New  England,  enjoyed  a  goyemment  which  wit  but  littlo 
ihprt  o'^  jbeing  independentf  They  had  not  only  ^  image,  bl^ 
the  (ubftance  of  the  Englilh  conftitutioni*  Thty  ehoft  moft  of 
their  magiftratev  an.4  paid  ^em  a)l.  They  ha4  in  cieift  the  fola 
id<re£kion  of  their  internal,  governments  The  chief  mark  of  their 
fubordiaation  iconiiAed  in  their  making  no  lawa  rc|N>fnaoC  to  th« 
|»w».(^  their  mother  icoHmry;  in  their  fubmittiiBg  to  have  fuch 
Jiaws  as  they  made  to  be  repealed  by  the  king}  and  (Heir  obeying 
fuch  r^riftions  a»  were  laid  on  their  trade  by  Pafiiament.  The 
Utter  were  often  evaded,  and  with  impunity,  The  other  fmall 
checks  were  fcarcely  felt,  ai^  fpir  a  \aa^  time  wejre  imno  refpejfijt* 
I  njurioui  to  their  iiUerefl;Sr 

llbder  thefe  favourable  circumftancei,  polenief  in  the  new 
IfTorld  had  advanced  nearly  to  the  magnitMde  of «  nation^  while 
the  greateft  part  of  Europe  waf  almoft  wholly  ignorant  of  thftir 
progrefs.  Some  tfibitrary  proceedings  of  jgovernors,  proprietary 
partialities,  olr  den^qpratica)  jealoui»es,  now  and-  tb'^n  interrupted 
tl^e  political  calm  whieh  generally  prevailed  among  them,  but 
thefe  and  other  oecafional  impediment;^  pf  their  profperity,  for 
the  moft  part,  foon  fubfided.  The  ipircumiboceis  of  the  country 
afforded  b^t  little  (cope  for  the  intrigues  of  politi|;ian8,  or  the 
turbulence  of  demagogues.  The  colonics  being  but  remotely 
affiedcd  by  the  bi^ftlings  of  the  old  w<M'ld,  and  having  but  few 
obje^s  (^f  ambition  or  contention  among  themfelves,  were  ab^- 
(orbed  in  the  ordinary  cares  of  dome(iic  life,  and  for  a  long  tune 
exenipted  ffom  a  great  proportion  of  thofe  evils,  which  the  gor 
verned  too  often  experience  from  tbe  paiSons  and  f<H3ies  of 
ftatefmen.  But  all  this  time  they  were  rif^ng  higher,  and  chough 
pot  fenfible  of  it,  growing  to  a  greater  4cgr««  of  political  cOn* 
(etjuence. 

One  of  the  ^ft  events  which,  af^  an  evidence  of  their  infpreafr 
ing  importance,  drew  on  the  colonies  a  fhare  of  public  atten* 
tion,  was  the  taking  of  LouiCbourgh,  in  the  year  1745,  from 
fran^i  \\rhile  that  country  wa^  at  war  with  Qreat  Britain,    Thi« 

3C  » 


«•• 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


•nter)»rire  was  projefte^  by  Governor  Shirley,  of  Maflachufetts, 
ahd  undertaken  by  (he  foie  authority  of  the  legiflature  of  that 
polony.     It  >vas  (carried  by  only  a  fing^e  vote  to  make  the  attempt, 

i  but '  after  the  adoption  of  the  meafure,  there  wa$  an  immediate 
unidn  of  all  parties,  and  all  were  equally  sealous  in  carrying  it 
into  execution.     The  expedition  was  eommitted  to  General  Pepr 

'  perellj  and  upVirardsf  pf  five  thoufand  men  were  fpeedily  raifed 
for  the  fervice,  and  put  under  his  command.  This  fiorpe  arrived 
ft  Canfo  on  the  4th  of  April :  a  Britifli  marine  force  from  the 

;Weft-.Indif;sj'fpmmap4cd  by  Commodore  Warren,  which  arriv- 

:  ed  in  the  fame  ntdnth,  a£led  in  f oncert  lyith  thefe  \^vA  forces. 
Thcif  combined  operations  were  carried  on  with  fo  much  judg- 
ment, that  an  (he  17th  of  June  the  foftrefs' capitulated. 

The  war  in  which  |jQui{bourgh  was  ta)cei^«  was  fcarcely  ended 

■  yihexi  another  began,  in  whi^h  the  colonies  were  diftinguiihed 
pkrties.     1'he  redu&ion  qf  that  fortrefSj  by  colonial  troops,  muft 

'have  given  bofh  fp  France  and  England,  enlarged  ideas  of  th« 
value  of  Aroericaii  territory,  and  might  have  given  rife  to  that 
cagernefs  for  extending  (he  boundaries  of  their  refpeftiye  colonies 

•  -which  foon  af(!er^  by  a  collifion  of  claims  to  the  fame  ground,  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  bloody  war  between  the  two  nations.  It  is 
neither  pcflible  not  ntcelTary  to  decide  Ofi  the  rights  of  either  to 

•  ^he  hnds  abbut  which  thi^  conteil  began.  )t  is  certain  %hil  the 
profpe£U  of  cpAydiiience  and  future  advantage  had  much  more 
influence  011  both,  than  the  confideratiohs  of  equity.  As' the 
contending  ppwers  conftdered  the  rights  of  the  native  inhabiutits 
of  no  accotint,  it  is  iiot  wpnderful  that  they  fhpuld  not  agree  in 
fettling  their  own.  The  >yar  was  brought  pninthe  follpwing  man^ 
ner:  about  tbe  year  1749,  a  grant  of  fix  hundred  thpufand  acres 
pf  land  in  the  neighbbuirhood  of  the  Ohio,  was  made  out  in  fa- 
vour pf  certain  perfpns  in  Y^eflminfler,  London,  and  Virginia, 
who  had  afipciated  undef  the  title  of  the  Ohio  Company.  At 
this  tittle  France  was  in  ))oireflion  of  the  country,  on  both  fides 
of  the  mouth  of  the  Mifliffippi,  as  well  as  of  Canada,  and  wifhed 
to  fotm  a  communication  between  thefe  two  extreniities  of  her 
territories  in  North  America.  She  was,  therefore,  alarmed  at 
the  fcheme  in  agitation  by  the  Ohio  Cpmpany  inafmuch  as  the 
land  granted  to  them  lay  between  her  northern  and  fouthern  fet- 
^len^ents.     R«mon(irances  againft  Britifh  encroachments  as  they 

'  were  called,  haying  been  made  in  vain  by  the  Governor  of  Cana- 
da, the  French,  at  length,  in  1753,  feized  fom&  Britifli  fubjc£ts 
who  were  ti'^ding  among  the  Twightwecs,  a  nation  of  Indians 
^ear  the  Ohio,  as  intruders  on  the  land  of  his  Moil  Chriflian 

•  Majeflyj  and  fent  them  to  a  fort  on  the  fouth  fide  of  Lake  Erie, 
^he  Twightwecs,  by  way  of  ret^iation  for  capturing  Britifh  trar 


AMERICAff  REVOLUTION. 


4IJ 


nnia. 


iders,  whom  they  deemeil  their  allies^  feize4  three  French  tn. 
ders,  and  fent  them  to  Pennfylvania,     Thft  Frerrch  perfifting  in 
their  claimia  to  the  country  on  the  Ohio,   as  part  of  Canada, 
ftrengthened  themfelvcs  by  erefting  new  fort»  '    its  vicinity,  an4 
at  length  began  tp  feize  and  plunder  every  iihtifli  trader  found 
pn  any  part  of  that  river,     Repeated  complaints  of  thefe  violen- 
ces being  made  to  the  Gbvernor  of  Virginia,  it  was  at  length 
determined  to  (en4  >  fuitable  perlbn  to  (he  French  commandant 
near  the  Ohio,  .to  demand  the  reafon  of  his  hoftile  proceedings, 
nd  to  infift  on  his  evacuating  a  fort  he  had  lately  built,      Major 
Wafliington,  being  then  bu»  little  more  than  tw«nty-one  years 
of  agi9,    offered  his   fervioe,    which   vras  thankfully  accepted. 
The  diftance  to  the  French  fettlemeAt  was  more  than  four  hun- 
dred  miles,  and  one  half  of  the  rout  led  through  a  wildeVnefs, 
inhabited  only  by  Indians,     He  pevertlielefs  fet  out  in  an  un- 
commonly levere  feafqn,  attended  o|i}y  by  one  companion.  From 
Winchefter,  he  proceeded  on  foot,  with  his  provifions  on  his 
back.     When  he  arrived  and  delivered  his  meflage,  thik  French 
commandant  refufed  to  comply,  and  claimed  the  coutitry  as  be- 
longing to  the  King  his  mafter,  and  declared  that  he  (hould  con- 
tinue to  feixe  and  fend  as  prifoner^  to  Canada,  every  Engliflim^ 
that  Ihould  attempt  to  traide  on  the  Ohio,  or  any  of  its  branches. 
Before  lilajor  Wafhington  returned,  the  Virginians  had  fent  out 
workmen  and  n^aterials,  to  ere£^  a  fort  at  the  conflux  of  the  Ohio, 
and  the  Manongahela,     While  they  were  engaged  in  this  woiJc 
fhe  French  came  upon  them,  drove  them  out  of  the  country, 
and  ere3x4  %  regular  fortification  on  the  fame   fpot.  .  Thefe 
fpirited  proceedings  overfet  the  fchemes  of  the  Ohio  Company, 
but  its  members  both  in  England  and  America  were  too  power- 
ful to  l^rook  the  difappointment.     It  was  therefore  refolved  to 
inflrud:  the  Colonies  to  oppofb  with  arms  the  encroachments  of 
(he  French  on  the  Britifh  territories,  as  thefe  iveflern  lands  were 
called.     In  obedience  to  thefe  inflru£lions,  Virginia  raifed  three 
hundred  men,  put  them  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Wafh- 
ington, and  fent  them  on  towards  the  Ohio.     May  28^  1754)  >n 
engagement  between  them  and  a  party  of  French  took  place,  in 
which  the  latter  were  defeated.     On  this  Mr.  de  ViUier,'  the 
French  commandant,  marched  down  with  nine  hundred  itieq, 
befides  Indians,  and  attacked  the  Virginians.     Colonel  Wafhing- 
ton made  a  brave  defence,  behind  a  fmall  unfiniflied  intrench- 
ment,  called  Fort  NeceiTity;  but  at  length  accepted  of  honoura- 
ble terms  of  capitulation. 

From  the  eagernefs  difcovered  by  both  nations  for  thefe  lands, 
it  occurred  to  all,  that  a  rupture  between  France  and  England 
(oulsl  no(  be  far  diflaqt.     It  was  a^fo  evident  to  the  rulers  of  t^e 


4H 


KiSTORY  OF  THti 


lalteTi  thit  the  Colonies  wouM  l>e  the  mod  convenient  ccntN 
df  opcntion  for  reprefllng  French  encrotchments.  To  driw 
forth  their  Colonial  rcfourceii  in  an  Mntform  fyftem  of  operationi, 
then,  for  the  firft  time,  became  an  obje&  of  public  attention.  To 
digeft  i  plan  for  this  purpofe,  a  general  meeting  of  the  Governora, 
pnd  moft  tnlwential  members  of  the  Provincial  Aflembliea,  wis 
held  at  Albany  in  1754.  The  commifTionera,  at  this  congrefi, 
were  unenimoufly  of  opinion,  that  an  union  of  the  Colonies  wai 
.neceflary,  end  they  propofed  a  plan  to  the  following effed,  "that 

•  grand  council  ihould  be  formed  of  members,  to  be  chofcn  by 
the  Provincial  AHTembliep,  which  ^council,  together,  with  a  Go-r 
vcrnor,  to  >be  appointed  by  the  Crowti,  (houU  b«  authorised  to 
make  general  laws,  and  alio  to  raife  money  from  ell  the' Colonies 

.Ibr  their  common  defence,"  The  leading  members  of  the  Pro. 
vinoisl  Aflemblics  weit  of  opinion,  that  if  this  plan  wai  adopted, 
they  could  defend  thcmfidves  from  the  Fi-epch,  without  any 
•fliftance  from  Qreat  Britain.  This  plan,  when  font  to  £og< 
land,  wa»  not  afcepteUe  to  the  Miniftry,  ana  in  lieu  thereof, 
they  propofed,  *'  that  the  Governors  of  ell  the  Colonies  attended 
by  ohbor  two  members  of  fcheir  refpe&ive  couu^ils,"  whifh  were 
for  the  moft  pert  of  Roysl  appointment,  "  ihould  from  time  to 
.time  concert  ineafHres  for  the  whole  of  the  Colonies ;  ere£^'  forts, 
and  raife  troops  with  a  power  to  draw  upon  the  BritHh  treafury 
Jn  the  ^rft  inftance;  but  to  be  ulttmat^y  re-imbuffed  by  a  tax  to 
|>e  laid'On  fhe  Colonies  by  en  a^iof  PirUanient,"  This  wis  as  much 
difraliihed  by  the  Colonifts,  as  the  former  plan  had  been  by  the 
9riti0i  Miniftry,  *I*he  pfiaciple  of  feme  general  power^  npe. 
Ttliof  .Oh  the  whole  of  the^Ct^onies,  was  ftill  kept  i^  mind, 
f  hou^  dropped  for  the  prefent. 

The  minifterial  plan  laid  down  ebove  was  tranfmitted  to  Go? 
vemor  Shirley,  and  by  him  communicated  to  Dr.  Franklin,  and 
fcisopinion  thereon  re^efted,  That  fagacious  patriot  font  to  tho 
Governor  an  afifw^r  in  writing,  with  remarks  upon,  the  propof* 
ed  plam  in  which,  by  his  ftrong  reasoning  powers,  on  the  firft 
viewoftht  new  fubjcft,  he  anticipated  the  fubftance  pf  a  con- 
froverfy,  which  for  twenty  year^  cnr^ploycd  the  tongues,  pens, 
fjeind  fwdirds  »f  bot^  count  ries, 

•  The  policy  of  repvelHng  the  enchroachments  of  the  French 
•B  the  BHtilk  Colonics  was  generally  approved  both  in  England 
•nd  America.  It  was  therefore  relolvcd  to  tal^e  cfFcftual  mea- 
fures  for  driving  them  from  the  Ohio,  and  alfo  for  reducing  Ni- 
agara, •  Crown-Point,  and  the  other  pofts,  whiph  they  held  with- 
in the  limits  claimed  by  the  King  of  Great  Britain. 

To  effcft  the  firft  purpofe,   General   Braddock  was  font  from  /| 
Ireland  to  Vir^inja,  with  two  re|iments,  and  W  ^^T^  j°*°**^ 


t  CCPtM 

'o  dnw 
entioni, 
on*  To 
ivernort, 
[i«9f  wai 
congrefi, 
»nieft  vrai 
a«  "that 
ihofcn  by 
ith  •  Go. 
orifcd  to 
Colonies 

ihe  Pro- 
I  tdopted, 
ihout  any 
t  to  Eng- 
A  thereoft 
•  atunded 
hifhwere 
m  time  to 
iXcG^'  fof  t», 
(h  treafuty 
)y  t  tax  to 
w  »s  much 
een  by  the 
•wcri  op«- 
il|i  mind, 

ed  to  Go, 

nVl»n»  ^^ 

ent  to  the 

\c  propof- 

the  firft 

;e  pf  a  con^ 

jues,  pens, 


AMEKtCAif  KirOLVTtOlt, 


4i| 


>n 


m 


the  French 
England 
cftual  mea- 
•ducing  Ni- 
held  with- 

s  font  from  /| 
i^re  joi»«d 


fciy  11  miny  more,  ■»  ■mounted  i«k  tho  whole,  to  two  thoufltnd 
two  hundred  men.  He  was  a  brave  men,  but  deftilute  of  the 
other  quiliiicatient  of  a  great  officer.  Hit  haughtinefa  difgufted 
the  Americana,  and  hia  feverity  made  him  difiigreeable  to  the  re- 
gular troopi.  He  particularly  flighted  the  country  militia,  and 
the  Virginia  officers.  Colonel  Wafhington  begged  hia  permiffion 
to  go  before  him,  end  fcourthe  wooda  with  hid  provincial  troops^ 
who  were  well  acquainted  with  that  (iervice,  but  thia  waa  re-> 
fufed.  The  General  with  of)r  thoufand  four  hundred  men  pufli- 
ed  on  incautioufly,  till  he  fell  into  an  ambufcade  of  French  and 
Indians,  by  whom  he  waa  defeated,  and  mortally  wounded, 
June  9,  1755.  The  regulara,  aa  the  Britifh  troop*  at  that  timo 
Were  called,  were  thrown  into  confuiion,  but  the  provincial! 
more  ufed  to  Indian  fighting,  were  not  fo  much  diliconcerted* 
They  continued  in  an  unbroken  body  under  Colonel  Waftiing- 
ton,  and  by  covering  the  retreat  of  the  regulars,  prevented  their 
being  cut  off  entirely* 

Notwithftanding  thefe  hoftilitics,  war  had  not  yet  been  for- 
mally  declared.  Previous  lo  the  adoption  of  that  mcafure, 
Great-Britain,  contrary  to  the  ufagea  of  nations,  made  prifoners 
of  eight  thoufand  French  failors.  This  heavy  blow  for  a  long 
time  crippled  the  naval  operations  of  France,  but  at  the  fame 
time  infpired  her  with  a  defire  to  retaliatr ,  whenever  a  proper 
opportunity  (hould  prefent  itfclf*  For  two  or  three  yeara  after 
Braddock's  defeat,  the  war  was  carried  on  againft  France  Without 
vigour  or  fuccefs :  but  when  Mr.  Pitt  was  placed  at  the  head  of 
the  miniilry,  public  affairs  aflumed  a  new  afpeft.  Vi^ry 
every  where,  crowned  the  firitifh  arms,  and,  in  a  fhort  time, 
the  French  were  difpoflefled,  not  only  of  all  the  Britifh  territo:^- 
ries  on  which  they  Had  encroached,  but  alfo  of  Quebec,  the 
capital  of  their  ancient  province,  Canada. 

In  the  courfe  of  this  war,  fome  of  the  colonies  made  exertions 
fb  far  beyond  their  reafonable  quota,  to  merit  a  re-iuiburfement 
from  the  national  treafury,  but  this  was  not  univeri'ally  the  cafe. 
In  confequence  of  internal  difputes,  together  with  their  greater 
liomeflic  fecurity,  the  neceflary  fupplies  had  not  been  railed  in 
due  time  by  others  of  the  Provincial  Affemblies.  That  a  Britiih 
Minifter  fhoiild  depend  on  colony  legiflatures,  for  the  execution 
of  his  plans,  did  not  well  accord  with  the  vigorous  and  decifivc 
genius  of  Mr.  Pitt ;  but  it  was  not  prudent,  hy  any  innovation,  to 
UTitate  the  Colonies,  during  a  war,  in  which,  from  local  circum- 
ftances,  their  exertions  were  peculiarly  beneficial.  The  advan- 
tages that  would  rcfult  from  an  ability  to  draw  forth  the  refourccs 
of  the  Colonies,  by  the  fanK:  authority,  which  commanded  the 
wealth  of  the  Mother   Country,   might   in  thel'e    circumftances 


i,  V 


4tfi  .    HfSTQItYOFTHi 

htverulgefted  t}^  id«««f,lp;^Qg  the  Colonies  by  authority  o^ 
the  Britifli  (pftrliimem..  Mr.  Pitt  is  Tpid  to  have  tolid  Mr. 
Franklin,  '*  thai  when  the  war  clofcd,  if  he  (hould  be  in  the 
miniftry,  he  would  lake.mcarures  to  prevent  the  Colonies  from 
having  a  power  to  refufe  or  delay  the  fupplies  that  might  be 
wanted  for  national  purpofes/'  but  did  not  mention  what  thofc 
mealUrel  (hould  be.  As  often  as  money  or  men  were  wanted 
from  the  Colonies,-  a  requifttion  was  made  to  their  legtiUtures. 
The(c  were,  generally  and  cheerfully  complied  with.  Yhcir  ex- 
ertions with  a  few  exceptions  were  great,  and  manifeftcd  a  leii- 
ous  defire  to  carry  into  effeA  the  plans  of  Great-Britain  for 
reducing  the  power  of  France/ 

In  the  prdfec«tion  of  this  wat^  the  ird^anCageS  which  Cre4t-r 
Britain  derived  from  the  Colonies   were  feverely  felt   by  her 
enemies/    Upwards  of  fear   hundred  privateers,  Which  were 
fitted  out  of  the  ports  of  the  Britifli  Colonies  fuccefsfully  cruized 
on  French  property.     Thefe  not  only  ravaged  the  Wefli-India 
iflands  belonging  t«  his  moft  ChriftiaH  Majcily,  but  made  many 
captures  on  ih4  coaft  of  Franee.     Befides  dilireflmg  the  French 
nation  by  privateering,  the   Colonies    furniflied   twenty-three 
thouiand  eight  hundred  men,  to  co-operate  with  theBritifh  regular 
forces  in  North-Ameriea.-    They  aKo  fent  powerful  aids,  both 
in  men  and  provifions^  out  of  their  own  limits  which  facilitated 
the  rcdiiAion  of  Martinique,-  and  of  the  Havannah.'     The  fuc- 
cefs  of  their  prfvateers-^he  eo-operation  of  their  land-  forces-— 
the  convenience  of  their  harbours^  and  their  contiguity  to  their 
Weft-india  iflands,  made  the  Colonies  great  aCquifitions  to  Bri- 
tain, and  formidable  adverfaries  to  France.     From  their  growing> 
hnportanee  the  htter  had  much  to  fear.    Their  continued  union 
Ukrith  Great-Britatnr  threatened  the  i'ubVerfion  of  the  commerce 
and  American  poiTeflions  of  France. 

Afttt  hoftittties  had  raged  nearly  eight  yeari,'  in  >763a  gene- 
ral peaee  was  eoneluded/  on  terms,  by  Which  France  ceded  Ca- 
nada to  Gireat-Britain.-  The  Spaniards  having  alfo  taken  part 
in  thd "War,- ^ere,  at  th?  termination  of  it^  induced  to  relinquifh- 
to  th<J  fame"  power,  both  Eaft  and  Weft  Florida.-  This  peace 
gave  Great-Britain  poffeffiort  of  aiy  extent  of  country  equal  in- 
ditAenffon^  to  feveral  ltingd4<)ms  of  Europe.-  The  pofTeiTion  of 
Canada  in  the  North,  and  of  the  two  FloriUas  in  the  South, 
made  her  ahnoO!  fole  miftrefs  of  the  North-American  Continent. 

This  laid  the  foundation  of  future  greatnefs,  which  excited 
the  envy  and  the  fears  of  Europe..  Her  navy,  her  commerce, 
and  her  manufaftures,  had  greatly  increafcd,  when  (he  held  but  a 
part  of  the  continent,  and  when  (he  was  bounded  by  the  fonrn- 
dable  powers  of  France  and  Spain.     Her  probable  future  great- 


AmericAm  AiVOiVTtOH. 


*\1 


•eft,  when  without  a  rival,  tod  with  ^'^i  growing  vent  for  her 
roinufaAures,  ind  increafing  employment  for  her  marine,  thrcu* 
tened  to  dellroy  thn  balance  of  power,  Which  European  foVe- 
reigns  have  for  a  long  time  endeavourifecl  (o  pt-eHfirve.  '  Kingft 
■re  fepubllcana  with  fcfpeft  to  each  other,  ahd  behold  %lth  de- 
mocratic jealoufy,  any  one  of  th^ir  order  towering  aboVc  thd 
relt.  Hie  aggrandiiicment  of  bn^,  t^nda  to  excite  the  c6rabina*> 
tioti,  or,  at  leait,  the  wiihek  of  many,  to  ireduCe  him  to  the  com- 
mon level.  From  motives  of  thia  kind,  a  great  part  of  £arope 
not  long  Ance  combined  againid  Venice  ■,  ind  foon  after  «gain(b 
liouia  XlVth  of  France.  With  the  fame  fufpiciouft  eye  was  the 
naval  fupcriority  of  Oreat-BHtain  viewed  by  her  hcighbouri* 
They  were^  in  general,  difpofed  to  favour  any  convulfion  which 
promifed  a  diminution  of  heir,  oVergrown  power. 

The  addition  to  the  firitilh  empire  of  tiew  province,  equal  \h 
fcxtent  to  old  kingdoms,  not  only  excited  the  jealoufy  of  Euro- 
pean powers,  but  occafibned  doubta  In  the  thindt  of  enlightened 
Britifh  politiei^ns,  whether  or  not  fuch  imitienfe  acquifltiont  of 
teirritory  Would  contribute  tb  the  felicity  of  the  Parent  Stati. 
They  ftw,  or  thought  they  faw,  thtf  feed*  of  difunion  planted  in 
the  too  widely  extended  etnpire*  Power,  like  all  things  human, 
has  its  lin^itS)  and  thfcre  is  a  point  beyond  which  the  longeft  and 
(harped  fWord  fails  of  doing  execution.  To  combine  in  oile 
uniform  fyftem  of  gbvernment,  the  eJktenfiVe  territory  then  fub- 
Jefied  to  tV.t  Britilh  fway,  Appeared,  to  men  of  refleftion,  a  woric 
of  doubtful  pi-aAicability :  nor  iVet^  they  miftaken  in  their 
conjcfturtst 

The  feeds  of  diftord  were  toon  planted,  and  fpeedily  gi'ew  up 
to  the  tending  of  the  empii'e.  The  high  notions  of  liberty  and 
independence.  Which  were  nurtured  in  the  Colonies,  by  their 
local  fituation,  and  the  ftate  of  fociety  in  the  new  world,  were 
increafed  by  the  removal  of  hoftile  neighbours.  The  events  of 
the  war  had  alfo  giVt^n  them  fome  experience  in  military  opera- 
tions, and  fome  confidence  in  their  own  ability. .  Forelieeing  their 
future  importance,  from  the  rapid  increase  of  their  lumbers,  and 
extenfton  of  their  commerce,  and  being  extremely  jealous  of 
their  rights,  they  readily  admitted,  and  with  pleafure  indulged, 
ideas  and  fentiments  which  were  favourable  to  independence. 
While  combuflible  materials  were  daily  coUefting  in  the  new 
world,  a  fpark  to  kindle  the  whole  was  produced  in  the  old. 
Nor  were  there  wanting  thofe  who,  from  a  jealoufy  of  Great- 
Britain,  helped  to  fan  the  flame. 

From  the  firfl  fettlement  of  Engltih  America,  till  the  clofe  of 
the  war  of  1 755,  the  condu6t  of  Great-Britain  towavds  her  Co- 

Vol,  I.  3  H 


'1  m 


«;  I 


i;« 


"'hWdWdff  fki 


.In  ^e  ^r(i  pprioc)^  GrcatrjSritain  rcgardied  tlid  province  as  inftru-i 
jm^nts,o^coni|nercc,    .Without  charging  nerfeif  with  th^^  care 


of  t,^jfi^^  intc^rnal   ppliptjj  .or.  fcckintf  a  revenue  "firorrt  them,  "ffie 

.contented  hciiTel  T  vi|;h  a  i^onbpoly  of  illicit  tntde.     She'  treated 

them  n&  a,judiciou$  mother  does. her  dutitul  cKildrem     "ifhcy 

(Iiared  .,in  eyery  priyili^ge  ponging  to  her  aative  font,  and  hul- 

ilightly  felt  the  inconveniences  of  fi^ordinatiqni     Small  was  tKe 

catalogue  of  grievances   with  which  ^ven  dcmotratical  jealoufy 

^charged  the  parent  State,  antecedent  to'  the  period  before  men< 

tionedi     The  following  appeait-  to  Kave  been  the  cKiefj     An  aft 

.pfrthc.Bi^itilh  1*arli^mdnt  for  prohibiting,  the  cutting  down  pitch 

_and  ta^, trees,;  not  beipg  within  a  fcnqe  or  encloiurej  and  fuhdry 

'a^  which  operate^  ^^aipi^  colonial  nianufa£lurcs/    fiy  one  of 

-^tji€ifej  it  was  mad^  jUcgal  ;|fter.  the  si4th  of  June,  i  75^,  to  ereft  in 

the  Colonies,  any  mill  or  other  engine  for  flitting  or  rolling  of 

;iign,  or  any  platingj  forge ,  tO;  ;»*rork   with,*  tilt  hammetf  or  any 

luxno^e.  for  making  (li^el*  ^  By  another^,  hatters  were  retrained 

j  fro^  taking  more  than  tw,o  apprentices  at  a  tiine^   or  any  for  lefs 

than  ieven  years,  and  from  employing  negroes  in   the  bunnefsj 

The  Qplonifl^  ,werft  alfo  pi^ohi^ited  frpip  tranlportiing  hsts,  and 

Jionae,  inanufaftuned...Vo,ollen$,  from   one  province  to  another. 

Thcfe,  ;regulation«  were,  for  the  moft  part  evaded^   but  if  carri<ed 

into  e:>cecution,  would  haVe  been  flightly  inconvenient^  and  only 

,to.9few«     Xhe  articles,  the  manufa,£iiM-ing  of  Which  were  thus 

;  prohibited^  could  be  purchafed  at  a  cheaper  rate  from  England^ 

and  the  hands  who  made   them,  oould  be  as  well  employed  in 

agriculturoi  ,  t.   . 

Though  thcfe  teftriftions  were  a  fpecies  of  affront,  by  theii' 
implyiDg,  that  the  Colonidts  had  not  fenfe  enough  to  difcover 
Aeif  own  intereft^  and  though  they  feemed  calculated  to  crufti 
their  native  talents,  aiid  to  keep  them  in  a  conftant  llate  of  infe- 
riority, without  any  hope  of  arriving  at  thoib  advantages,  to 
which,  by  the  native  riches  of  their  country,  they  were  prompted 
to  afpire ;  yet  if  no  other  grievances  had  been  fuperaded  to  what 
cxifted  in  1763*  thcfe  would  have  been  foon  forgotten,  for  their 
preffure  was  neither  great,  nor  univerfaU  T^e  good  rpfulting  to 
the  colonics,  from  their  conne£lion  with  Great-Britain,  infinitely 
outweighed  the  evil. 

Till  the  year  1 764,  the  colonial  regulations  fccmed  to  have  no 
other  obj^a  but  the  common  good  of  the  whole  empire ;  excep- 
tions to  the  contrary  were  few,  and  had  no  appearance  of  lyftem. 
When  the  approach  of  the  Colonies  to  manhood  made  them 


M^  RfCA^RKVpl  VTJOK 


4*9 


onesi 
iftru'-' 

>,    ..TB. 

caro 

reaied 
tWcy 
idliul- 
as  t^e 
aloufy 
iinen- 
\n  aft 
1  pitch 
fiindry 
one  of 
ereftin 
ning  of 

or  any 
[Vraincd 
for  left 
mTmcfsj 
tts,  and 
,notlier« 

carrijeii 
|nd  only 

re  thus 

nglandj 
[oycd  in 

)y   thtii* 

Idifeover 

|to  crufh 

of  infc" 

iagcs,  to 

U'ompted 

to  what 
|for  their 

ilting  to 
Infinitely 

have  no 

;  exccp- 

[f  lyllem. 

Ldc  thein 


fnore  capable  pf^refifling  impofitions,  Greit-Britain  changed  the 
wjcieni  lyflein^urKlcr  Vfiiiii?  htr  iCbtoM^s'had'lortg  11Mi*ia<dJ 
When  pol 
Ihc  role  »n     , 

Fronj^  the  conqu'cj^,  of  .tiana<^,  in  ,<  7^0»  ^me  hive  fuppolbdt 
that  France  .began  ti^cretly  16  tay  f ch^the»  for  wreftinf^  ihS^^toioi 
flies fpm  Great-l^itain  wliicli  Wc^i$hoi dbteto conqtii^i filers 


lolicy  woiitd  ratlieV  h»ve  Qiftatiid  wlaxftioft  iff 'alitlioH^Y 
in  her  demarid,  aii^  muUipliiif  Hti^ rifAriintt. ^^    -  '  ^'  "  • 

JJ?-  •',••■     l;ii  jL-  ;   -a;,     n^'i  f  *'>  f    ;  .•->-    ■;      t:!'-      T"'       itJ.- 


licfs  of  human  naiiire  is  iulApi^t  tj^  ajpcttuitit^fof  tbat  d^and  orf 
tlie  one  .H'4e,  an^  tW  i'(^fufal'bh  Vhk  otjfier,  Mtrhidh  bccafibficd'th^ 
fcyolution/  It  waii  hatuWl  for  Oteai-B,Htai,H  td  wift  lioir  Jitf  ex,' 
(enfionof  her  atithority  oVer  the -Ciolonies^  arid  iiqiiaQy  fp "  fbi* 
|hem^  on  theif  approach  to  maturity,  10  1)6  11)01-6,  impaUeht  of 
fubordination,  aitd  to  refift  every  inpovaUoin,.ior Wrcaiinff  the 
4?^ree  of , their  dependence,  , 

Tl]ke  fad  fliory  of  Colonial  opprefllon,  commenced  in  the  year 
I '^64.  Qreat-Britain  then  adopted  hew  rej^uUtions  refppfii^hg'hei 
Colonies,  which  after  4ifturbing  the  ancient  harmony 'of'  the 
two  cou|itries  for  about  twelve  ycarSj  terimhiktc4  ip.'  tlvi  difAiem- 
bcrmcnt  of  the  empire;"  '      ■■  •.-,:'■;--..      .0  !♦'-,).,..> 

The(e  confifted  in  reftri^^ing  their  former  (;ommerce,  but  mdie 
efpecially'  m  fubj&^ing  them  to  taxation,  by  the  British  Parlia^ 
ment.  ^y  adhering  to  the  fpirit  of  the  navigation  ^i^,  in  th6 
courfe  of  a  century,  the  trade  of  Grcatrl^ritairi  had  iucreafdd  far 
beyond  the  expc£^atioh  of  her  i^olt  fanguine  fons,  but  by  rigidly 
enforcing  the  0ri£l  letter  of  |hc  lame,  in  a  different  Atuatioii  of 
public  affairs,  e^elks  dire^ly  the  rcVerfe  were  produced, 

Fron|  the  enterprising  commercial  fpir^  pf  the  coldnifts,  the 
trade  of  Amcr^fa,  after  filling  all  its  prdper  channels,  fvyeHed  out 
on  every  fide,  and  overflowed  its  proper  banks  with  a  rich  re- 
dundance, In  the  cure  pf  evils,  which  arc  clofely  conn^£l£d 
with  the  caufcs  of  national  profperity,  vulgar  precaution  ought 
not  to  be  employed,  In  fcverely  checking  a  contraband  tradej 
which  was  only  the  overflowing  o(  ai)  cxtenfive  fair  trade,  the 
remedy  was  worfc  jhan  the  difcafe, 

For  fomc  time  before  and  after  thfc  termination  of  the  war  of 
4755,  a  confidcrablc  in^ercourfc  had  been  carried  on  between  the 
l^ritifh  and  Spanifli  Colonics,  confiding  pf  the  manufafiurcs  of 
Great-Britain^  imported  by  (he  former,  An4  fold  by  the  latter}  by 
which '  the  Britilh  Colonies  acquired  gold  and  filver,  and  werb 
enabled  to  make  remittances  to  the  Mother  Country.  This  trade, 
though  it  did  not  claih  with  the  fpiri(  of  the  British  oavi^atii^ 

3  li  a 


I 


iffl 


4*« 


HlifORYOF  THE 


hr 


hwi$  ^«s  forbidden  by  tHei,r  letter.  On  account  of  the  «dv^ntage^ 
^Hiiph  al)  parties,  and  particularity  Creat-Brit^i^i  reaped  from  thi^ 
jntcrcourfe,  itha4  lon^.been  winkeq  at  by  perfops  in  power;  but 
at  tijie  pepod  bcfore-iner^tiqned*,  fome  iicw  regulations  were  adopt- 
ed^, by  which  it  was  ^itnpfi  def^roy^d,  This  >ya«  efe^d  by 
arm64vct4ter9,  whofeconinian^eTS  were  en|'oine4  ^otaHe  the  ufual 
cuftoi^-hoi^fe  oathv^  an^  to  a^  in  tl\e  capacity  of  revenue  officers^ 
So  fudden  a  ftoppage  of  an  a.frcuftoined  and  beneficTal  coniinerce, 
by  an.unufuayy  pgi^i  cxeciition  pf  old  laws,  was  a  ferio|isb|ow  to. 
t^f  Northern  Cojopies,  It  was  their  nusfor^une,  that  thougH 
^jjipy  ilce4  in  ^ee4  of  yaft  i^uaiitities  of  JB^itifh  manufaftures,  their 
foundry  produced  very  litt|c  that  afForde4  a  direft  remittance  to 
pay  for  thct|t.  They  were,  therefore,  under  a  neceflity  of  leeking 
cl^wl^eire,  a  inta^H^t  for,  th<'^>^PT®4^f<i«  and  by  a  circuitous  route, 
acquiring  tht  means  of  rupportine  their  credit  with  the  Mother 
Country.  This  they  found  by  trading  with  the  Spanifh  and 
Freiich  iCblbnies'  ifi'tlieir  i^eighDourhopd^  l^'roin  them  they  ac- 
quired gold|  dlyeir,  and  valuable  comn^odities,  the  ultimate 
profits  ^f  winch  centered  in  Great-Britain.  Thi^  inte):courfe  gave 
,  life  to  bu4ne|isi  of  every  denomination,  and  eftabliihcd  a  reciprocal 
circulation  pf  (ne^ey  an4  l^erchandize,  tp  the  benefit  of  all  parties 
concerned,  Why  a  trade  effential  to  the  Colonies^  and  which,  fq 
far  from  beii^g  det^in^ental^  lya^  indifefUy  advantageous  to  Great- 
Britain,  (hould  \tc  fp  parrowly  watched  and  fp  feycrely  reftrained, 
could  not  be  accounted  for  by  the  Americans^  'vvitht)ut  fuppofing 
that  the  rulers  of  Qreat-Britain  >yere .^ealoust  of  their  adventurous 
coinmercial  fpirtt,  and  of  their  increafing  number  of  feam^n*  Thei^ 
f  ffcual  fufferings  were  ^reat^  but  their  apprehc nfions  v/ere  greater, 
inftead  of  viewing  the  Paifent  State  as  they  had  long  done,  in  the 
)ight  of  an  afFe^ionate  mother,  they  conceived  her,  as  beginning  to^ 
be  influenced  by  the  ni^rrow  views  of  an  illiberal  ftep-dame. 

After  the  29th  of  September,  1764,  the- trade  between  the 
Britifh,  an4  the  French,  and  Spani(h  (Colonies,  ^yas  in  fome  degree 
]egalifed,  but  M^der  circumftances,  that  brought  no  relief  to  the 
Colonics,  for  it  was  loaded  with  fu(;h  enormous  duties,  as  were 
e<}uivalcnt  to  a  prohibition.  The  preamble  tP  the  a£l  for  this 
purpofe  was  alarming,  *' Whereas  it  is  juft  a.nd  necclftry,  that  a 
^feyenue  be  railed  in  America,  for  defraying  the  expcnccs  of  de- 
fending, prote£ling,  and  fecuripg  the  fame,  We,  the  Commons, 
^c.  tpwar4s  raifing  the  fame,  give  and  grant  i^nto  your  MajcAy^ 
the  fum  of"  (here  followed  a  (pecification  of  4uties  upor\  foreign 
clayed  fugar,  indigo^  and  cofTee,  of  foreign  produce,  upon  all 
wines,  except  French,  upon  all  wrought  filk,  and  all  calicoes,  an4 
tipon  every  gallon  of  molafles  and  fyrups,  being  the  produce  of  a 
colony  not  under  the  dominion  of  his  Majcfty).  It  was  alfo 
gnawed,  that  t^e  moni9S  arifing  from  tlic  importation  of  thcfc 


■'■y-, 


AMERICAN  REVOiufiOX^ 


i*f 


age«i 

;but 

lopt- 

Iby 

ufual 

icers^ 

icrce, 

nw  to. 

lOUgH 

I  their 
{ice  to 

seking^ 

route, 

dothcr 

fh  and 

ey  ac- 

Itimate 

•fc  gave 

:^proca^ 
parties 

hich,  fo. 
Great- 
drained^ 

[ppofing 

jnturous 
Theit 
greater. 
',  in  the 
itting  to^ 

leen  the 
le  degree 
]f to  the 
I  as  vrer<^ 
for  this 


articles  into  the  Colonies,  'fliould  be  paid  into  the  rtceipt  of  htV 
J^ajefty's  exchequer,  there   to  be  entered  feparate,  ^and  rtTervcd' 
to  be  difpofed  of  by  Parliament  towards  defraying  the  tieceflary 
expences  of  defending,  protefting,  and  fccuring  America.     TiU 
that  aft  pafled,    ho    aft    avowedly   for  the  purpoTe  of    rev«^ 
liue,  4nd  y^ith  the  ordinary  title  and  recital  of  fuch,  wait  to  be 
found  in  the  parlbhientary  flatute  book.     The  wording  of  if  Made^ 
the  Colpnilb  fear,  that  the  Parliament  woiild  go  6n,  in  charging 
them  with  fuch  taxes  as  they  pleafed,  and  for  the  fupport  of  fucH 
Military  forpe  as  they  (hould  thini.  proper,    The  aft  was  the  more^ 
difgufting,  beoaufe  the  monies  arifing  from  it  were  ordered  to  be 
paid  in  fpecie,  v^d  regulations  were  adopted,   againli:  colonial 
paper  money,    To  obfiruft  the  avenues  of  ac(j[ui ring  gold  and  iil*^ 
yer,  and  at  the  fame  time  to  ipterdift  tht  ufe  Of  paper  money* 
appeared  *j  the  Colonlfts  as  a  farther  evidence  that  their  interefts 
yere  fsither  mifunderilood  ^  or  difregafded.    ^e  impofition  of 
duties,  for  the  purpofe  of  raiiing  a  revenw  in  America,^  was 
Fonfidered  a$  '^.    '-^ngerous  innovation,  but  the  methods  adopted 
for  fecuring  their      ilftion,  were  refented  as  arbitrary  and  un« 
conftitutional.       .   y-v^  enafted  by  Parliament,  that  whenever 
offences  fliould  oe  cginmitted  againft  the  afts,  which  impoied 
them,  the  profecutor  might  bring  his  aftion  for  the  penalty  in  the 
courts  of  admiralty,  by  which  means  the  defendant  loft  the  aid- 
vantage  of  beipg  tried  by  a  jury,  and  was  fubjefted  to  the  neceflity 
of  having  his  cafe  decided  upon  by  a  (ingle  man,  a  creature  of 
of  the  Crown,  whofe  falary  was  to  be  paid  out  of  forfeitures  adr 
judged  by  himfclf }  and  Jlfo  according  to  a  courfe  of  law,  which 
Exempted  the  profecutor  from  the  trouble  of  proving  his  accufa« 
tion,  and  obliged  the  defendant,  either  to  evinbe  his  innocence,  or 
fo  fuffer.     By  thefe  regulation?,  the  guards  which  the  conftitution 
had  placed  round  property,  and  the  fences  which  the  anceftors  of 
^oth  pountries  had  erefted  againft  arbitrary  power,  were  thrown 
down,  as  far  as  they  concerned  the  Colonifts,  charged  with  vio? 
l^ing  the  laws,  for  railing  a  revenue  in  America, 

They  who  direftcd  public  affairs  in  Great  Britain  feared,  tha^ 
if  the  colleftion  of  thefe  duties  was  enforced  only  in  the  cuftoma- 
ry  w"y,  payment  would  be  often  eluded.  To  obviate  that  difpoi^ 
fition  which  the  Colonifts  difcovercd  to  fcrcen  one  another,  in 
difobeying  ofFenftve  afts  of  Parliament,  regulations  were  adopted, 
bearing  hard  on  their  conftitutional  rights.  Unwilling  as  th6 
Colonifts  were  to  be  excluded  by  the  impofuiun  of  enormous 
duties,  from  an  accuftomed  and  beneficial  line  of  hufmefs,  it  is 
not  wonderful  that  they  were  difpofed  to  reprcfent  the  innova- 
^ionsof  the  mother  country  in  the  moft  unfavourable  point  of 
J^iew.  The  heavy  lofles  to  which  many  individuals  were  ful^ 
^pftedy  and  ^he  general  diftrcfs  of  the  (ncrcantilc  iutcrcf^  in  (ci 


jm 


1   I 


\   I 


Vfr4.tof  tliQ-pldc^  CoIoQies,  foure^  the,  in^s,of  many^  Thf>^ 
iftiC' Mother  Country  {^ul4  infringe  h^r,  ojvn.  conftitytion,'  ta 
«rimp^' Iho  commerce .  of  hc^^  Culonicji,  wa^  a  fruitful  fMbje^  oiF 
di:(ihinvi!^ioni  I  but  th<5fc  muirmunngs  would  have,  eya{)orj(ited  in 
>vordf5,  had,  Great  Britaifi  proceeded  to  i^o  farther  innoyatiqns, 
Inikadr  of  thi^  fl^e  adopted;  the  npycl,  ^ea  pf  raiftng  from  the 
Ci^lfi^WSf  ai>:  ?%i9nt.  revennc,  by  diie,^  iinteriial  taxes,  lai4_  ty 
»p(hori(y  of  hfr  pjifUamcnt, 

Though  all  the  (Jolopifts,  difrclifhed,,  apd  man7»  from  the  prcf, 
AvFO-of  aflual  fufl^fifigs,  con^Jlainedof  thc.^ritiih  reiWi^ion^ oi^ 
their)  mmu£>^ure£  apd  cp^nnvtircc,  yet  a.  great  n|^aj||^:ity  vyas,  <iifr 
l^ficdi  to  fubmit  to  both»  A^^il  of  thtsnii  acl^now^dged  t^t'they 
•xercife  of  ^hefe  po\|ieers  was^  ijvpidentto  th<?  fQvcrejgnty'pf  the 
Mothec  Country,  ^fpecially  wheii  guari^,by  ^n,  io^pli^d  (rontra^^ 
thatthqy  werib'toi  be  only  u|ed  fof  thc.cii^qipi).  b^i:^e,^t  of  the  enir 
pirck  It  was  genjpral.liy.ftUpweitJi  tl^^t  as  th<?  planting  of^olonie^ 
waa  not  defigned  l«)  aure^  aa.  injdcpe^den^  goyerw^ojit^  but  tp 
extend  an  old  one^  the  Parent  StaM)  had  a  right  to  i;e^rain  thei^ 
trade  in  eveiy  wjy,  which  cpjn4u<;ed  xx^  the  comtoott  omolfiopi^;^ 

19:  ey  for  the  ^loft  part  ^onfiid^red  the  N^pt^er  Country  af  au^ 
thofifed  to  name  ports  an^  nation^,  to  w^icKalope  th«^'  mer<;han_ 
diaefliould  be  carried^  and  yrith  W^i^  ^^'^  thfy  Ih^uUl  t^ade^ 
but  the  novel  claim  of  taxing,  t^q^  \^ith^pt  thoir,  conififit,,  ^yas 
univerfally  rcprpbate^^ .  a^  contrary  to  tbcU-  ivitural,  chartered^ 
and  conftitutional '  rights.  In  oppo^tipfi  \p  it,  they  npt  qnly 
alledged  the  gon^r^l  principle^  pf  lib>:ity,  but  anvient  uiage. 
JD.uring  tlie  &r(i  hundred  and  E,£ty  yp^^  qf  their  exiilence^  they 
had  been  left  t9  tax  themfelvcs,  and  in  their  ow^  way.  |f  there 
were  any  exceptions  to  this  general  -rule,  t;hby  were  top  inconH- 
derable  to  merit  notice.  In  the  war  of  1755,  the  events  of  which 
were  f^eih  in  the  recplle^on  of  every  one,  the  Parliament  had 
in  no  inftancp  attempted  to  raife  either  n\(:n  or  money  in  tlie 
Colonies  by  its  o\^n  authority.  As  the  clai^  of  taxation  on  on^ 
fide,  and  the  fefufal  of  it  on  the  other,  vy^s  the  vay  hinge  oq^ 
which  the  revolution  turned,  it  merits  a  particular  difcuflfon. 

Colonics  were  formerly  planted  by  warlike  nations,  to  keep 
their  enemies  in  awe,  to  give  vont  to  a  furplus  of  inhabitants,  or 
to  difcharge  a  number  of  difcontcntcd  and  troublcfoniie  citizens. 
But  in  modern  ages,  the  fpirit  of  violence,  being  in  fome  mcar 
lure  iheathed  in  commerce,  colonies  have  been  fettled,  by  th^ 
nations  of  Europe,  for  the  purpofes  of  trade.  Thel'c  were  to  be 
attaiatid  by  their  raifing,  for  the  Mother  Country,  fuch  commo- 
dities as  (he  did  not  produce,  and  fupplying  theml'clves  from  her 
with  fuch  things  as  they  wanted.  In  fubferviency  to  thltfe  views^ 
Great  Britain  planted  Colonies,  and  made  hws^  obliging  thcw  to. 


A  M  E^Rfi  M'  Mtdi,  trtro  M 


m 


tions^ 
m  the 

ijit  th<^ 
o(thc 

tntra^i 
he  ctn- 

Vui,  tp 


f,  af  au- 
iejr<;han-. 
^  tifadc  J 
;ipt,  %yas 
.artcred^ 

fOV  qnly 

ul'age. 
c*  they 
If  there 
inconfi- 
,f  which 
[cnt  had; 

in  th^ 

oi)  on? 

inge  o)?, 

tQ  keep 
lants,  or; 
[citizens. 
W  mcar 
I,  by  th? 
e  to  be 
commor 
Tom  her 
reviews^ 

thcroto, 


\:ihy  tor  her  ^It*  their  ^tt^diifis  A^hHrH  fll«  llriiMcd,  ktiA'  ^\\  tTninr 

tion)  flie  forbad  them  to  procure  manufa3:urers  from  anyi  nthor 
^ntt  6ftii&g\b^ei'6r  cviki  the  prodafts /ofifiBuropfaaa  to«4nt«!(ies« 
H^rHicb  t^uld  filial  her,  Without  being  firft  brought  .to'  hc:t,f0rt»i 
^By  a  ViHety  o^  laws  fhe  reguUted  their  tradt,  in  fueha-minfMr^ 
as  was  tlhdtJghr  trfofli  eoilducive  to  iheir  mutual  adVint^gCf^aiad^icr 
(Vwrt  pai'ticular  \\^eifa»e.  This  principle  ^f  cdnpipercial'toonopply 
run  tiird^gh  Hitlers'  iliin  iWenty^tiine  ^sl&s  oft  l*airUamcni),  froift 
l66d  to  1784.  lit  all  chefe  afts  the  iyft^Iof  commettc  w^S'<A:». 
Uilhtid,  al  thsty  ftohi'Whieh;  alone^j  their  totitributions  :to  tkvt 
(Ireiigth  of  th«  ««ipfreir«re  expeftedk  '^  During  this  i^htplc  period* 
ia  parliamentary  Vevenue  was  iro  part  bf  the  obje&bf  cal6nifeati(»ii 
AtPdrdi'tigly,  irt  ftll  the  Uws  Which  reg^i-ckdithiBhit  the.  tebhaic!*! 
\vdrds  of  r^eniie  laws  were  avoidedd  t<Such  ha!^«'  uftially  it  iklc 
purporting  their  hting  ^grants,"  and  the  Woiids  '^gjhrc  ind  grant,'* 
\ifually  precede  their  ehaftingclaufes,  AltltoUghdu tie6  w<!reim' 
pofed  on  Am«lricji  by  previous  a£bs  of  ^ariiamentv^  no  one  title  of 
"giving  tin  aid  to  his  Majefty,or  any 'other  of -the  uRial  titles  to 
thie  revenue  afts,  Was  to  be  found  inoany  iof  th^m.  They  W:ere 
intended  as  regulations  of  tratde^  and^ndbas  iburces  of  natiotaiii 
fupplies.  Till-the  year  1764,  all  ftnbd  t>n  looihmerciat  rb^uktti&n 
' ttnd reftralnt.' -^    .ii  ^«'ti4v'^    '-  -     •.  ■■■  i-jr.!. 'wot? 

While  GrtaVBrtt^m  attended  to  thi%  fir^  fyftem  of  cbldhkitibn, 
her  Am^riciin  fettlements^  though  expofed  in  ithknowh  tlimates, 
and  unexplored  wildeh^flfes,  grftW  md 'flbtirifhed,  and' in  the 
fame  proportion  tlie  trade' and  riches-  df  the '  Mother  Country  in- 
treafed.  Some  eftiniate'maly  be  made  of'  this  ihcreafe,  from  the 
following  (latement ;  the  whole  e^j^rt  t»de  of  England,  includ- 
ing that  to  the  Colonies,  in  the  year  1704,  atnounted  to  £6jSO()i6oo 
ftcrling:  but  fo  ithmenfdy  had' the 'Cttldniesincreafed,' that  the 
exports  to  therti  alone  in  the  year  1772,  amounted  to  £'6.022,132 
fterling,  and  they  were  yeatly  increafing.  In  the  fliort  fpace  of 
fixty-eight  years,  the  Colonies  added  nearly  as  much  to  the  export 
commerce  of  Great  Britain,  as  Ihe  had  grown  to  by  a  progreflivc 
increafc  of  improvement  in  1700  years*  And  this  incrcafc  of  co- 
lonial trade  was  not  at  the  expcnce  of  the  general  trade  of  the 
kingdom,  for  that  increafcd  in  the  fame  time  from  fix  millions  to 
fixtccn  millions. 

In  this  aufpicious  period,  the  Mother  Country  contented  her- 
fclf  with^excrcifing  her  fuprcmacy  in  fuperintcnding  the  general 
concero^  of  the  Colonics,  and  in  harmonifmg  the  commercial  in- 
tcreft  of  the  whole  empire.  To  this  themoftofthem  bowed  down 
with  fuch  a  filial  fubniiflion  as  dcmoniftrated  that  they,  though 


?4M 


xu\lflimftY6^FtHi 


hflitf  fubjeAed  tt>  paHwmfo^tiry  Uxet^ 'could  be  kept  in  due  fubor- 
dioAtion,  wid  ia  perfe&  rubfcKvic^cy  tp  the  grand,  views  of  colo- 
■miation.  ■  .*■  .  r^  '  ,  ,     ;       *      ^^  ;,,;,  ..j^i. 

Immediateljr  ifter  the  pteee  of  Parii^  1763;  i  nvnr  &mi  yfti 
opened.  The  nationiil  de'b^  of  Great  Britain  theki'  aftioUnted  toi 
,0116'  hundred  and.fbrty-eight  milliona^  for  which  afi  iiiterefl  of 
mcarly  five  milltoni  was  annually  paid«  Vt^Kile  tHo|lt^tifll  Minif: 
ter  was  digtfting  plani  for  dimihiihing  thi%  aina»ijig^;^}oild;of  dcbt^  - 
heconcetifedthe  idea  df  raifing.a  fub(bnti«l  peviHtt^in'the  Britiih 
Colonies^  from  taxes  laid  by  the  Parliament  of  the  ^Parent  State^ 
On  the  one  hand  it  w*ai  urged^  that  the.  late  war  originated  on 
•account  of  th^  Coloiiies-i-thit  it  was  rt»fonable,  more  efpeeialiy 
ts  it  htd  terfninated  in  a  manner  fe  favourable  to  their  interei^, 
that  they  ihould  contribute  to  the  defhiying  the  expcncei  it  had 
oceafionedi  Thus  hi  both  parties  were  agreed  $  but  Ordit  Britain 
contended,  (hat  her  ParU^naent,  as  the  fupreme  power,  was  con- 
ftitutiondlly  Veiled  with  an  authority  to  hy  th6m  on  every  part  of 
the  empire^  This  doftrine^  plaufible  in  itfelf^  and  conformable 
(0  the  letter  of  the  Britifli  conftitution^  when  the  whde  domini- 
ovis  were  reprefented  in  one  aifembly,  wasireproi>ated  in  the  Co- 
l<fnies^  is  contrary  to  the  fpirit  of  the  fame  govcfmment,  when  the 
empire  became  fo  far  extehded,  as  to  have  many'  diilinft  reprefeA- 
tativc!  aiTemblies.  The  colonifts  believed  that  the  chief  excellence 
.  -of  the  Britifh  conftitutioti  confifted  in  the  right  of  the  fubjeds  to 
grant,  or  withbld  taxes,  and  iii  their  having  a  ih^'c  in!  cna£liilg 
the  laws  by  ivhlch  they  were  to  be  bound. 

They  coneeiVed,  that  Che  (iiperiority  of  the  Britlflt  conftitution, 
toother  forms  of  govtfrnment  was^  notbeeaufe  their  fuprerfte  coun-t 
cil  was  called  a  Parlilment^  but  bet^aufe  the  people  had  a  ihare  in 
it  by  appointing  membersi  who  confl;itutedone  of  its  conftituent 
branches,  and  w'ithout  whofe  concurrence,  ^o  la%v«  binding  on 
them,  could  be  enaded.  In  the  Mother  Country*  it  was  aflerted 
tob«3  eflential  to  theunity  of  the  empire,  that  the  firitilh  Parliametit 
fhouldhave  a  right  of  taxation  over  every  part.of  the  royal  domini- 
ons. In  the  Colonies,  it  was  believed,  that  taxation  and  repre- 
fantation  were  infeperable,  and  that  they  could  neither  be  free 
nor  happy  if  their  property  could  be  taken  from  them  without 
iheir  content.  The  common  people  in  America  reafoncd  on  this 
I'ubjcd:  in  a  fummary  way :  "If  a  Britifh  Parliament,,"  laid  they, 
"in  which  we  are  unreprefented,  and  over 'which  we  have  no 
►  controul,  can  take  from  us  any  part  of  our.  property,  by  direft 
taxation,,  they  may  take  as  much  as  they  pleafe,  and  wc  have  no 
I'ecurity  for  any  thing  that  remains,  but  a  forbearance  on  their 
part,  lefs  likely  to  be  excrcil'ed  in  our  favour,  as  they  lighten  theait 
ielvcs  of  the  burthens  of  government,  in  the  fame  proportion 


AiiERtCiiN  RtVQiuftON. 


|r5 


'ubor- 

ted  to 
reft  of 
Minify 
r  4eb^  • 
Britifh 
t  States 
ated  oil 
pecialty 
mterefty 
t  it  had 
I  Britain 
ivas  con- 
y  part  of 
formable 

domint- 

the  Ckv 
wrhen  the 
reprefeft- 
bccellence 
Abje6b  to 
na£iiil(} 

kfibitution, 
ithe  coun- 
(hare  in 
mftituent 
nding  on 
M  affcrted 
*arltamtfnt 
ildomini- 
nd  reprc- 
;r  be  free 
without 
cd  on  thi» 
laid  they, 
have  no 
by  direft 
c  have  no 
on  tjiei'^ 
iten  them" 
iroportion 


Ihat  they  impofc  them  on  us.'*  They  well  knew,  that  toihintintiltes 
of  mankind,  as  well  as  individaals^  have  a  ftrong  propcnfity  to 
impofe  on  otheb,  when  they  can  do  it  with  impunity,  and,  efp<!- 
'cially,'when  there  is  a  profpe£l,  that  the  imipofition  will  bfr  at^* 
tended  with  advantage  to  thertifelVes.  The  Americans,  frttHi  (hai 
jealoufy  .oiFthtoir  libei^ies  vhi^h  their  local  fituation  nurtured,  and 
which  they  inherited  frdm  their  forefathers,  viewed  th<!'  tJxctii- 
five  righfof  laviitg  taxes  on  themfelvef,  free  from  extraneous  in- 
fluence, in'tmnatnle  light  as  the  B*^-'  "^i  Parliament  views  its  pdcu- 
li^r  privilege  of  railing  mot  ,  ihu«  ident  of  the  crow  .  Ut 
Parent  State  apfwared  td  the  Colonilti  to  ftand  in  the  fathe  rela- 
tion to  their  local  legiflatures,  as  the  monarch  of  Great'Britain  to 
(the  Britiih  Parliament.  His  prerogative  is  limited  by  that  palla- 
dium of  the  jieoples'  liberty^  the  exclufiVc  pirivilege  of  granting 
their  own  money.  While  this  right  rcfts  in  the  hands  of  the  peo- 
ple their  liberties  are  fecured.  In  the  fame  manner  reafoned  the 
Colonifts,  "  in  order  to  be  (liled  freemen,  oiir  local  aiTemblies, 
elefted  by  ourfelves^  muft  enjoy  the  exclufive  privilege  of  impof- 
ing  taxes  upon  us."  They  contended,  that  mtfn  fettled  in  foreign 
parts  to  better  theik*  condition,  and  not  to  fubmit  their  liberties-— 
to  continue  the  equals,  not  to  become  the  flaves  of  their  lefs-ad- 
venturous  fellow-citizens,  and  that  by  the  nbvel  do£trine  of  par- 
liamentary power,  they  were  degraded  from  being  the  fubjefls  of 
a  king,  to  the  low  condition  of  being  ('ubj«£ls  of  l'ubjc£b.  They 
argued,  that  it  was  eflentially  involved  in  the  idea  of  property, 
that  the  poflirflbr  had  fuch  a  right  therein,  that  it  was  a  contra- 
di£lion  to  fuppofe  any  other  man^  or  body  of  men,  poflefied  a  right 
to  take  it  from  him  without  his  confent.  Precedents,  in  the 
Hidory  of  England,  juftified  this  mode  of  reafoning.  The  love 
lof  property  flrengthened  it,  and  it  had  a  peculiar  force  on  th« 
minds  of  Colonifts,  three  tiioufand  miles  removed  from  the  feat 
pf  government,  and  growing  up  to  maturity,  in  a  new  world, 
where,  from  the  extent  of  country,  and  the  Ibte  of  fociety,  even 
the  neceflary  reftraints  of  civil  government  were  impatiently 
borne.  On  the  other  hand,  the  people  of  Great-Britain  revolted 
againfltjthe  claims"  of  the  Colonifts.  Educated  inhabits  of  fub- 
miflion  to  parliamentary  taxation,theyconceiveditto  be  the  height 
of  contumacy  for  their  Colonifb  to  refufe  obedience  to  the  power, 
which  they  had  been  taught  to  revere.  Nqt  adverting  to  the 
Common  intered.  which  cxtfted  between  the  people  of  Great- 
Britain  and  their  reprefentatives,  they  believed,  that  the  fame 
right  exifted,  although  the  fame  community  of  interefts  was 
wanting.  The  pride  of  an  opulent,  conquering  nation,  aided  this 
mode  of  reafoning.  "  What,"  faid  they,  "  fhall  wc,  who  have 
fo  lately  humbled  France,  and  Spain,  be  di£l»t«d  to  by  our  Culo» 
Vol.  I.  3  I 


ti$ 


HISTORY  OF  Tff£ 


>  'ii-!Vtviei^y^ 


mi' 


nifls  ?  Shall  our  fubjefts,  educatctl  by  our  care,  and  defended  trf 
our  inni,  prefume  to  queftion  the  rights  of  Parliament,  to  which 
Vff.  mrfi  obliged  to  fubmit  ?'*  Refleflions  of  this  kind,  congenial 
to  t^  natural  vanity  of  the  human  heart,  operated  fo  extenfively, 
that  the  people  of  Great-Britain  fpoke  of  their  Colonies  and  of 
their  Colonids,  as  a  kind  of  pofleflion  annjexed  to  their  pcrfons. 
The  love  of  power  and  of  property  on  the  one  ftde  of  the  Atlantic 
were  oppofed  by  the  fame  powerful  palfions  on  the  other. 

'1  he  dilpofttion  to  tax  the  Colonies  was  alfo  ftrengthened  by 
tH^ggcntcd  accounts  of  their  wealth.  It  wiis  faid,  **  that  th6 
American  planters  lived  in  aifluence,  and  with  inconfiderable 
t9xes  while  the  inhabitants  of  Great-Britaih  were  borne  down  by 
fuch  oppreflive  burdens  as  to  make  <■  bare  fubitftenee  a  matter  of  ^ 
extreme  difHculty."  The  oiBcers  who  had  ferved  in  America, 
during  the  late  War,  contributed  to  thili  ddlufion.  Their  obfer- 
vations  were  founded  on  what  they  had  feen  in  cities,  and  at  a 
time,  when  large  fums  were  fpent  by  government,  in  fupport  of 
fleets  and  armies,  and  when  American  commodities  were  in  ^eat 
demand.  To  ^  treat  with  attention  thofe  Who  came  to  fight  for 
them,  and  alfo  to  gratify  their  own  pride,  the  (^lonifls  had  made 
a  parade  of  their  riches,  by  frequently  and  fumptuoufly  entertain- 
ing the  j^cntlemen  of  the  Britifh  army.  Thefe,  judging  from  what 
they  faw,  without  confidering  the  general  flate  of  the  cduntry» 
concurred  in  rcprefenting  the  Colonifts  as  very  able  to  contribute 
largely  towards  defraying  the  common  expences  of  the  empire. 

The  charters,  which  were  fuppofed  to  cotitiiin  the  principles 
on  which  the  Colonics  were  founded,  became  the  fubje£l  of  feri- 
ous  invedigation  on  both  fides.  One  tWufe  Was  found  to  run 
through  the  whole  of  them,  except  that  which  had  been  granted 
to  Mr.  Penn  ;  this  was  a  declaration,  "that  the  emigrants  to  Ame- 
rica fhould  enjoy  the  fame  privileges,  as  if  they  had  remained,  or 
had  been  born  within  the  realm  ;"  but  fuch  was  the  fubtilty  of 
difputants,  that  both  parties  cbnftrued  this  general  principle  fo 
as  t6  favour  their  rcfpeftive  opinions.  The  American  patriots 
contended,  that  as  Engtilh  freeholders  could  not  be  taxed  bu»  by 
reprefentatives,  in  chufing  whom  they  had  a  vote,  neither  could 
the  Colonifts  :  but  it  was  replied,  that  if  the  Conolifts  had  re- 
mained in  England*,  they  muft  have  been  bfiind  to  pay  the  taxes, 
impdfed  by  Parliament.  It  was  therefore  inferred,  that  though 
taxed  by  that  authority,  they  loft  none  o-'  the  rights  of  native 
Engliflimen  refiding  at  home.  The  partrfans  df  the  Mother 
Country  could  Tec  nothing  in  charters,  but  fecurity  againft  taxes- 
by  royal  authority.  The  Americans,  adhering  to  the  fpirit  more 
than  to  the  letter,  viewed  their  charters  as  a  fhield  againft  all 
taxes,  not  impofed  by  reprerentatives  of  their  own  choice.     This 


AMERICAN  REVtnUTION, 


^1 


eonftni£iion  tbey  contended  to  be  esprefsly  recognized  by  the- 
charter  of  Maryland.  In  that,  King  Charles  bound  both  himfclf 
and  hit  .(ucceirors,  not  to  affcnt  to  any  bill,  fubje£ling  the  inhabi- 
tants to  internal  taxation  by  external  legiAation. 

The  nature  and  extent  of  the  conncfkion  between  Great-Bri- 
tain and  America  was  a  great  conftitutional  queflion,-,  involvings 
many  interefls,  and  the  general  principles  of  civil  liberty.  To 
decide  this,  recourfe  waa  in  vain  had  to  parchment  authorities, 
made  at  a  diftant  time,  when  neither  the  grantors  nor  grantees  of 
American  territory  had  in  contemplation  any  thing  like  the  pre- 
(ent  ftate  of  the  two  countries. 

Great  and  flourifliing  Colonies,  daily  increafing  in  numbers,  and 
adrcady  grown  to  the  magnitude  of  a  nation,  planted  at  an  iir.« 
menfe  diflance,  and  gove^^ned  by  conilitutions  rei'embling  that  of 
the  country  from  which  they  fprung,  were  novelties  in  the  hif- 
tory  of  the  world*  To.  combine  Colonies,  fo  circumftanced,  in 
one  Uniform  fyftem  of  government  with  the  Parent  State,  requir- 
ed a  great  knowledge  of  mankind,  and  an  extenHve  comprchen- 
fion  of  things.  It  was  an  arduous  bufinefs,  far  beyond  the  grafp 
of  ordinary  ftatefmen,  whofe  minds  were  narrowed  by  the  forma- 
lities of  laws,  or  the  trammeb  of  office.  An  original  genius^  un- 
fettered with  precedents,  and  exalted  with  juft  ideas  of  the  rights 
of  human  nature,  and  the  obligations  of  univerfal  benevolence, 
might  have  ftruck  out  a  middle  line,  which  would  have  fecured 
as  much  liberty  to  the  Colonies,  and  as  great  a  degree  of  fupre. 
macy  ta  the  Parent  State,  as  their  common  good  required  :  But 
the  helm  of  Great-Britain  was  not  in  fuch  hands.  The  fpirit 
of  the  Britiib  conflitution  on  the  one  hand  revolted  at  the  idea, 
that  the  Britifh  Parliament  fhould  exercifc  the  fame  unlimited 
authority  over  the  unreprefentcd  Colonies,  which  it  exercifed 
over  the  inhabitants  of  Gi'eat  Britain.  The  Colonifls  on  the  other 
hand  did  not  claim  a  total  exemption  from  its  authority.  They  in 
general  allowed  the  Mather  Country  a  certain  undefined  prero- 
gative over  themy  and  acquiefced  in  the  right  of  Parliament  to 
make  many  a£ls,  binding  them  in  many  fubje£ls  of  internal  po- 
licy, and  regulating  their  trade.  Where  parliamentary  fupre- 
macy  ended,  and  at  what  point  colonial  independency  began,  was 
not  afcertained.  Happy  would  it  have  been  had  the  queftion 
never  been  agitated,  but  much  more  fo,  had  it  been  compromiied 
by  an  amicable  compaft^  without  the  ]|iorrors  of  a  civil  war. 

The  Enelilh  Colonies  were  originally  eftablifhed,  not  for  the 
fake  of  revenue,  but  on  the  principles  of  a  commercial  monopoly. 
While  England  purfued  trade  and  forgot  revenue,  her  commerce 
Jncrcafed  at  leaft  fourfold.     The  Colonies  took  off  the  raanufac- 

3  X  a      . 


«•♦ 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


tttr«s  of  Great-Britain,  and  paid  for  them  Mnth  provifiont  or  mvME 
materials.  They  united  their  ann»-  in  war,  their  commerce  and 
thci  .^undU  in  peace,  without  nicely  iiivelligating  the  term*  on 
which  the  connexion  of  the  two  countries  depended. 

A  perfe£l  ca}m  in  the  political  world  is  not  long  to  be  cxpeft- 
ed.  The  reciprocal  happinel's,  both  of  Great-Britain  and  of  the 
Colonies,  was  too  great  to  be  pf  |ong  (juration.  Jhe  calamities 
of  the  war  of  i  ^55  ha^  (carcely  ended,  when  the  germ  of  anothee 
war  was  plnnted,  which  foon  grew  up  and  produced  deadly  fruit* 

At  that  time  (1764)  lundry  relblutions  paflfcd  the  Britifti  Par- 
liament relative  to  the  impofuion  of  a  ftamp  duty  in  America, 
which  gave  a  general  alarm.  By  them  the  right,  the  equity,  the 
policy,  and  even  the  ncceifity  of  taking  the  Colonies  was  foe* 
inaliy  avowed.  Thcl'c  relblutions  being  confidercd  as  the  preface 
of  a  iyftem  of  American  revenue,  wer^  deemed  an  introduflion 
to  evils  of  /nuch  greater  magnitude^  They  opened  a  profpefl 
of  opprcfllon,  boi^ndlcf)*  in  extent,  and  endleiis  induration.  They 
were  nevcrthelefs  not  immediately  followed  by  any  legillatiye  »&. 
Time  and  an  i^nvitation  were  given  to  the  Americatis  to  fuggell: 
any  other  mode  of  taxation  that  might'be  equivident  in  its  pro- 
ducQ  to  the  ftamp  ad::  but  they  obje£led,  not  only  to  the  nK>de, 
but  the  principle,  an4  fevcral  of  their  alTemblies,  though  in  vain, 
petitioned  againft  it.  An  American  reuenue  \^as  in  £ngland  4. 
very  popular  meafure.  The  cry  in  favour  of  it  was  fo  flrong,  as 
to  confound  and  filentre  the  vqice  of  petitions  tp  the  contrary. 
The  equity  of  con^pclling  the  Americans  to  contribute  to  the 
common  expences  of  the  empire  fatisfied  znany,  who,  without 
enquiring  into  the  policy  or  juftice  of  laxing  their  um'eprefented 
fcllow-i'ubje£ls,  readily  afleiited  to  the  meafures  adoptedby  the 
Parliament  for  this  purpofc.  The  profpefl  of  eafing  their  own 
'  burdens,  at  the  cxpence  of  the  ColonilU,  dazzled  the  eyes  of 
gentlemen  of  landed  interefl,  fo  as  to  keep  out  of  their  view  the; 
probable  conicquences  of  the  innovation.  ' 

The  pmnipotencp  of  Parliament  w^s  fo  familiar  a  phrafe  01^ 
both  fides  of  the  AtUntic,  that  few  in  America,  and  ftill  fewer 
in  Great-Rritain,  were  imprefled  in  the  firft  inftance,  with  any 
idea  of  the  illegality  of  taxing  the  Colonies-. 

The  illumination  pn  that  lubjeft  was  gradual.  Tlie  refolutions 
in  favour  of  an  American  ftamp  aft,  which  paflcd  in  March 
1764,  met  with  no  oppofuion.  In  the  courie  of  the  year  which 
intervened  between  thefe  relblutions,  and  the  pafling  of  a  law 
grounded  upon  them,  the  lubjeft  was  better  underftood,  and 
conftitutional  objcftions  againft  the  meafure  were  urged  by  feve- 
ral  both  in  Great-Britain  and  America.  This  a{loni{hed  and 
chagrined  the  Britifh   miniflry;  \>\it  as  the  principle  of  taxing 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 


!•» 


lit  ions 
[arch 
/hich 

la  law 

and 

1  fcve- 

and 

laxins 


America  had  been  for  fomc  tinte  determined  upon,  they  were  un- 
willing to  give  it  up.  Impelled  by  .1  partiality  for  a  long  cherifti- 
ed  ideal  Mr.  Grenvillc  brought  into  the  Houfc  of  Commons  his 
long  expefted  bill,  for  laying  a  (lamp  duty  in  America,  March, 
1765.  By  this,  after  paifing  through  the  ufaal  forms,  it  was 
cnaftcd,  that  the  inftruments  of  writing  which  are  in  diily  iile. 
among  a  commercial  people,  fhuuld  be  null  and  void,  unlets  they 
were  executed  on  (lamped  paper  or  parchment',  charged  with  i 
duty  impofed  by  the  Britifh  Parliamcni.  **" 

When  the  bill  was  brought  in,  Mr.  Charles  Townfcnd  con- 
cluded a  fpeech  in  its  favour,  with  words  to  the  following  cfFc6tt 
f  And  now  will  thefe  Americans,  children  planted  by  our  care, 
nouriflied  up  by  our  indulgence,  till  they  are  grown  to  a  decree 
of  ftrength  and  opulence,  and  prote£ied  by  our  arms,' will  they 
grudge  to  contribute  their  mite  to  relieve  us  from  the  heavy 
weight  of  that  burden  which  we  lie  under?"  To  which  Colonel 
Barre  replied,  n  **  They  planted  by  your  care  P  No,  your  oppref- 
fions  planted  them  in  America.     They  fled  from  tyranny  to  a 
then  uncultivated  and  inhoi'pitable  country,  where  they  expofcd 
themfclves  to  almoft  all  the  hardfhips  to  which  human  nature  is 
liable;  and,  among  others,  to  the  cruelty  of  a  favage  foe  the  moft 
fubtle,  andl  will  take  upon  me  to  fay,  the  mofl  formidable  of  a  nypeo. 
pie  upon  the  face  of  the  earth;  and  yet,  a£luatcdby  principles  of  true 
£ngli{h  liberty,  they  met  all  hardfhips  with  pleal'ure  compared  with 
thofe  they  fufPered  in  their  own  country,  from  the  hands  of  thofe 
that  fhould  have  been  their  friends---They  nourifhcd  up  by  your 
indulgence  P  They  grew  up  by  your  negle£l  of  them.     As  loon  as 
you  began  to  care  about  them,  that  care  was  exercifed  in  fending 
perfons  to  rule  them  iri  one  department  and  another,  who  Were» 
perhaps,  the  deputies  of  deputies  to  fome  members  of  this  Houfe, 
fent  to  fpy  out  their  liberties,  to  mifreprefent  their  a£lions,  and 
to  prey  upon  them.-r— Men  whofe  behaviour  on  many  occafions, 
has  caufcd  the  blood  of  thefe  fons  of  liberty  to  recoil  within  them. 
: — Men  promoted  to  the  higheft  feats  of  jullice,  fome,  who  to  my 
knowledge,  were  glad,  by  going  to  a  foreign  country,  to  efcape 
being  brought  to  the  bar  of  a  court  of  juflice  in  their  own. — 
They  proteftcd  by  your  arms?  They  have  nobly  taken  up  arms 
in  your  defence,  have  exerted  a  valour,  amidft  their  conflant  and 
laborious  induftry,  for  the  defence  of  a  country  whofe  frontier 
was  drenched  in  blood,  while  its   interior  parts  yielded  all  its 
little  favings  to  your  emolument.     And  believe  me,  remember  I 
Ihis  day  told  you  fo,  that  fame  fpirit  of  freedom  which  aftuated 
that  people  at  firft  will  accompany  them  flill :  but  prudence  for- 
hids  me  to  explain  myfelf  farther.     God  knows,  I  do  not  at  this 
fjW  fpeak  from  any  motives  of  parly  heat ;  Avhat  I  deliver  arc 


439 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


"'••^mmiim*. 


the  genuine  Tentiments  of  my  heart.  However  fuperior  to  mc  in 
general  knowledge  and  experience  the  refpc£lable  body  of  thi« 
Houle  may  be,  yet  I  claim  to  know  more  of  America  than  mod 
of  you,  having  fecn  and  been  converfant  in  that  country.  The 
people,  I  believe,  are  a»  truly  loyal  at  any  fubjc£li  the  King  has, 
but  a  people  jealous  of  their  liberties,  and  who  will  vindicate 
them,  if  ever  they  (hould  be  violated :  but  the  fubje&  is  too  deli- 
cate— 1  will  fay  no  more." 

During  the  debate  on  the  bill,  the  fupporters  of  it  inftlled 
much  on  the  Colonies  being  virtually  reprefented  in  the  fame 
manner  as  Leeds,  Halifax,  aad  Ibme  other  towns  were.  A  recur« 
rence  to  this  plea  was  a  virtual  acknowledgement,  that  there 
ought  not  to  be  taxation  without  repreientation.  It  was  replied, 
that  the.  connexion  between  the  ele£lors  and  non-eleftors,  of 
Parliament  in  Great  Britain  was  lb  interwoven,  from  both  being 
equally  liable  to  pay  the  fame  common  tax,  as  to  give  fome  fecu> 
rity  of  property  to  the  Utter ;  but  with  refpeft  to  taxes  laid  by 
the  firitilh  Parliament,  and  paid  by  the  Americans,  the  fituation 
of  the  parties  was  reverfed.  Inflead  of  both  parties  bearing  a 
proportionable  (hare  of  the  fame  common  burden,  what  was  laid 
on  the  one,  was  exa£lly  fo  much  taken  off  from  the  other. 

The  bill  met  with  no  oppofition  in  the  Houfe  of  Lords,  and 
on  the  aad  of  March,  1765,  it  received  the  royal  affent.  The 
night  after  it  pafled.  Dr.  Franklin  wrote  to  Mr.  Charles  Thorn- 
fon,  "  The  fun  of  liberty  is  fet,  you  mud  light  up  the  candles  of 
induflry  and  economy."  Mr.  Thomfon  anfwered,  '*  He  was  ap- 
prehenftve  that  other  lights  would  be  the  confequenee,"  and 
foretold  the  oppofition  that  fhortly  took  place.  On  its  being 
fuggefted  from  authority,  that  the  ftamp  officers  would  not  be 
fent  from  Great  Britain ;  but  felefled  from  among  the  Americans, 
the  Colony  agents  were  defired  to  point  out  proper  perfons  for 
the  purpofe.  They  generally  nominated  their  friends,  which 
affords  a  prefumptive  proof,  that  they  fuppofed  the  a£l  would 
have  gone  down.  In  this  opinion  they  were  far  from  being  fin< 
gular.  That  the  Colonifts  would  be  uftimately  obliged  to  fubmit 
to  the  damp  a£^,  was  at  firft  commonly  believed  both  in  England 
and  America.  The  framers  of  it,  in  particular,  flattered  them- 
felves  that  the  confufion  which  would  ariie  upon  the  difufe  of 
writings,  and  the  infecurity  of  property,  which  would  refult 
from  ufing  any  other  than  that  required  by  law,  would  compel 
the  Colonies,  however  reluftant,  to  ufe  the  damp  paper,  and 
confequently  to  pay  the  taxe*  impofed  thereon ;  they  therefore 
boaded  that  it  was  a  law  which  would  execute  itfelf.  By  the  terms 
of  the  damp  aft,  it  was  not  to  take  effcft  till  the  fird  day  of  Nc 
yember,  a  period  of  more  than  fcvcn  months  after  its  palling* 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 


48t 


mtln 
>f  this 
n  mod 
Tho 
tg  has, 
ndicato 
)o  deli- 

tnftded 
he  fame 
.  recur- 
kt  there 
replied, 
tors,  of 
;h  being 
infi  fecu- 
I  laid  by 
fituation 
aearing  a 
was  laid 
iier. 

)rds,  and 
It.     The 
a  Thom- 
andles  of 
J  was  ap- 
ice,"  and 
its  being 
d  not  be 
mericans, 
rfons  for 
s,  vrhich 
ft  would 
leing  fin« 
:o  fubmit 
England 
red  them- 
difufe  of 
;ld  rcfult 
d  compel 
ipcr,  and 
therefore 
the  terms 
lay  of  No- 
$  paffing* 


This  gave  the  Colon! fts  an  opportunity  for  leifurely  canvafTing 
the  new  fubjeft,  and  exanyning  it  fully  on  every  fide.  In  the 
firft  part  of  this  interval,  ftruck  with  aftoniihment,  they  lay  in 
filcnt  conftematton,  and  could  not  determine  what  courfe  topur- 
fue.  By  degrees  they  recovered  their  rccolleflion.  Virginia  led 
the  way  in  oppofition  to  the  (lamp  i£l.  Mr.  Patrick  Henry 
brought  into  the  Houfe  of  BurgelTes  of  that  Colonyi  the  follow- 
ing rofolutions,  which  were  fubdantially  adopted  : 

Refolved,  That  the  firfl  adventurers,  fettlers  of  this  his  Majef- 
ty's  Colony  and  dominion  of  Virginia,  brought  with  them  and 
tranfmitted  to  their  pofterity,  and  all  other  his  Majefty's  fubjefls, 
fince  inhabiting  in  this  his  Majefly's  faid  Colony,  all  the  liber  ies, 
privileges,  atid  immunities  that  have  at  aity  time  been  held,  en-* 
joyed,  and  poflefled  by  the  people  of  Great  Britain. 

Refolved,  That  by  two  royal  charters,  granted  by  King  Jan.::! 
the  Frift,  the  Colonies  aforefaid  are  declared,  and  entitled  to  all 
liberties,  privileges,  and  immunities  of  denizens,  and  natural  fub- 
jefts,  to  all  intents  and  purpofes  as  if  they  had  been  abiding,  and 
born  within  the  realm  of  England. 

Refolved,  That  his  Majefty's  Hegc  people,  of  this  his  ancient 
colon)^  have  enjoyed  the  rights  of  being  thus  governed  by  their 
own  aflembly,  in  the  article  of  taxes,  and  internal  police,  and 
that  the  fame  have  never  been  forfeited,  or  yielded  up,  but  have 
been  conftantly  recognized  by  the  king  and  people  of  Britain. 

Refolved,  therefore.  That  the  general  aflembly  of  this  Colony, 
together  with  his  Majefty,  or  his  fubditutes,  have,  in  (heir  re- 
prefentative  capacity,  the  only  exclufive  right  and  power,  to  lay 
taxes  and  impofts  upon  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  and  that 
every  attempt  to  Veft  fuch  power  in  any  other  perfon  or  ;!rrron» 
whatfoever,  than  the  general  aflembly  aforefaid,  is  illeg:.!,  and 
unconilitutional,  and  unjud,  and  hath  a  manifeft  tendency  to 
deftroy  BritiOi,  as  well  as  American  liberty. 

Refolved,  That  his  Majefty's  liege  people,  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Colony,  are  not  bound  to  yield  obedience  to  any  law  or  or- 
dinance whatever,  defigned  to  impofc  any  taxation  whatever 
upon  them,  other  than  the  laws  or  ordinances  of  the  general  af- 
fcmbly  aforefaid. 

Refolved,  That  any  perfon,  who  fliall,  by  fpeaking  or  wri- 
ting, aflert  or  maintain,  that  any  perfon  or  perfons,  other  thati 
the  general  aflembly  of  this  Colony,  have  any  right  or  power  to 
impofe,  or  lay  any  taxation  on  the  people  here,  fliall  be  deemed 
an  enemy  to  this  his  Majefty's  Colony. 

Upon  reading  thefe  refolutions,  the  boldnefs  and  novelty  of 
them  affefted  one  of  the  members  to  fuch  a  degree,  that  he  cried 
out,  "Treafon!    Treafon!"    They  were  neverthelefs,   well  re- 


488 


tilSTCRY  OF  THE 


ccivcci  by  the  people,  and  immediately  forwarded  to  the  othef 
provinces.  They  circulated  extenfivcly,  and  gave  a  fpritig  to  all 
the  difcontentcd.  Till  they  appeared,  moil  were  of  opinion,  that 
the  a£l  would  be  quietly  adopted.  Murmurs,  Indeed,  were  com- 
mon, but  they  I'ccmcd  to  be  iUeh,  as  would  limn  die  away.  The 
countenance  of  forclpo^bblcH  Colony  as  Virginia,  Confirmed  the 
wavering  and  cpnboMencd  the  timid.  Oppufttion  to  the  (lamp 
a6);.  from  that  period  uil'umcd  a  bolder  faco.  The  fire  of  liberty 
hlnzcd  forth  from  the  prcl's ',  fume  wcll-judfjed  publication*'  fct 
the  rights  of  the  Colonics  in  a  phiit.,  but  (Irong  point  of  view^ 
The  tongues  and  tlw  pens  of  tlw  well-informed  citixons  laboured 
in  kindHnffv  the  latent  fparks  of  patrioti-f'tu.  The  flame  fpread 
from  brcalt  to  breafl;.  till  the  conHngiation  became  general.  In 
this  bulinels,  New-Knglartd  had  a  principal  fhare.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  that  part  of  America,  in  particular*  confidered  their  obli- 
gations to  the  mother  country  for  pad  favours,  to  be  very  incon* 
lidcrablc.  They  were  fully  iut'ormcd,  that  their  forefathers  were 
driven  by  perlecution  to  the  woods  of  America,  and  had  there, 
without  any  cxpenCe  to  the  parent  flate,  cITcdlcd  a  fcttlement 
amidft  rude  creation.  Their  rcfentmcnt  for  the  invafinn  of  their 
accuflomed  right  of  taxation  was  not  fo  much  mitigated  by  the- 
recollection  of  late  favours,  as  it  was  heightened  by  the  tradition 
of  grievous  fuflcrings,  to  which  their  anceftors,  by  the  nU«Ps  of 
England,  had  been  lubjc^ed.  The  defcendants  of  the  exiled, 
persecuted,  Puritans,  of  the  lafl  century,  oppolcd  the  ftamp  a6^ 
with  the  lame  Ipirit  wich  which  their  forefathers  were  actuated,. 
Avhcn  they  fet  thcmlclves  agaiull  the  arbitrary  impofitions  of  the 
houfc  of  Stuart. 

The  heavy  burdens,  which  the  operatron  of  the  (lamp  aft  would 
have  impofcd  on  the  Colonids,  together  with  the  precedent  it 
would  cftablilh  of  future  cxaftions,  furniflied  the  American  pa- 
f  riots  with  arguments,  calculated  as  well  to  move  the  palTions,  as 
lo  convince  the  judgments  of  their  Fellow  Colpnifts.  In  great 
warmth  they  exclaimedj  "if  the  Parliament  has  a  right  to  levy 
the  ft:imp  duties,  they  may,  by  the  lame  authority,  lay  on  us- 
jmpofts,  exciics,  and  other  taxes,  without  end,  till  their  rapaci- 
ty is  latisficd,  or  our  abilities  are  exhauftctl.  We  cannot  at  fu- 
ture clcdions,  dilplace  thefe  men,  who  i'o  lavifhly  nrant  away  our 
property.  Their  feats  and  their  power  arc  independent  of  us, 
and  it  will  reft  with  their  gcnerohty  where  to  Hop,  ih  transfer- 
ring  the  cxpences  of  government  from  tlieir  own  to  our 
Jhoulders." 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  liberties  of  America,  that  newspapers 
wcic  the  lubjcft  of  a  heavy  ftamp  duty.  Printers,  when  unin- 
llueutcd  hy  government,  have  genenlly  arranged  thcmlclves  on 


American  revolution. 


ii3 


Itie  fide  oif  liberty,  nor  are  they  lefs  remarkaMo  for  attention  to 
<he  profits  of  their  profeifion.  A  (lamp  duty,  which  openly  in- 
vaded the  firft,  and  threatened  a^reat  diminution  of  the  lafl,  pro- 
voked their  united  scaloua  oppofition.  l^hey  daily  prcfented  to 
the  public,  original  ditfertationa,  tending  to  prove,  that  if  the 
(lankp  a€t  was  fufFered  to  operate,  the  liberties  of  America  were  at 
an  end,  and  their  property  virtually  transferred  to  their  Trans- 
Atlantie  feUow-fubjei^.  The  writers  among  the  Americans, 
feriouily  a'  rmed  for  the  fate  of  their  country,  came  forward, 
with  eflays,  to  prove^  that  agreeable  to  the  Britifli  Conllitution, 
taxation  and  reprefentatiun  were  infeparable,  that  the  only  con- 
ftitutional  mode  of  raifing  money  from  the  ColoniflLs  was  by  aGtn 
of  their  own  legiflatures,  that  the  Crown  poiTuITed  no  farther 
f  ower  than  that  of  requifition,  and  that  the  parliamentary  rijjht 
of  taxation  was  confined  to  the  Mother  Country,  and  there  ori- 
ginated, from  the  natural  right  of  man,  to  do  what  he  plcafcd 
with  hia  own,  transferred  by  cunfent  from  the  ele£lors  of  Great- 
Britain  to  thofe  whom  they  chofe  to  reprcfent  them  in  parlia- 
mentk  They  alfb  tnfiiled  much  on  the  mifapplication  of  public 
money  by  the  firitilh  mjiniilry.  Great  pains  were  taken  to  in- 
form the  Colonifta  of  the  large  fums  annually  bellowed  on  pcnfi- 
oned  favourites,  and  for  the  various  purpofcs  of  bribery.  Their 
paflions  were  enflamed  by  high-coloured  reprcfentations  of  the 
hardlhip  of  being  obliged  to  pay  the  earnings  of  their  indudry 
into  a  Britifli  treai'ury,  well  known  to  be  a  fund  for  corruption. 

The  wi'iters  on  the  American  fide  were  oppofcd  by  arguments, 
drawn  from  the  unity  of  the  Empire ;  the  neccflity  of  one  I'u- 
preme  head,  the  unlimited  power  of  parliament,  and  the  great 
numbers  in  the  Mother  Country,  who,  though  legally  diCquali- 
fied  from  voting  at  ele£lions,  were,  ncvcrthclefs,  bound  to  pay 
the  taxes  impofed  by  the  reprci'entatives  of  the  nation.  To  thefe 
obje£lions  it  was  replied,  that  the  very  idea  of  fubordinatlon  of 
parts  excluded  the  notion  of  Ample,  undivided  unity.  That  as 
England  was  the  head,  (he  could  not  be  the  head  and  the  mem- 
bers too— that  in  all  extenfivc  empires,  where  the  dead  unifor- 
mity of  fervitude  did  not  prevent,  the  fubordinatc  parts  had  many 
local  privileges  and  Immunities — that  between  thele  privileges 
and  the  iupreme  commtm  authority,  the  line  was  extremely  nice  ; 
but  ncverthelefs,  the  fupremacy  of  the  head  had  an  ample  field 
of  exercife,  without  arrogating  to  itlelf  the  difpofal  of  the  pro- 
perty of  the  unreprefented  fubordinate  parts.  To  the  a(rcrtion^ 
that  the  power  of  parliament  was  unlimited,  the  Colonics  repli- 
ed, that  before  it  could  conditutionally  exercife*  that  power,  it 
mull  be   conftitutionally  formed,  and  that,   therefore,  it  mud  ajt 

Vol.  I.  3  K 


It    I 

u 

li':  ' 
"■  / 
li      i 


i  >■ 


m 


HtSTORVotfkM 


''«3«Kr- 


lead,  .In  one  of  its  branches,  be '  conftituted  by  the  people  omn* 
wrhom  it  exercifed  unlimited  power.  That  with  refpeft  ttf 
(Grrcat-Britain,  it  was  fo  cdnftituted— with  refpeft  to  America  it 
.  was  not.  They  therefore  inferred,  that  its  power  ought  not  t<» 
be  the  fame  over  both  countries.  They  argued  alfo,  that  the  dele- 
gation of  the  people  was  the  fource  of  power  in  regard  to  taxa- 
tion, and  as  that  delegation  was  wantinjf '  in  America,  they  con- 
cluded, the  right  of  partiament  to  grant  away. their  property 
could  not  exiil.  That  the  defe£live  reprefentation  in  Great- 
Britain  fliould  be  urged  as  an  argument  for  taxiiig  the  Americans^ 
without  ^^3'  reprefentation  at  all,  proved  the  incroaching,  nature 
of  power.  In(l^ead  of  convincing  the  Coloiiifts  of  the  propriety 
of  their  fubmiffion,  it  demonilrated  the  wifdom  of  their  refiflance ; 
for,  faid  they,  "  one  inVafion  of  natural  right  is  made  the  juftifi- 
cation  of  another,  much  more  injurious  and  dppreflive."^ 

The  advocates  for  parliamentary  taxation  laid  great  (Irefs  on 
the  rights,  fuppofed  to  accrue  to  Great-Britain,  on  the  fcore  of  her 
Slaving  reared  up  and  pfotefled  the  Etiglifh  fettlcments  in  Ame« 
rica  at  great  expence.  It  was,  on  the  other  hand,  contended  by 
the  Colonifls,  that  in  all  the  wars  which  Were  common  to  both 
countries,  they  had  taken  their  full  (hiire,  but  in  all  their  own 
dangers,  in  all  the  difficulties  belonging  feparately  to  their  irtua- 
tion,  which  did  not  immediately  concern  Great-Britain,  they 
were  left  to  themfelvcs,  and  had  to  flruggle  through  a  hard  in^ 
fancy  ;  and  in  particular,  to  defend  theml'elves,  without  any  aid 
from  the  Parent  State,  againll  the  numerous  favages  in  their  vici< 
nity.  Thit  when  France  had  made  war  upon  them,  it  was  not  on 
their  own  account,  but  as  appendages  to  Great-Britain.  That 
confining  their  trade  for  the  exclufive  benefit  of  the  Parent 
State,  was  an  ample  compenfation  for  her  prote£lion,  and  a  fuf- 
ficient  equivalent  for  their  exemption  from  parliamentary  taxa- 
tion.  That  the  taxes  impofed  on  the  inhabitants  of  Creat-Bri- 
tain  were  i|ncorporate(^  with  their^  manufaftures,  and  ultimately 
fell  on  the  ColoniUs,  who  were  the  confumerSr 

The  advocates  for  the  ftamp  a£^  alfo  crntended,  that  as  the 
Parliament  was  charged  with  the  defence  of  the  Colonies,  it 
ought  to  poffefs  the  means  of  defraying  the  expences  incurred 
thereby.  The  fame  argument  had  been  ufcd  by  King  Charles  the 
Firft,  in  fupport  of  fliip  money  ;  and  it  was  now  aniWered  in  the 
fame  manner,  as  it  was  by  the  patriots  of  that  day.  *'  That  the 
people  who  were  defended  or  proted:ed  were  the  fitted  to  judge 
of  and  to  provide  the  means  of  defraying  the  expences  incurred 
'on  that  accoutit."  '  In  the  mean  time,  the  minds  of  the  Ameri- 
cans underwent  a  total  transformation.  Inftead  of  their  late 
peaceable  and  ftcady  attachment  to  the  Britifh  lution,  they  were 


AMERICAN  JLEVOLUTION. 


435 


4aUy  advancing  to  the  oppoiite  extreme.  A  new  ^pde  of  clif-. 
|>|aying  JxfenttQent  againft  the  friends  of  the  flamp  a^  began  in 
Maifachufetts,  and  was  fallowed  by  the  other  Colonies.  A  few 
gentlemen  hung  out,  early  in  the  morning,  Aiiguft  14,  on  the 
limb  of  a  large  tr^e,  towards  the  entrance  of  Boilon,  two  effigies^ 
one  defigned  for  the  (lamp  maiier,  the  other  for  a  jack  boot, 
with  a  head  and  horns  peeping  out  at  the  top.  Great  numbers 
both  from  town  and  country  came  to  fee  them.  A  fpirit  t^f  en- 
thufiafm  was  diffufed  among  the  fpe£lators.  In  the  evening  the 
whole  was  cut  down  and  carried  in  proceffion  by  the  pppulojce 
Ihouting  ••  liberty  and  property  for  ever  j  no  ftamps."  They  next 
pulled  down  a  new  building,  lately  ercfted  by  Mr.  Oliver  the 
Aamp  mafter.  They  then  went  to  his  houfe,  before  whiph  they 
beheaded  his  effigy,  and  at  the  fame  tin^e  broke  his  windows. 
Eleven  days  after,  fimilar  violences  were  repeated.  The  mub 
attacked  the  houfe  of  Mr.  William  Storey,  deputy  regiftcr  of  the 
court  of  admiralty-^broke  his  windows — forced  into  hi[s  dwel- 
ling ho^fe,  and  deftroyed  the  books  and  files  belonging  to  the 
faid  court,  and  ruined  a  gizat  part  of  his  furniture.  They  next 
proceeded  to  the  houfe  of  Benjamin  Hallowcl,  Comptroller  of  Uxq 
cufloms,  and  repeated  fimilar  excefles,  and  dr^nk  and  deflroyed 
His  liquors.  They  afterwards  proceeded  to  the  houfe  of  Mr. 
Hutchinfon,  and  foon  deraoliihed  it.  They  carried  off  his  plate, 
furniture,  and  apparel,  and  fcattered  or  deflroyed  manufcripts  and 
other  curious  and  ufeful  papers  which  for  thirty  years  he  had 
been  colle£iing.  About  half  a  dozen  of  the  meaneft  of  the  mob 
were  foon  after  taken  up  and  committed,  but  they  either  broke  jail, 
or  otherwife  efcaped  all  punifhment.  The  town  of  Boflon  con- 
demned the  whole  proceeding,  and  for  I'ome  time,  private  gentle« 
men  kept  watch  at  night,  to  prevent  further  violence. 

Similar  difturbances  broke  out  in  the  adjacent  Colonies,  nearly 
about  the  fame  time.  On  the  g'^th  Auguil,  1765,  the  people  in 
NeW'Port  in  Rhode-Iftand,  exhibited  three  effigies  intended'^fpr 
Meflrs.  Howard,  MofFatt,  and  Johnfon,  in  a  cart  with  halters 
about  their  necks,  and  after  hanging  them  on  a  gallows  for  fume 
,  time,  cut  them  down  and  burnt  them,  amidil  the  acclamations  of 
.  thoufands.  On  the  day  following,  'the  people  colle£led  at  the 
houfe  of  Mr.  Martin  Howard,  a  lawyer,  who  had  written  in 
defence  of  the  right  of  parliament  to  tax  the  Americans,  and  de- 
molifhed  every  thing  that  belonged  to  it.  They  proceeded  to 
Dr.  Moffatt's,  who,  in  converfation,  had  fupported  the  fame  right, 
and  made  a  fimilar  devaftation  of  his  property. 

In  Conne£licut   they  exhibited  effigies  in  fundry  places,  and 
afterwards  committed  them  to  the  flames. 

3  K  a 


43^ 


HIsItORY  OFTHE 


¥' 


H 


i  M 


'    ll! 


In  New- York,  the  {lamp  mafter  having  rcfigned,  thd  ftanjfi 
papers  were  taken  into  Fort  Qeorge,  by  Lieutenant  Governor 
Golden,  Nov.  \,  The  people,  4ifliking  his  political  fcntiments, 
broke  open  his  (lable,  took  out  his  poach,  and  carried  it  in  triumph 
through  the  principal  (Ireets  tp  the  gallows.  On  one  e|id  of  thin 
they  fufpended  the  efKgy  of  the  Lieut.  Governor,  having  in  hid 
right  hand  a  (lamped  hill  of  lading,  and  in  the  other  a  figure  of  the 
devil.  After  fomp  time,  they  carried  the  apparatus  to  the  gate  of 
the  fort,  and  frptn  thepce  to  the  bowling-green,  under  the  muz<; 
zles  of  i\ic  guns,  and  burned  the  whole  amid  the  acclamations  of 
inany  thpufands.  They  went  thcn(:e  to  Mayor  James's  houfe, 
ftripped  it  of  ^very  article,  and  confumed  the  who^e,  beqaufe  he 
was  a  fricn^  to  the  ftamp  aft. 

The  next  evening  the  mob  re-alTembled,  and  inftiled  upoN  the 
^ieutenafit  Governor  deliycHng  the  ilamped  papers  into  their 
hands,  and  threatened,  in  cafe  of  a  refufal,  to  take  them  by  force, 
After  fo^e  negpciatipn,  it  was  agreed  that  they  ihouldbe  deliver- 
ed  to  the.  corporation,  and  they  were  depofited  in  the  ^ity  hall, 
Ten  boxes  of  the  fapie,  which  came  by  another  conveyance,  were 
burned. 

1  uc  ibmp  a£l  was  not  lefs  odious  to  many  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Britifh  Weil-India  iflands,  than  to  thofe  on  the  continent  of 
North  America.  The  people  of  St.  Kitts  obliged  the  (lamp  of- 
fictr  and  his  deputy  to  rcfign.  Barbadoes,  Canada,  and  Halifax, 
fubmitted  to  the  aft,  ^ 

But  when  the  fhip  which  brought  the  ilamp  papers  to  Phila. 
delphia,  firfl  appeared  round  Glouceiler  Point,  :'U  the  veifels  in 
the  harbour  hoiiled  their  colours  half  mail  high.  The  bells  were 
rung  muffled  till  evening,  and  every  countenance  added  to  the 
appearance  of  fmcere  mournings  A  large  number  of  people  af- 
fembled,  and  endeavoured  to  procure  the  relignation  of  Mr. 
Hughes,  the  (lamp  diftributor.  He  held  out  long,  but  at  lengtl^ 
found  it  ncceflary  to  comply. 

As  opportunities  offered,  the  aiTemblies  generally  paflfed  refolu* 
tions,  afferting  their  excluf^ve  right  to  lay  taxes  on  their  confti- 
tuents.  The  people,  in  their  town  meetings,  inftrufted  their  repre, 
fentatives,  to  opppfe  the  ilamp  aft.  As  a  ipecinien  of  thefe,  tlie 
inftruftions  given  to  Thomas  Forfter,  their  rep  re  tentative,  by  the 
freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Plymouth,  are 
fubjoined.  In  thefc  the  yeomanry  of  the  country  fppke  the 
determined  language  of  freedom.  After  expreffing  the  higheft 
efteem  for  the  Britiih  conftitution,  and  fettling  forth  their  gric. 
vances,  they  proceeded  as  follows  : 

♦'  You,  Sir,  rcpreicnt  a  ppaple,  ^^'ho  pre  not  only  defcended 
from  the  firft  fetilcrs  of  this  country,  but  inhabit  the  very  Ipot 
they  firft  pofiefTed.     Here  was  firfl  laid  the  foundation  of  th? 


AMERICAN  REVaiUTION, 


437 


Britifh  empire,  in  this  part  of  America,  which,  from  a  very  (hall 
beginning,  has  increafed  and  fpread  in  a  manner  very  furprifing* 
and  idmoft  incredible,  efpecially,  when  we  conftder,  that  all  thif 
has  been  effefted  without  the  aid  or  aiTiftance  of  any  power  on 
earth ;  that  we  have  defended,  protefted,  and  fecured  ourfelves 
againil  the  invafions  and  cruelties  ..of  favages,  and  the  fub|;lety  and 
inhumanity  of  our  inveterate  and  natural  enemies,  the  French; 
and  all  this  without  the  appropriation  of  any  tax  by  ftamps,  or 
ftamp  afis,  laid  upon  our  fellow  fubje£b,  in  any  part  of  the  King** 
dominions,  for  defraying  the  expence  tnereof.  This  place,  Sir, 
was  at  firft  the  afylum  of  liberty,  and  we  hope,  will  ever  be  pre- 
ferved  facred  to  it,  though  it  was  then  no  more  than  a  barren 
wiidernefs,  inhabited  only  by  lavage  men  and  beafts.  To  this 
place  our  father;},  (whofe  memories  be  revered)  poifefled  of  the 
principles  of  liberty  in  their  purity,  difdained  flavery,  fled  to  cir 
joy  thofe  privileges,  which  they  had  an  undoubted  right  to,  but 
were -deprived  of,  by  the  hands  of  violence  and  oppreflion,  in 
their  native  country.  We,  Sir,  their  pofterity,  the  freeholder^ 
and  other  inhabitants  of  this  town,  legally  aflembled  for  that  pur. 
pofe;  poflfeffed  of  the  fame  fentiments,  and  retaining  the  fame 
ardour  for  liberty,  think  it  our  indifpenlable  duty,  on  this 
occalion,  to  exprefs  to  you  thefe  our  fentiments  of  the 
ilamp  lEtf  and  its  /atal  confequences  to  this  country,  and  to  en- 
join upon  you,  as  you  regard  not  only  the  welfare,  but  the  vory 
being  of  this  people,  that  you  (confident  with  our  allegiance  ts 
the  King,  and  relation  to  the  government  of  Great  Britain)  dii'r^. 
garding  all  propofals  for  that  purpofe,  exert  all  your  power  and 
influence  in  oppofition  to  the  ftamp  a6l,  at  leaft  till  we  hear  the 
fuccefs  of  our  petitions  for  relief.  We  likewifc,  to  avoid  diJf- 
gracing  the  memories  of  our  anceftors,  as  well  as  the  reproaches 
of  our  own  confciences,  and  the  curfes  of  pofterity,  recommend 
jt  to  you,  to  obtain  if  poiTible,  in  the  honourable  houfe  of  rcprc- 
fentatiyes  of  this  province,  a  full  and  explicit  aflertion  of  our 
rights,  and  to  have  the  fame  entered  on  their  public  records,  that 
all  generations  yet  to  come  may  be  convinced,  that  wc  have  not 
only  a  juft  fenfe  of  our  rights  and  liberties,  but  that  we  ni;ver, 
with  fubmiflion  to  Divine  providence,  will  be  flaves  to  any  pow. 
er  on  earth." 

The  expediency  of  calling  a  continental  Congrefs  to  bie  compof- 
cd  of  deputies  from  each  of  the  provinces,  had  early  occurred  to  the 
.  people  of  Malfachui'etts.  The  aflembly  of  that  province  pa  (Ted  a 
refolution  in  favour  of  that  meafure,  and  fixed  on  New- York  as 
the  place,  and  the  fecond  Tuelday  of  Oftober,  1765,  as  the  time 
for  holding  the  fame,  Soon  after,  they  lent  circular  letters  to  the 
Ibcakcrs  of  t]\e  feveral  afTembles,  rcjucfting  their  concurrence. 


M« 


HISTOkY  OF  THE 


! 


i! 


'This  lirft  advihce  towards  continental  union  was  fecondcd  m 
jSovith-Carolina,  before  it  had  been  agreed  to  by  any  Oolony  to  th« 
fouthward  of  New-England.  The  example  of  this  province  had 
a  confiderable  influence  ih  recommending  the  meafure  to  othersi 
who  were  divided  in  their  opinions,  on  the  propriety  of  it. 

The  aflcmblies  of  Virginia,  North'Garolina,  and  Georgia,  were 
prevented  by  their  Governors,  from  fending  a  deputation  to  this 
l^ongrefs.  Twenty-eight  deputies  from  MaiTachufetts,  Rhode* 
Ifland,  Cotinefticut,  New- York,  New-Jcrley,  Pennfylvania,  De- 
laware^ Maryland,  and  South-Carolina,  met  at  New- York  ;  and 
after  ihature  deliberation  agreed  on  a  declaration  of  their  rights, 
and  daa  ftatenient  of  their  grievances.  They  aflerted  in  flrong 
j|terms,lheir  exemption  from  all  taxes,  not  impofed  by  their  own  re- 
prefentatives.  They  alfo  concurred  in  a  petition  to  the  King, 
and  memorial  to  the  Houfe  of  Lordis,  and  a  petition  to  the  Houfe 
lof  CoMmons.  The  Colonies  that  were  prevented  from  fending 
their  reprefentatives  to  this  Congrefs,  forwarded  petitions,  fi. 
tnilar  td  thofis  which  were  adopted  by  the  deputies  which  at> 
Htended. 

While  a  variety  of  legal  and  illegal  methods  were  adopted  to 
''i6ppofe'the  (lamp  aft,  the  firft  of  November  on  which  it  was  to 
commence  its  operation,  approachetl.  This  in  Bofton  was  ufher- 
ed  in  by  a  funeral  tolling  of  bells.  Many  (hops  and  ftorcs  were 
ihut.  The  effigies  of  the  planners  and  friends  of  the  ftamp  aft 
were  carried  about  the  ftreets  in  public'  derifion,  and  then  torn*  in 
pieces  by  the  enraged  populace.  It  was  remarkable  that  though  a 
large  crowd  was  aflembled,  there  was  nbt  the  leall  violence  or 
difordcr. 

At  Portfmouth  In  New-Hampfliire,  the  morning  of  Nov.  i, 
was  ulhered  in  with  tolling  all  the  bells  in  town.  In  the  courfe 
of  the  day,  notice  was  given  to  the  friend^  of  liberty  to  attend  htr 
funeral.  A  cofEn  neatly  ornamented,  infcribed  with  the  word 
jLiberty  in  large  letters,  was  carried  to  the  grave.  The  funeral 
proceflion  began  from  the  flate  hottfe,  attended  with  two  unbra- 
ced drums.  While  the  inhabitants  who  followed  the  coffin  were 
in  motidh,  minute  guns  were  fired,  and  continued  till  the  corpfe 
arrived  at  the  place  of  interment.  Then  an  oration  in  favour  of 
the  deceafed  was  pronounced.  It  was  fcarely  ended  before  the 
cofpfe  was  taken  up,  it  having  been  perceived  that  fome  remains 
of  life  were  left,  at  which  the  infcription  was  immcniately  altered 
to  "  Liberty  revived."  The  bells  immediately  exchanged  their 
melancholy  for  a  more  joyful  found,  and  fatisfaftion  appeared  in 
every  countenance.  The  whole  was  conduced  with  decency,  and 
without  injury  or  infult  to  ariy  man's  perfon  or  property. 

In  Maryland,  the  effigy  of  the  ftamp  maftcr,  on  one  fide -of 


ir  own  re- 


wliicJi  vfzs  written,  "  Tyranny,"  on  the  other,  "  Oppreflion," 
«nd  acrofi  the  bread,  **  Damn  my  country,  I'll  get  money,"  wa» 
carried  through  the  flreets  from  the  place  of  eoniineihent  to  th« 
whipping  poft,  and  from  thence  to  the  pillory*  After  fuffering 
many  indignities,  it  was  firft  hanged,  and  then  burnt*  — 

The  general  averfion  to  the  (lamp  aft  was,  by  fimilar  ihethods^ 
in  a  variety  of  places  demonftrated.  It  is  remarkable,  that  th« 
preceedings  of  the  populace  on  thefe  occafions,  were  carried  on 
with  decorum  and  regularity.  They  were  not  ebullitions  of  » 
thoughtlefs  mob,  but  for  the  nioft  part  planned  by  leading  men  of 
charafter  and  influence,  who  were  friends  to  pea^e  and  order. 
Thefe,  knowing  well  that  the  bulk  of  mankind  are  more  led  by  their 
fenfes  than  by  their  reaf<in,  condu£led  the  public  exhibitions  on 
that  principle,  with  a  view  of  making  the  ftamp  a&^d  its  friends 
both  ridiculous  and  odious*  '  ' 

Though  the  (lamp  a€fc  was  to  have  operated  fr^njk  the  firft  of  No- 
vember, yet  legal  proceedings  in  the  court  were  carried  on  a» 
before*  VefTels  entered  and  departed  without  damped  papers.^ 
The  printers  boldly  printed  and  circulated  their  newfpapers,  and 
found  a  fufficient  number  of  readers,  though  they  ufed^  common 
paper,  in  defiance  of  the  a£b  of  parliament.  In  moft  departments, 
by  common  confent,  bufinefs  was  carried  on  as  though  no  ftamp 
a6t  had  exifted.  This  was  accompanied  by  fpirited  reiblutions  to 
rifque  all  confequences,  rather  than  fubmit  to  ufe  the  paper  re- 
quired by  law. .  While  thefe  matters  were  in  agitation,  the  Co- 
lonifls  entered  into  ailbciations  againft  importing  Britiih  manufac- 
tures till  the  fl^p'aftfhould  be  repealed*  In  this  manner  firitifh 
liberty  was  made  to  operate  againfl:  Britifh  tyranny.  Agreeably 
to  the  free  constitution  of  Great  Britain,  the  fubjef);  was  at  liber- 
ty to  buy,  or  not  to  buy,  as  he  pleated.  By  fufpending  their 
future  purchafes  tilt  the  repeal  of  the  ftamp  aft,  the  Colonifls 
made  it  the  intereft  of  merchants  and  manufafturers  to  folicit  for 
that  repeal.  They  had  ufually  taken  off  fo  great  a  proportion  of 
Britifh  manu^ftures,  that  the  fudden  ftoppage  of  all  their  orders^ 
amounting  annually  to  feveral  millions  fterling,  threw  fome  thou^ 
fands  in  the  Mother  Country  out  of  employment,  and  induced  them 
from  a  regard  to  their  own  intereft,  to  advocate  the  meafures 
wiftied  for  by  America.  The  petitions  from  the  Colonies  were 
feconded  by  petitions  from  the  merchants  and  manutafturcrs  of 
Great  Britain.  What  the  former  prayed  for  as  a  matter  of  right, 
and  connefted  with  their  liberties,  the  latter  alfo  iolicited  from 
motives  of  immediate  advantage.  In  order  to  remedy  the  deficiency 
of  Britilh  goods,  the  Colonifts  betook  themfelves  to  a  variety  of  ne- 
ccflary  domeftic  manufaftures.  In  a  little  time,  large  quantites  of 
coarfe  and  common  cloaths  were  brought  to  market,  and  thele 


!      !i 


445  atStORY  OF  THE 

though  dearer,  and  of  a  worfe  quality,  were  c Wrfully  preftrr^ 
to  limilar  articles  imported  from  Britain.  That  wool  might  not  ba 
wanting)  they  entered  into  refolutioni  to  abfliain  from  eating 
lambs.  Foreign  eleganciea  were  generally  laid  aflde.  The  wo- 
men wcreaa  exemplary  asthe  men  in  variousinftances  of  felf-deniaU 
With  great  readinefs,  they  refufed  eVcry  article  of  decoration  for 
their  perfons,  and  of  luKury  for  their  tables.  Thefe  reftriftions^ 
which  the  Colonifts  had  voluntarily  impofed  on  themfelves,  were 
fo  well  obferved,  that  multitudes  of  artificers  in  England  were 
reduced  to  great  diilrcfs,  and  foffte  of  their  mol^(louri{hing  man  u 
h&orie»  were,  in  a  great  mcafure  at  a  ftand.  An  ailbciation  was 
entered  into  by  many  of  the  Tons  of  liberty,  the  nam  'ven  to 
thofe  who  were  oppofed  to  the  (lamp  aft,  by  which  they  agreed 
-**  to  march  with  the  utmofl  ekpedition,  at  their  own  proper  co(i 
and  expence,  with  their  whole  force^  to  the  relief  o(  fhofe  that 
Should  be  in  danger  from  the  ftamp  aft,  or  its  promotenr  and 
abettors^  or  any  thing  relative  to  it,  on  account  of  any  thing  that 
may  have  been  done  in  oppofition  to  its  obtaining.*'  This  was 
fubfcribed  by  fo  many  in  New  York  and  Mew  England,  that  no- 
thing  but  a  repeal  could  have  prevented  the  immediat*  commence^ 
ment  of  a  civil  war< 

From  the  decided  oppofition  to  the  Ibmp  aft,  which  had  been 
adopted  by  the  Colonies^  it  became  neceflary  for  Great  Britain 
■ttt  enforce  or  repeal  it^  Both  methods  of  proceeding  had  fup- 
porters.  The  oppofers  of  a  repeal  urged  arguments^  drawn  from 
the  dignity  of  the  nation,  the  danger  of  giving  way  to  the  ola- 
raours  of  the  Americans^  and  the  confequcnces  of  weakening 
parliamentary  authority  over  the  Colonies.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  was  evident,  from  the  determined  oppofition  of  the  Colonies^ 
that  it  could  not  be  enforced  without  a  civil  war,  by  which,  in 
every  event,  the  nation  mud  be  a  loiTer.  In  the  courfe  of  thefe 
difcuflions.  Dr.  Franklin  was  examined  at  the  bar  of  the  Houfe 
of  Commons,  and  gave  cxtenfive  information  on  the  ftat«  of 
American  afRiirs,  and  the  impolicy  of  the  ftamp  aft,  which  con- 
tributed much  to  remove  prejudices,  and  to  produce  a  difpofition 
;that  was  friendly  to  a  repeal. 

Some  fpeakers  of  great  weight,  in  both  Houfes  of  Parliament, 
denied  their  right  of  taxing  ihe  Colonies.  The  moft  diftinguifhed 
fupporters  of  this  opinion  were  Lord  Camden  in  the  Houfe  of 
Peers,  and  Mr.  Pitt  in  the  Houfe  of  Commons.  The  former,  in 
ftrong  language  faid,  "  My  pofition  is  this,  I  repeat  i;',  I  will 
maintain  it  to  my  laft  hour.  Taxation  and  reprefentation  are 
infeparable.  This  pofition  is  founded  on  the  laws  of  nature. 
It  is  more,  it  is  itfelf  an  eternal  law  of  nature.  For  whatever  is 
a  man's  own  is  abfolutely  his  own.     No  man  has  a  right  to  take  it 


preiibrr«4 
ight  not  ba 
Dm  eating 
The  wo- 
felf-deniaU 
sration  for 
eftriftions^ 
Ives,  were 
^and  were 
ling  man  ^• 
:iat>on  was 
i»     *ven  to 
hey  agreed 
proper  coft 
r  f  hofe  that 
Rioterr  and 
f  thing  that 
"this  was 
id,  that  no- 
commence'' 

:K  had  been 
reat  Britain 
ig  had  fup- 
irawn  from 
to  the  ela- 
weakening 
»ther  hand« 
le  G}lonieS| 
which,  in 
trfe  of  thefc 
the  Houfe 
[he  ftatr.  of 
Iwhich  con- 
difpofuion 

I  Parliament, 
Lftinguiftied 
lie  Houfe  of 

former,  in 

ii,  I  will 

Intation  arc 

of  nature. 

whatever  is 

It  to  take  it 


American  revolution.'^ 


44i 


from  him  without  his  conf(pnt.  Whoever  attempts  to  do  it^ 
attempts  an  itijury  ;  whoever  docs  it,  commits  a  robbery."  Mr. 
Pitt,  with  an  original  boldnefs  of  ekprrlTton,  judilied  the  Colo- 
nifts  in  oppofing  the  (tamp  aft,  "  You  have  no  right,"  faid  hej 
*•  to  tax  America.  I  rejoicp  that  America  has  refi (led.  Thrco 
millions  ot  our  fellow  fubjeSs  fo  loft  to  every  fcnfe  of  virtue,  af 
tamely  to  give  up  their  liberties,  would  f>e  Ht  inflruments  to  make 
flaves  of  the  reft."  He  Concluded  w(th  giving  his  advice,  tha^ 
the  fliamp  zGt  be  repealed  abfolutcly,  totally,  arid  immediately,—' 
that  the  reafori  for  the  repeal  be  afligncd,  that  it  was  founded  on 
an  erroneous  principle.  "  At  the  fame  time."  faid  he,  *'  let  thd 
fovereign  authority  of  this  country  over  the  Colonies,  be  allcrtect 
in  as  ftroifg  terms  as  can  be  devifed,  and  be  made  to  extend  t<j> 
fcvery  point  of  legiflation  whatfocver ;  that  we  may  bind  theif' 
{rade,  confine  Aicir  manufaGEurcs,  and  cxcrcife  every  power, 
Jexcept  that  of  taking  their  money  out  of  their  pockets  without 
their  consent."  The  approbatiori  of  this  illuftrious  ftatefmanji 
whofe  didiinguilhed  abilities  had  raifed  Great-Britain  to  the  higiied 
pitch' of  renown^'  infpircd  the  Amerfcans  with  additional  confi- 
dence, in  the  re£titude  of  their  clatms  of  exemption  from  partia« 
mentary  taxation,  and  emboldened  them  to  farther  opp'oritioA^ 
when  at  a  future  day,  as  fhall  be  he'reafter  related,  the  proje^  of 
4n  American  revenue  wai  rpfumed.  After  much  debating,  and 
two  protcfts  in  the  Hb'ufe  of  Lords,  and  p.^ITmg'  an  a£l  "  for  fe- 
curing'  the  dependence  of  America  on  Great-Britain,"  the  repeal 
of  the  ftanip  aft  was  fiiialiy  carried  March  18,  1766.  This  event 
^avc  great  joy  in  London;  Ships  in  the  river  Thames  difplayed 
their  cbfours,  ind  houfes  were  illutnihated  all  ov6r  the  city.  It 
'^as  no  fooncf  knowh  in  America,'  than  the  Colonifts  refcinded 
l^hcif  rifolufibns,'  and  recommenced  (heir  mercantile  intercourfe 
with  the  Mother  Country.  They  prefented  their  Komefpun 
cloaths  to  tlie  poor,  and  imported  more  largely  than  ever;  The 
churches  refounded  with  thankfgivings,  and  their  public  and  pri- 
vate rejioicings  knew  no  bounds.'  By  letters,  addrefliesj  and  other 
Aneans,  aln^oft  all  the  Colonics  (hewed  unequivocal  marks  of 
^^knowledgen^nt  ahd  gratitude.  So  fuddefi  a  calm  recovered 
after  fo  violent  a  ftofm,  is  without  a  parallel  in  hiftory.  By  the 
judicious  facrifice  of  one  law,  the  parliament  of  Great-Britain 
procured  an  acquiefcence  in  all  that  remained; 

There  were  enlightened  patriots,  fully  imprefted  with  an  idea, 
that  the  immoderate  joy  of  the  Cglonifts  was  difproportioned  to 
the  advantage  they  had  gained.  '/ 

The  ftamp  aft,  though  repealed,  Was  not  repealed  on  American 
principles.     The  preamble  afTigncd  as  the  reaibn  thereof,  "  That 

Vol.  I,  3  L  . 


44« 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  collcaing  the  Teveral  duties  and  revenues,  »  By  th«  faid  aA 
was  dircAcd,  would  be  attended  with  many  inconveniences,  and 
produftive  of  confequenccs  dangerous  to  the  commercial  interefU 
of  thefe   kingdoms."    Though  this   reafon  was  a  good  one  in 
England,  it  was  by  no  means  fatisfaftory   in  America.     At   the 
fame  time  that  the  (lamp  aa  was  repealed,  the  abfolute,  unlimited 
fupremacy  of  parliament  was,  in  words,  aflcrted.    The  oppoferf 
of  the  repeal  contended  for  this  as  effential ;  the  friends  of  that 
meafure  ac^uiefced  in  it  to  ftrengthen  their  party,  and  make  furc 
of  their  obje6t.     Many  of  both  fides  thought,  that  the  dignity  of 
Great-Britain  required  fomething  of  the  kind  to  counterbalance 
the  lofs  of  authority,  that  might  refult  from  her  yielding  to  the 
clamours  of  the  Colopif^?.     The  ad  for  this  purpofe  was  called 
the  Declaratory  Aft,  and  was  in  principal  more  hoftile  to  Ame- 
rican rights  than  the  ftamp  aft ;  for  it    annulled  thofc   refolu- 
tions  and  afts  of  the  Provincial  Aflemblies,  in  which  they  had 
aflerted  their  right  to  exemption  from  all  taxes,  not  impofed  by 
their  own  reprefcntatives ;  and  aUb  enafted,   "  That  the  parlia- 
ment had,  and  of  right  ought  to  have,  power  to  bind  the  Coloniec, 
in  all  cafes  v  hatfoever." 

The  bulk  of  the  Americans,  intoxicated  with  the  advantage 
they  had  gained,  overlooked  this  ftatute,  which,  in  one  compre* 
henfive  fentence,  not  only  deprived  them  of  liberty  and  property, 
but  of  every  right  incident  to  humanity.  They  confidered  it  as  a 
falvo  for  the  honour  of  parliament,  in  repealing  an  aft,  which 
had  fo  lately  received  their  fanftion,  and  flattered  themfelves  it 
would  remain  a  dead  letter,  and  that  although  the  right  of  taxa- 
tion was  in  words  retained,  it  would  never  be  exercifed.  Unwil- 
ling to  contend  about  paper  claims  of  ideal  fupremacy,  they  re- 
turned to  their  habits  of  good  humour  with  the  Parent  State. 

The  repeal  of  the  ftamp  aft,  in  a  relative  conneftion  with  all 
its  circumftances  and'  confequences,  was  the  hrft  direft  ftep  to 
American  independency,  llie  claims  of  the  two  countries  were  not 
only  left  undecided,  but  a  foundation  was  laid  for  their  extend- 
ing at  a  future  period,  to  the  impoiTibility  of  a  compromife.— > 
Though  for  theprefent  Great-Britain  receded  from  enforcing  her 
claim  of  American  revenue,  a  numerous  party,  adhering  to  that 
i'yftem,  referved  themfelves  for  more  favourable  circumftances 
to  enforce  it ;  and  at  the  fame  time  the  Colonifts,  more  enlighten- 
ed on  the  fubjeft,  and  more  fully  convinced  of  the  reftitude  of 
their  claims,  were  encouraged  to  oppofe  it,  under  whatfoevcr 
form  it  fhould  appear,  or  under  whatfoevcr  difguife  it  fhould 
cover  itfelf. 

Elevated  with  the  advantage  they  had  gained,  from  that  day 
forward,  inftead  of  feeling  themfelves  dependent  on  Great-Bri- 


AMEHICAN  REVOLUTION, 


445 


►cy  re- 

Ite. 

ith  all 

ftep  to 
^cre  not 
!Xt«nd- 

kifc— • 
[ing  her 

to  that 
iftance* 
[ighten- 
Jtude  of 
Itfoevcr 

(hould 


taiDi  they  conceived  that,  in  refpef^  to  commerce,  (he  was  depen- 
dent on  them.  It  inspired  them  with  fuch  high  ideas  of  the  im> 
portance  of  their  trade,  that  they  confidered  the  Mother  Country 
to  be  brought  under  greater  obligations  to  them,  for  purchafing 
her  manufafturcs,  than  they  were  to  her  for  proteAion  and  the 
adminillration  of  civil  government.  The  Freemen  of  Britifh 
America,  imprelTed  with  the  exalting  fentiments  of  patriotifm 
and  of  liberty,  conceived  it  to  be  within  their  power,  by  future 
combinations,  at  any  time  to  convulfe,  if  not  to  bankrupt,  th« 
nation  from  which  they  fprung. 

Opinions  of  this  kind  were  ftrengthened  by  theii  local  fitua- 
tion,  favouring  ideas,  as  extenfive  as  the  unexplored  continent 
of  which  they  were  inhabitants.  While  the  pride  of  Britons  re- 
volted at  the  thought  of  their  Colonies  refufing  fubjeftion  to  that 
parliament  which  they  obeyed,  the  Americans  with  equal  haugh- 
tinefs  exclaimed  "  (hall  the  p^tty  ifland  of  Great-Britain,  fcarce  a 
fpeck  on  the  map  of  the  world,  controul  the  free  citizens  of  the 
great  continent  of  America  ?'* 

Thcl'e  high  founding  pretenfions  would  have  been  harmlefs,  or 
at  moft,  I'pent  themfelves  in  words,  had  not  a  ruinous  policy, 
untaught  by  recent  experience,  called  them  into  ferious  aflion. 
Though  the  ftamp  a£l  was  repealed,  an  American  revenue  was 
ftill  a  favourite  ohjeGt  with  many  in  Great-Britain.  The  equity 
and  the  advantage  of  taxing  the  Colo.-iifls  by  parliamentary  au- 
thority vere  very  apparent  to  their  underllandings,  but  the  mode 
of  efFefling  it,  without  hazarding  the  public  tranquility,  was  not 
fd  obvious,  Mr.  Charles  Townfend,  afterwards  Chancellor  of 
the  Fxchequer,  pawned  his  credit  to  accomplifh  what  many  (o 
earneftly  defired.  He  accordingly  brought  into  parliament,  in 
fyS-j,  a  bill  for  granting  duties  in  the  BritiOi  Colonies  on  glafs, 
paper,  painters  colours,  and  tea,  which  was  afterwards  enabled 
into  a  law,  If  the  fmall  duties  impofed  on  thefc  articles  had 
preceded  the  ftamp  aft,  they  might  have  pafled  unubfervcd  :  but 
the  late  difcufUons  occafioned  by  that  aft,  had  produced  amongll 
the  Colonials,  not  only  an  animated  convi£lion  of  their  exentp. 
tion  from  parliamentary  taxation,  but  a  jealoui'y  of  the  defigns  of 
Great-Britain.  The  fentiments  of  the  Americans  on  this  lubjcft 
bore  a  great  refemblance  to  thofe  of  their  Britiih  countrymen  of 
the  preceding  century,  in  the  cafe  of  (hip  money.  The  amount 
of  that  tax  was  very  moderate,  little  exceeding  twenty  thoufand 
pounds.  It  was  diflributed  upon  the  people  with' equality,  pnd 
expended  for  the  honour  and  advantage  of  the  kingdom,  yet  all 
thefe  circumftances  could  not  reconcile  the  people  of  England  to 
the  impofitioii.     It  was  entirely  arbitrary,  *'  By  the  fame  right,'* 

3  L  a 


444 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


,.,  (aid  they,   *<  any  other   tax  may  be  impofed."     In  li|ie  mani 

I  ^hc  Americans  confidcrcd  thefe  fmall  duties   in  the   nature  of  ait 

entering  wedge,  defigned  to  make  way  for  ethers,  which  would 
be  greater  and  heavier.     In  a  reUtiye  coni)c£lion  with  late  ads  ol 
parliament,  refpeAing   domedic  manufii£iurcs  aiid   foreign  com- 
/  pierce,  laws  for  impofing  taxes  on  Britifti  commodities  exported 

p  the  Colonics,  formed  a  complete  circle  of  opprefTion,  from 
which  there  was  no  po^ibilily  of  elcaping.  The  Colonifts  ha(i 
Dceni  previoully,  retrained  from  manufacturing  certain  articles 
for  t^eir  pwn  confump^ionr  Other  a£ls  confined  them  to  the 
^xclufiveufe  o^  firitiih  nierchandize.  The  addition  of  duties 
put  them  wholly  in  the  power  and  difcrction  of  Great-Britain  ; 
♦*  Ny<s  a^e  pot,''  faid  they,  "  permitted  to  import  from  any  nati- 
on, other  (^an  our  own  Parent  State,  and  have  been  iome  in  cafes 
py  her  retrained  from  manufa£turing  for  ourfelves,  and  (he 
claims  a  right  to  do  (o  in  every  indance  which  is  incompatible 
with  her  intereJd.  To  thcle  reftriftions  wc  have  hitherto  fub- 
tnitted,  but  ihe  now  rifes  in  her  demands,  and  impofes  duties  on 
thotie  commodies,  the  purchafing  of  which,  ellcwhere  than  a( 
oer  market,  her  law  forbids,  and  the  manufacturing  of  which  for' 
our  own  ufe,  ftic  may,  any  moment  {he  plcales,  restrain.  If  her 
xight  is  valid  to  lay  a  imall  tax,  it  is  eo  ually  fo  to  lay  a  large  one, 
for  from  the  nature  of  the  cai'e,  (he  mud  he  guided  exclufively 
by  her  own  opinions  of  our  ability,  and  of  the  propriety  of  the 
duties  {he  may  impofe,  Nothing  is  left  for  us  but  to  complain 
and  pay.*'  They  contended  that  there  was  no  real  di{Ferenre 
between  the  principle  of  thefe  new  duties  and  the  dampa£l,  they 
were  both  deligned  to  raife  a  revenue  in  America,  and  in  the 
fame  manner.  The  payment  of  the  duties  irnpofed  by  the  {lamp 
a£l,  might  have  lieen  eluded  by  the  total  difufe  of  {Ramped  paper, 
and  fo  might  the  payment  of  thefe  duties,  by  the  total  difufe  of 
thofe  articles  on  which  they  were  laid,  but  in  neither  cafe,  with- 
out great  diSculty.  The  Colonills  were  therefore  reduced  to 
the  hard  alternative  of  heing  obliged  totally  to  difufe  articles  of 
the  greated  necelTity  in  human  life,  or  to  pay  a  tax  withou^ 
their  conlent.  The  fire  of  oppofition,  which  had  been  fmother- 
ed  by  the  repeal  of  the  {lamp  a£l,  burned  afrcfh  againfl  the  fame 
principle  of  taxation,  exhibited  in  its  new  form.  Mr.  Dick- 
enfon,  of  Pcnnfylvania,  on  this  occafion  prefented  to  the  public  a 
ieries  of  letters  figned  the  Farmer,  proving  the  extreme  danger 
which  threatened  the  liberties  of  America,  from  their  acquies- 
cence in  a  precedent  which  might  cllablilh  the  claim  of  parlia- 
mentary taxation.  They  were  written  with  great  auimatior^, 
and  'were  read  with  uiicommon  avidity.     Their  reafoniiig   Wd»" 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 


44^ 


langer 

bquief- 

larlia* 

iiatiun, 


to  convincing,  that  ihany  of  the  candid  and  dirinterefted  cittiena 
of  Great  Britain  acknowledged  that  the  American  oppofttion  to 
parliamentary  taxation  waajuftifiablc.  The  enormoua  fums  which 
the  (lamp  aft  would  have  cuUeded,  had  thoroughly  alarmed  the 
Coloniila  for  their  property.  It  was  now  demonftrated  by  feve- 
ral  writera,  efpccially  by  the  Pennfylvania  Farmer,  thiit  a  fmall 
tax,  though  more  fpccious,  was  equally  dangerous,  ai  it  efta- 
blilhed  a  precedent  which  eventually  annihilated  American  pro- 
perty. The  declaratory  aft,  which  at  firft  was  the  fubjeft  of 
but  a  few  comments,  was  now  dilated  upon  as  a  foundi|ion  for 
every  fpccies  of  opprcflion :  and  the  fmall  duties  lately  impofcd 
were  considered  as  the  beginning  of  ^  train  of  much  greater  evils* 

Had  the  Colonifts  admitted  the  propriety  of  raifing  t  parlia- 
mentary reyenue  among  them,  the  crcftion  of  an  American  board 
of  commiflloners  for  managing  it,  which  was  about  this  time  in- 
ftituted  at  Bofton,  would  have  been  a  convenience  rather  than 
an  injury ;  but  united  as  they  were  in  fentiments,  of  the  contra- 
riety of  that  meafure  to  their  natural  and  conftitutional  rights, 
they  ill  brooked  the  innovation.  As  it  was  coeval  with  the  new 
duties,  they  confidered  it  as  a  certain  evidence  that  the  projeft  of 
an  extenftve  American  revenue,  notwithftanding  the  repeal  of 
the  (lamp  aft^  was  dill  in  contemplation.  A  diflike  to  Bri- 
*ti(h  taxation  naturally  produced  a  diflike  to  a  board  which  was  to 
be  inftrumental  in  that  bufinefs,  and  occafioned  many  infults  to 
its  commidioners. 

The  revenue  aft  of  1767  produced  refolves,  petitions,  ad- 
dre(fes,  and  remondrances,  fimilar  to  thofe  with  which  the  Co- 
lonifts  oppofed  the  (lamp  aft.  It  alfo  gave  rife  to  a  fecond  afTo- 
ciation  for  fufpending  farther  importations  of  Briti(h  manufac- 
tures, till  thefe  offeniive  duties  (hould  be  taken  off.  Uniformity, 
in  thefe  meafures,  was  promoted  by  a  circular  letter  from  the 
Aflembly  of  Maflachufetts  to  the  fpeakers  of  other  A(reniblies. 
This  dated  the  petitions  and  reprefentations,  which  they  had 
forwarded  againd  the  late  duties,  and  drongly  pointed  out  the 
great  difEculties,  that  mud  arife  to  themfelves  and  their  condi- 
tucnts,  from  the  operation  of  afts  of  parliament  impofing  duties 
on  the  unreprefented  American  Colonies,  and  requeded  a  reci- 
procal free  communication  on  public  affairs.  Mod  of  the  Pro- 
vincial a(remblies,  as  they  had  opportunities  of  deliberating  on 
the  fubjeft,  approved  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Ma(fachufetts 
Aifembiy,  and  harmonized  with  them  in  the  meafures  which  they 
had  adopted.  In  refolves,  they  dated  their  rights  in  firm  but 
decent  language ;  and  in  petitions,  they  prayed  for  a  repeal  of 
the  late  afts,  which  they  confidered  as  infringements  on  their  li- 
Ur^ics.        .         .  .  V 


"  -  iSv^<4W:.^?;«;*  ji:^ 


'  i 


ii 


ih 


^46  HISTORY  OF  THE 

It  is  not  unreafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  the  Minifter  who  plan- 
ned thele  duties,  hoped  that  they  would  be  regarded  as  regula- 
tions of  trade.  He  might  alio  prefume,  that  as  they  amounted 
only  to  an  inconfiderable  fum,  they  would  not  give  any  alarm. 
The  circular  letter  of  the  Maflachufetts  AlTembly,  which  laid  the 
foundation  for  united  petitions  agaimft  them,  gave,  therefore, 
great  oiFence.  Lord  Hilllborough,  who  had  lately  been  appoint* 
ed  Secretary  of  State  for  the  American  department,  wrote  letters 
to  ihu  governors  of  the  rcfpeflive  provinces,  urging  them  to 
exert  their  influence,  to  prevent  the  aflemblics  from  taken  any 
notice  of  it,  and  he  called  on  the  Maflachufetts  Aflembly  to  ref. 
cind  their  proceedings  on  that  fubjefl.  This  meafure  was  both 
injudicious  and  irritating.  To  require  a  public  body  to  refcind  a 
refolution,  for  fending  a  letter  which  was  already  fent,  anfwer- 
ed,  and  a£):ed  upon,  was  a  bad  fpccimen  of  the  wifdom  of  the 
new  minifter.  To  call  a  vote,  for  fendin,]  a  circular  letter  to 
invite  the  aiTemblies  of  the  neighbouring  colonies  to*  communi- 
cate together  in  the  purfuit  of  legal  meafures  to  obtain  a  redrefs 
of  grievances,  "  a  flagitious  attempt  to  difturb  the  public  peace,"  ap- 
peared to  the  Colonlfts  a  very  injudicious  application  of  harfli  epi- 
thets to  their  conftitutional  right  of  petitioning.  To  threaten  a 
new  houfe  of  aflembly  with  diflblution,  in  cafe  of  their  not 
agreeing  to  refcind  an  a£l  of  a  former  aflembly  which  was  not 
executory,  but  executed,  clafhed  no  lefs  with  the  di£Utes  of 
common  fenje,  than  the  conftitutional  rights  of  Britifli  Colonifts. 
The  propofition  for  refcinding  was  negatived,  by  a  majority  of 
ninety-two  to  feventeen.  The  aflembly  was  immediately  diflblv- 
ed,  as  had  been  threatened.  This  procedure  of  the  new  Secre- 
tary was  confldered  by  the  Colonifts  as  an  attempt  to  fupprefs  all 
communication  of  fentiment  between  them,  and  to  prevent  their 
united  fupplications  from  reaching  the  royal  ear.  It  anfwcred 
no  one  vnluable  purpofe,  but  naturally  tended  to  mifchief. 

The  bad  humour,  which  from  fucceflive  irritation  already  too 
much  prevailed,  was  about  this  time,  June  10,  1768,  wrought 
up  to  a  high  pitch  of  refentment  and  violence,  on  occafion  of 
the  feizure  of  Mr.  Hancock's  floop  Liberty,  for  not  having  en^ 
tered  all  the  wines  (he  had  brought  from  Madeira.  The  popu- 
larity of  her  owner,  the  name  of  the  fl.oop,  ajid  the  general  aver- 
Aon  to  the  board  of  commifllopers  and  parliamentary  taxation, 
concurred  to  inflame  the  minds  of  the  people.  They  relented 
the  removal  of  the  floop  from  the  wharf,  as  implying  an  appre- 
henflon  of  a  refcue.  They  ul'ed  every  means  in  their  power  to 
interrupt  the  oflficers  in  the  execution  of  their  bufmcfs ;  and  num-> 
bers  fwore  that  they  would  be.  revenged.  Mr.  Harrifon  the  col- 
Icftor,  Mr,  Hallo  well  the  comptroller,  and  Mr,  Irwiae  the  ia* 


AMERICAN  REVOlVTtOif, 


44f 


tpeftor  of  imports  and  exports,  were  fo  roughly  handled,  as  to 
bring  their  lives  in  danger.  The  windows  of  fome  of  their  houfes 
Were  broken,  and  the  boat  of  the  colleftor  was  dragged  through 
the  town,  and  burned  on  the  common.  Such  was  the  temper 
and  difpofition  of  many  of  the  inhabitants,  that  the  coitimiflion- 
ers  of  the  cuftoms  thought  proper  to  retire  on  board  the  Romney 
man  of  war ;  and  afterwards  to  Caftle  William.  The  commif* 
fioners,  from  the  firft  moment  of  their  inftitution,  had  been  an 
eye-fore  to  the  people  of  fiofton.  This,  though  partly  owing 
to  their  gftive  zeal  in  dete£ling  fmugglers,  principally  arofe  from 
the  aflbciation  which  exiftcd  in  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants, 
between  the  board  and  an  American  revenue.  The  declaratory 
aft  of  1.766,  that  revenue  aft  of  1767  ;  together  with  the  pomp 
and  expence  of  this  board,  fo  difproportionate  to  the  fmall  income 
of  the  prefent  duties,  confpired  to  convince  not  only  the  few 
who  were  benefited  by  fmuggling,  but  the  great  body  of  enlight' 
ened  freemen,  that  farther  and  greater  impofitions  of  parliamen- 
tary taxes  were  intended.  In  proportion,  as  this  opinion  gained 
ground,  the  inhabitants  became  more  difrefpeftful  to  the  executive 
officers  of  the  revenue,  and  more  difpofed,  in  the  freiizy  of  pa- 
triotifm,  to  commit  outrages  on  their  perfons  and  property. 
The  conftant  bickering  that  exifted  between  them  and  the  inha. 
bitants,  together  with  the  fteady  oppofition  given  by  the  latter  to 
the  difcharge  of  the  official  duties  of  the  former,  induced  the 
commiflloners  and  friends  of  the  American  revenue,  to  folieit,  the 
proteftion  of  a  regular  force,  to  be  llationed  at  Bofton.  In  com- 
pliance with  their  wilhes,  his  Majefty  ordered  two  regiments  and 
fome  armed  veflels  to  repair  thither,  for  fupporting  and  affiding 
the  officers  of  the  cuftoms  in  the  execution  of. their  duty.  This 
reftrained  the  aftive  exertion  of  that  turbulent  fpirit,  which  fincc 
the  paffing  the  late  revenue  laws  had  revived,  but  it  added  to 
the  pre-exifting  caufes  thereof. 

When  it  was  reported  in  Boilon,  that  one  or  more  regiments 
were  ordered  there,  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  was  called,  and 
a  committee  appointed  to  requefl  the  Governor  to  iiiue  precepts 
fer  convening  a  general  affembly.  He  replied,  "that  he  could 
not  comply  with  their  requefl,  till  he  had  received  his  Majefty's 
commands  for  that  purpol'e."  The  anfwer  being  reported,  Sep- 
tember 13,  fome  fpirited  refolutions  were  adopted.  In  particular, 
it  was  voted,  that  the  fclcft  mc.i  of  Bofton  (hould  write  to  the 
feleft  men  of  other  towns,  to  propofe,  that  a  convention  be  held, 
of  deputies  from  each,  to  meet  at  Faneuil-hall,  in  Boilon,  on  the 
22d  inflant.  It  was  afterwards  voted,  "  That  as  there  is  appre- 
^nfioi^  ia   the  minds  of  many,  of  an  approaching  war  with 


44» 


til  STORY  OF  THE 


Franccj  thofe  inhabitants,  who  are  not  provided,  be  requeued  to 
furni(h  themfelves  forthwith  with  arms."       ^ 

Ninety-fix  \owns,  and  eight  diftrifls,  agreed  to' the  propofall 
made  by  the  inhabitants  of  Bodon,  and  appointed  deputies  to  attend 

a  convention,  btit  the  town  of  Hatfield  refufed  its  concurrence 

•        '  ■         .  ,  •       .«    ,  ■     ■  • 

When  the  Deputies  met,  they  condufked^themfelvei  with  mode, 
ntion,  difchimed  all  legiflative  authbtjty,  advifed  the  people  W 
pay  the^eateft  deference  to  government, .  and  ^o  wait  patiently 
for  a  rairefs  of  their  grievances  from  h\^  Majefty's  wifdom  and 
mo<idi|||bn^  After  fiating  to  the  world  the,caufes  of  their  meet- 
ing, and  an  account  of  their  proceedings,  they  diAolved  them- 
selves, after  a  fliort  feffibn,  and  went  home. 

Within  a  day  aftei'the  convention  broke  up,  the  expeftcd 
regiments  arrivtd,  and  were  peaceably  received.  Hints  had  been 
thrown  out  by-fome  idle  people  that  they  fhould  not  be  permit- 
ted to  come  on  fhore.  Preparations  were  made  by  the  captains 
of  the  men  of  war  in  the  harbour,  to  fire  on  the  town,'  in  cafe 
oppofition  had  been  made  to  their  landing,  but  the  crifis  for  an 
appeal  to  arms  was  not  yet  arrived^  It  was  hoped  by  fome  that 
the  folly  and  rage  of  the  Boftonians  would  have  led  them  to  thii 
rafh  meafure,  and  thereby  have  afforded  an  opportunity  for  giv- 
ing them  fome  naval  ,and  military  correftion,  but  ,both  prudence 
and  policy  induced  them  to  adopt  a  more  tiettiperate  line  of  con- 
duft. 

While  the  contention  Was  kept  alive  by  the  fucccffivc  irrita- 
tions, which   have  been  mentioned,  there   was,  particularly  in 
Maffachufetts,  a  fpecies  of  warfari  carried  on  between  the  royal 
governors,    and  the  provincial  affemblies.     Each    watched  the 
other  with  all  the  jealoufy,  which  ftrong  diftruft  could  infpire. 
The  latter  regarded  the  former  as  inftruments  of  power,  wifhing. 
io  pay  their  court  to  the  Mother  Country,  b^  curbing  the  fpirit 
of  American  freedom,  and  the  former  kept   a   Uriilt  eye  on  tlic 
latter,'  left  they  might  fmiopth  the  way  to  independence,  at  which 
they  were  charged  with  aiming.      Lieutenant  Governor  Hutchin- 
fon,  of  Maffachufetts,  virtually  challenged  the  aflfembly  to  a  dif- 
pute,  on  the  ground  of  the  controverfy  between  the  two  countries. 
This  was  accepted  by   the  latter,  and  the  fubjeft  difcuffcd  with 
all  the  fubtilty  of  argument,  which  the  ingenuity  of  either  party 
could  fuggcft. 

The  war  of  words  was  not  confined  to  the  Colonics.  While 
the  American  alTemKlies  paffed  refolutions,  affcrtinsr  their  exclii- 
tive  right  to  tax  their  conftitucnts,  the  Parliament  by  relblves 
afferted  their  unlimited  fupremacy  in  and  over  the  Colonies. 
While  the  former,  in  their  public  afts,  difclaimcd  all  views  of 
independence,  they  were  fuccellively  reprefentcd  in  pailiamcntary 


AMEklCAN  REVO LUf ION, 


449 


Vefolves,  royal  fpeeclics,  and  aHdrefTcs  from  Lords  and  Commons, 
as  being  in  a  ilate  oif  difobedicnce  to  law  and  government,  ahd 
as  having  proity^ded  to  meaful-es  fubvcrfive  of  the  conftitutioHf 
and  manifefling  a  difpcfition  to  thro^  off  all' fubordination  t<^ 
Great-Britain; 

".  In  February,  iT^g*  both  Houfes  of  Parliament  wint  one  ftep 
tieyond  all  that  had  preceded.  They  theti  concurred  in  a  joint 
addrcfs  to  his  Mnje(ly,.^n  ^Vhi^h  they  cxpreiTed  theif  (iitiftfaftion 
in  the  meafures  his  MajcAy  had  purl'ued — gave  th<t.|^rongeft  af- 
furances,  that  they  would  efFe£tually  fupport  him  in  fuJch  faithfir 
meafures  as  might  be  found  neceffary  to  maintain  <|)e  nl^  magi- 
ilrates  in  a  due  ekecution  of  the  laws,  in  MaffachufettVBay,  ^nd 
bcfeeched  him  "  to  dij-eft  the  governor  to  take  the  moft  effeftual 
hicthods  for  procuring  the  fulleft  inf^mation,  touching  all  trea- 
fons  or  mifprifions  of  trcafoha committed  withiii  the  gpvernmentj 
fince  the  30th  day  of  December,  1767  ;  atidto  tranf.-nit  the  I'amei 
together  with  the  names  of  the  perfons  who  Vere  mod  aftivc 
in  the  commiflion  of  fuch  offences,  to  one  of  the  fecretaries  of 
ftate,  in  order  that  his  Majefly  might  iffue  a  fpecial  commiflion 
for  enquiring  of,  hearing,  and  determining,  the  faid  offences, 
within  the  realm  of  Great-Britain,  ptirfuant  to  the  provifions  of 
the  ftatute  of  the  35th  of  King  Henry  the  8th."  The  latter  part 
of  this  addrefs,  Which  propofed  the  bringing  of  delinquents  from 
Mairachufetts,  td  be  tried  at  a  tribunal  in  Great-Britain^  for  crimes 
committed  in  America,  underwent  many  fcvere  animfu^vcrfions. 

It  was  afl'crtcd  to  be  totally  iuconliflent  with  the  fpi  .■.  ->f  the 
conflitution,  for  in  England  a  man  charged  witl>  a  rrirr ';,  hnd  u 
right  to  be  tried  in  the  country  in  which  his  offence  ,vv<:,  Ijppo- 
fed  to  have  been  committed.  "Jufliceis  regularly  and  i.,ipartiallv' 
adminiftcrcd  in  our  court,"  faid  the  Colonifts,  '*  'nd  yet  by  di- 
reftion  of  Parliament,  oftendcifs  are  to  be  taken  by  force,  toge- 
ther with  all  fuch  perfons  as  may  be  pointed  out  as  witneSfes* 
and  carried  to  England,  there  to'bc  tried  in  a  diftant  land,  by  a 
jury  of  (irangcrs,  and  fubjeft  to  all  the  diiadvantagcs  which  refult 
from  want  of  friends,  want  of  Witneffcs^  and  want  of  m.oney." 

The  Houfe  of  Burgoffcs  of  Virginia  met  foon  after  official  ac- 
counts of  the  joint  addrcffes  of  Lords  and  Commons  on  this  fub- 
jeft  reached  America  ;  and  in  a  few  days  after  their  meeting,  paf- 
Icd  rcfolutions  expreffing  "  their  rxclufive  right  to  tax  their  con- 
ftituents,  and  their  right  to  petition  their  Sovereign  for  redrefs 
of  grievances,  and  the.  lav.' fulnefs  of  procuring  the  concurrence 
of  the  other  Colonies  in  praying  for  the  royal  interpofition  in 
favour  of  the  violated  rights  of  America  ;  and  that  all  trials  for 
treafon,  or  for  any  Qrimc  whatfoever,  committed  in  that  Colon v, 

Vol,  L  3  M  ■ 


:  ii  i; 


i^ 


HISTORY  OF  TII£ 


ought'to  be  before  his  Majcfty's  courts  within  the  faid  Colony  $ 
ind  th»t  the  feizing  any,  pcrlpn  rcfiding  in  the  faid  Colony,  fuf-^ 
peeled  of  any  crime  Whatfoever  committed  therein,  and  fending 
(i]ch  perfon  to  places  ]>eyond  the  fea  to  be  tried,-  Was  highly  dero- 
gatory of  the  rights  of  Britifh  fubje£ls."  The  tAxt  day  Lord 
Botctojuft,  the  governor  of  Virginia^,  fent  for  the  Houfe  of  Bur- 
ge(fes  and  addreifed  them  as  follows  :  "  Mr.  Speaker  and  gentle^ 
menof  t'he  Houfe  of  Burgefles,  I  have  heard  of  your  refolves, 
andtlUg^.^Vof  their  effefis.  You  have  made  it  my  duty  to  dir^ 
fjaltjp  yiQil^^A  you  are  diffolved  accordingly." 

^il^i^^^  of  North-darolina  adopted  vefolutions,  firoilarto 

thofeol  Virginia,!  for  whieh  Tyron  their  governor  diflblved  them* 
The  raen^rs  of  the  Houfe  of  .Burgeffes  in  Virginia,  and  of  the 
AiFembly  of  North-Carolina,-  after  their  diflblution,,  met  as  privato 
gentlemen,  ehofe  theip  late  fpeakers  moderators,  and  adopted  re- 
folutions  againfV  importing  Briti{h  goodsr     The  non-importation 
agreement  was   in  this  manner  forwarded  by  the  very  meafures 
vhlch  were  intended   to  curb  the   fpirit  of  American  freedom, 
from  which  it  fprung.     Meetings  of  the  afToclators  were  regu- 
larly held  in  the  various  provinces.-     Committees  were  appointed 
to  exarrtrne  »11  veffels  arriving  from  Britain.    Cenfures  were  freely 
paffed  on  fuch  as  refufed  to  concur  in  thefe  aflbciations^  and  their 
names  publifhed  in  the  newfpapers  as  enemies  to  theiv  country. 
The  regular  afts  of  the  Provincial  Aflemblies  were  not  fo  much 
relpcfted  and  obeyed  as  the  decrees  of  thefe  committees,  the  af- 
fociations  were  in  general,  as  well  obferved  as  eould  be  expefted, 
ootwithflanding  there  were  iome  collufions.     The  fear  of  mobs, 
of  public  refentment  and  eon-tempt,  co-opciating  with  patrlotifm, 
preponderated    over  private   intereft  and  eonvcnieuce.     One  of 
the  importing  merchants  of  Bofton,  who  hefitated  in  his  compli- 
ance with  the  determination  of  the  inhabitants,  was  waited  upor* 
by  a  committc  of  tradclmen,  with  an  axeman   and  carpenter  at 
their  head,  who  informed  him,   "  that  one  thoufand   men  were 
waiting  for   his  anfwer,  and  that  if  he.  refufed  to  comply,    they 
could  not  tell  what  might  he  the  confetjuencc,"  He  complied,  and 
the  newfpapers  foon  after  publilhed,  that  he  did  it  voluntarily. 

In  Boflon,  Lieut.  Governor  Hutchinfon  endra'oured  to  pro- 
mote a  countcr-aiTociation,  but  without  effeft.  The  friends  of 
importation  objeftcd,  that  till  Pailiament  made  provifion  for  the 
punifhment  of  the  confederacies  againft  importation,  a  counter- 
alloc  iat  ion  woul'd  anfwer  no  other  purpolc,  than  to  expofe  the 
alTociators  to  popular  rage. 

The  BoJlonians,  about  this  time,  went  one  ftep  farther.  They 
re-fiiipped  goods  to  Great-Britain,  inftcad  of  ftoring  them  as  for- 
merly.    This  was  relbiyedupon  in  a  town  meeting,  on  the  infor- 


AMtRlCAN  REVOLVTION. 


*43^ 


fnafion  of  an  inhabitant,  who  communicated  a  letter  that  lie'  had 
lately  received  from  a  Member  of  Parliament,  in  whicli  it  was 
&id,  "  that  (hipping  back  ten  thoufand  pounds  worth  of  ^oods 
would  do  more  than  ftoring  a  hundred  thoufand."  This  turned 
the  fcalc,  and  procured  a  majority  of  votes  for  re-fliipping.  Koi 
<?nly  in  this,  but  in  many  other  inftances,  the  violtenices  of  the 
Colonifts  were  foftered  by  individuals  iii Great-Britain.'  A  num- 
ber of  theie  were  in  principle  with  the  Americans,  in  diettjl'ing  tlic 
right  of  Parliament  to  tax  thpm,  but  others  were  ix»oj^  InEuc  .iced 
by  a  fpirit  of  oppofuion  to  the  minifterial  majorit}^^  ti|i»t  ligr  a  re- 
gard, to  the  cbnilitutional  liberties  oiF  cither  countryi|v;- 

.The  non-importation  agreement  had  now  la  fled  Aiili  time,  aQid 
by  degrees  had  become  general,  Seversd  of  the  colqniat  aflenv 
blies  had  been  diffolved,  or  prorogued,  for  aflcrting  the  rights  of 
their  co'nftitucnts.  The  royal  governors,  and  o^hcr  friends  to  au 
American  revenue,  were  chagrined.  The  Colonics  were  irriti- 
ted.  Good  men,  both  in  England  and  America,  deplored  thefe 
untoward  events,^  and  beheld  with  concern  an  increafing  ill  hu- 
mour between  thofe,  who  were  bound  by  intereft  and  affedion  to 
be  friends  to  each  other. 

In  confequcnce  of  the  American  non-importation  agrechient, 
founded  in  oppofition  to  the  duties  in  1767,  the  manufafturcrs 
of  Great-Britain  experienced  a  renewal  of  the  ciiftrefTcs,  which 
followed  the  adoption  of  fimilar  refolutions  in  the  year  1765,  the 
repeal  of  thefe  duties  was  therefore  foUcitcd  by  the  fame  influ- 
ence, which  had  procured  the  repeal  of  the  ftamp  aft.  The 
rulers  of  Great-Britain  afted  without  dec i Hon.  Inftead  of  per- 
fevering  in  their  own  fyftem  of  coercion,  or  indeed  in  any  one 
uniform  fyftem  or  colonial  government,  they  ftruck  out  a  middle 
Jine,  embaiTaifcd  with  the  confequenceSj  both  of  feverity  and  of 
lenity,  and  which  was  without  the  complete  benefits  of  either* 
3oon  after  the  fpirited  addrefs  to  his  Majefty,  laft  mentioned, 
had  pafled  both  Houfes  of  Parliament.,  affurances  were  given  for 
repealing  all  the  duties  impofed  in  1 767,  excepting  that  of  three- 
pence per  pound  on  tea. 

Anxious  on  the  one  hand  to  eftablifti  parliamentary  fuprcmacy 
and  on  the  other,  afraid  to  ftem  the  torrent  of  oppofition,  they 
conceded  criougli  to  awaken  the  former,  and  yet  not  enough  to 
fatisfy  the  latter.  Had  Great-Britain  gcneroufly  repealed  the 
whole,  and  for  ever  relinquifhed  all  claim  to  the  right,  or  even 
the  exercifa  of  the  right  of  taxation,  the  union  of  the  two  coun- 
tries might  have  lafted  for  ages.  Had  flie  i'erioufly  determined  to 
compel  the  fubmiflion  of  the  Colonies,  nothing  could  have  been 
Kior^  unfriendly  to  this  defign,  than  her  repeated  concelFions  to 

3   M   3 


^^ 


HISTORY  OF  THS 


m 


(their  .reitef;ii|?dj. aflfoci£tion%  ^  The  <icclariitory  a£l,  and  the  refer. 
Vs^tion  pf  th?  dyly  on  tea|left  the  caufe  of  contention  between  th« 
two  countries  in  full  fbi;ce  }  but  the  former  was  only  a  cljiim  oig| 
piper,  aii4  th«  latter  might  he  evadecl,  by  refu^ng  tq  purc'hafe 
tto^tea  on  whiph  the  parliamentary  tax  was  imppfed.  the  Co;i 
|oniiU,  thetefore,  conceiving  that  their  commerce  might  be  re- 
newed, without  enablifhing  any  precedent  injurious  to  their  li*- 
iteftlflil^  in  every  particular,  except 

itff i;«o|r  'iji|ffl|«4iate|y  recommenced  the  importation  of  all  other 
9 rttc!^.;flf  ]|ie.r^^  A  political  caltn  once  more  took  place. 

libe  mini  6tate  might  now  have  clofcd  the  dil'pute  for  ever. 
an«tJ|iottf}^1|t^bly  receded,  without  a  formal  relip<]uifliment  of  hef 
'-^Tv.mis.  ifeither  the  refervatiort  of  thcAluty  on  tea,  by  the  Britilh 
i'4rii4mcnl^»  nor  thp  exceptions  made  by  the  Coloiiiftr,,  of  import- 
*n^  no  tea,  on  which'  a  duty  was  imjiofcd,  would,  if  they  had 

'tenleft  tp  their  o\vn  operation,  have  difturbcd  the  returnirtg 
1'armbny  of  the  t^o  countries.  Wit'hQut  f^cfh  irritation,  their 
'Vi  ouuds  might  have  healed,  and  not  a  fear  been  left  behind. 

Their  two  abortive  attempts  to  raif- a' parliamentary  revetiuc  in 

''  a4srica,^icaufed  a  fermentation  in  tl:e  minds  of  the  Colonifts,  and 
gave  birth  to  many  inquiries  rcfpcfting  their  natural  rights.  Re- 
iieflions  and  rcafonings  on  this  fubjcfl  produced  a  high  fcnfe  of 
liberty,  and  a  general  convi£tion  that  there  could  be  no  fecurity 
for  their  property,  if  they  were  to  be  taxed  at  the  difcrction  of  a 
Britiih  Parliament,  in  which  they  were  unreprcfentcd,  and  over 
which  they  had  no  controul.  A  determination  not  only  to  op- 
pofe  this  new  claim  of  taxation,  but  to  keep  a  (Irif):  watch,  left  it 
might  be  efl^bliihed  in  fpme  difguifed  form,  took,  poifeillon  of 
^heir  minds. 

It  commonly  happep$  in  the  difcuflion  of  doubtful  claims  be. 
tween  ft^ites,  that  the  ground  of  the  original  difpute  infenfibly 
changes.  When  the  mind  is  em^'loycd  in  inveftigating  one  fub, 
jeft,  others  aflbciated  wit^.  it,  r- Rurally  prefent  themfelv6s.  In 
^he  courfe  of  inquiries  0*4  .he  lubje£^  of  parliamentary  taxation 
the  reftriftion  on  the  tr;uu  of  the  Coloniiva — -the  neccffity  that 
was  impofed  on  them  to  purchafe  Britiih  and  other  manufafturcs, 
loaded  with  their  full  proportion  pf  all  taxes  paid  by  thofe  who 
made  or  fold  them,  becatne  myrc  generally  known.  "While  Amci 
rican  writers  were  vindicating  their  country  from  the  charge  of 
contributing  nipthingto  the  common  cxpences  of  the  empire,  they 
l^ere  led  to  let  off  to  their  credit,  the  difadvantage  of  their  being 
confined  exclufively  to  purchaic  fuch  manufatlurcs  in  Britain. 
They  inftitutcd  calculations,  by  which  they  dcmonllraled  that  the 
monopoly  of  their  trade,  drew  from  them  greater -lums  for  the 
Ijtpport  of  government,  than  were  ufually  paid. by.  an  equal  num- 


Ixation. 


AMERICAN  REVO LUT^ONi        -*       4g| 

W  of  their  fellow  citizen*  of  Great  Britain ;  »nd  tl^actaxation, 
(uperaddcd  to  fuch  a  iqonop6|y,  would  leave  them  iii  a  ftate  of 
pcrfe£|  Hncompeniktc4  flavery.  The  inveftigatiop  of  thefe  fubje^ 
brought,  matters  into  view  wh'ich  the  friends  of  union  ought  td. 
have  kept  out  of  f^ht.  Thefe  circumftanc^s,  togejlhf|-  with  tlit 
extenfive  popijlation  of  the  E^al^ern  States,  and  their  odvleittwrout 
fpirit  of  commerce,  fuggcftcd  to  fomc  bold  Xpicits,  Uwt;.iMM^j<mi« 
Britifh  taxation,  but  Britiih  navigation  Uws^  w«r«  KnyMpjIi^lif 
fhe  intcrcfts  of  America,  Speculations  o(,this  maf||t^M|jj|;^'^^^^ 
well  with  the  extcnfive  views  i>f  fome  capital  mere 
ver  would  have  roufed  the  bulk  of  the  people,  had  fioll 
brought  the  dil'pute  between  |hc  two  coutitries  t^  •^^feilp^'iut 
which  every  individual  was  intcrefted.        •  ^^Vli- 

On  reviewing  the  condu£l  of  the  Britiiih  miniftry  refpefting  the 
Colonies,  much  weaknefs  as  well  as  folly  appears.  For  a  fuccefr 
fion  of  years  there  was  a  ftcady  purfuit  of  American- revenue,  bu( 
great  inconfiftence  in  the  proje^  for  obtaining  it,  In  one  moment: 
the  Parliament  was  for  enforcing  their  laws,  the  next  for  repeal, 
ing  them.  Doing  and  undoing,  menacing  and  fubmitting,  drains 
ing  and  relaxing,  followed  each  other-  in  alternate  fucceflion 
The  objeft  of  adminiftration,  though  twice  relinquiftied  as  to 
prefent  efficiency,,  was  ii^variably  burfued,  but  without  any  unity 
pf  fyftem, 

On  the  gth  of  May,  17G9,  the   King  in  his  fpeech  to  Parlia* 
ment  highly  applauded  their  hearty  concurrence,  in  maintaining 
^he  execution  of  the  laws  in  every  part  of  his  dominions.     Five 
4ays  after  this  Ijpeech,  Lord  Plillfborough,  Secretary  of  State  for 
^he   Colonies,  wrote  to   Lord  Botetourt,  governor  of  Virginia: 
<«  1  can  take  upon  me  to  affure  you,  notwithftandingin  formations  to 
the  contraiy,  from  men  with  fa&ious  and  feditious  views,  that 
his  Majcfty's  prefect  adminiftration  have  at  no  time  entertained  a 
^cfign  to  propofe  to  Parliament    to   lay  any    farther  taxes  upon 
America,  for  the  purpofc  of  raifing   a  revenue,  and   that   it  is 
at  prefent  their  intention  to  propolc  the  next   felTion  of  Parliat 
mcnt,    to    take   off  the   duties   upon   glafs,  paper,  and   colours 
Vpon  confidcration  of  fuch  duties  having  been  l:»id  contrary  to 
the  true  principles  of  commerce."     The  governor  was  alfo  inform- 
ed, that   "hisMajcfty  relied  upon  his.  piudi^nce  and  fidelity,  to 
make  fuch  an  explanation  of  his  Majcdy's   raealurc^  as  would 
tend  to  remove  prejudices,  and  to  rc-eftablifli  mutual  con fidentx 
and  affcAion  between  the   Mother  Country  and  the  Colonics." 
Ill  the  exaft  Ipirit  of  his  inftruftions,  Lord  Bofctouvt  addrcirod 
the  Virginia  AU'onbly  as  follows:  "  It  may  poffibly  be  objccae*^ 
tliatas  his  Majefty's  prefent  adminiftration  are  not  immort»l,  their 
(ncceflbrs  ma-  be  inclined  to  r/ ■   :npt  vo  undo  what   the  prcient 


>^fe 


SX..'' 


m»Mi 


454 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


minifters  (Kail  have  attempted  to  perform,  and  to  that  objeAion  | 
can  give  but  this  anfwer,  that  it  isvmy  firm  opinion  that  the  plan 
I  have  dated  to  you  will  certainly  take  place,  that  it  will  ne* 
ver  be  departed  from ;  and  fo  detecmined  am  I  for  ever  to  abide 
by  it,'  that  I  will  be  content  to  be  declared  infamous,  if  I  do  not 
tothe  Uft  hour  of  my  life,  at  all  times,  in  all  j>laces,  and  upon  all 
ocAW^j^NWi'  eitert  every  power,  with  which  I  either  am,  or  ever 
Uy  invefted,  in  order  to  obtain  and  maintain  for  the 
America,  that  fatisfaflion  which  I  have  been  atitho. 
^|||romi(e  this  day,  by  the  confidential  fervants  of  our 
Iveveign,  who  to  my  certain  knowledge,  rates  his 
^f  %  iugh,  that  lie  would  rather  part  with  his  Crown,  than 
prefi^  ii>by  deceit." 

Thafs  tflurances  were  received  with  tranfports  of  joy  by  the 
Virginians.  They  viewed  them  as  pledging  his  Ma^edy  for  Te- 
furity,  that  the  late  defign  for  railing  a  revenue  in  America  m^s 
tbandoncd,  and  never  more  to  be  rcfumed.  The  Affembly  of 
Virginia,  in  anfwer  to  Lord  Botetourt,  expreflcd  themfelvcs 
thus :  >*,♦  We  are  fure  our  moft  gtacious  fovereign,  under  what- 
ever changes  may  happen  in  his  confidential  fervants,  will  re-> 
main,  immutable  in  the  ways  of  truth  and  juflice,  and  that  he  is 
incapable  of  deceiving  his  faithful  fubjeflii ;  and  we  efteem  your 
Lordfhip's  information  not  only  as  warranted,  but  even  fan£kified 
\>Y  the  royal  word." 

How  far  thefe  folemn  engagements  with  the  Americans  were 
obferved,  fubfequent  events  will  demonfVrate.  In  a  pei-fe£l:  reli- 
ance on  them,  mod  of  the  Colonids  returned  to  their  ancient 
habits  of  good  humour,  and  flattered  themfelves  that  no  fu- 
ture Parliament  would  undertake  to  give  or  grant  away  their 
property. 

From  the  royal  and  miniftcrial  aflurances  given  ^  in  favour  of 
America  in  the  year  1769,  and  the  fubfequent  repeal  in  1770,  of 
five  fixths  of  the  duties  which  had  been  impofed  in  1767,  toge- 
ther with  the  confequent  renewal  of  the  mercantile  intercourfe 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  many  hoped  that  the 
contention  between  the  two  countries  was  finally  doled.  In  all 
the  provinces,  excepting  Maffachufetts,  appearances  fccmed  to 
favour  that  opinion.  Many  incidents  operated  there  to  the  pre- 
judice of  that  harmony,  which  had  begun  elfcwhere  to  return. 
The  (lationing  a  military  force  among  them  was  a  fruitful  I'ource 
of  uncafincfs.  The  royal  army  had  been  brought  thither,  with 
the  avowed  dcfign  of  enforcing  lubmiffion  t/o  the  Mother  Coun- 
try. Speeches  fiom  the  tlirone,  and  addrcftcs  from  both  Houics 
of  Parliament,  had  taught  them  to  look  upomthc  inhabitants  as  a 
faftious,  turbulent  people,  >vho  aimed  at  throwing  off  all  lubor- 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 


i^6 


bjc6tion  I 
t  the  pUn 

will  ne. 
T  to  abide 
f  I  do  not 
d  upon  all 
n,  or  ever 
lin  for  the 
ecn  aUtho. 
Its  of  our 

rates  his 
own,  than 

joy  by  the 
:fty  for  fe- 
mcrica  Wis 
Lffembly  of 
themfelvcs 
mdcr  what- 
,ts,  will  re-. 
d  that  he  is 
'deem  your 
;n  fanftified 

ricans  were 
icifeft  reli" 
:ir  ancien* 

ihat  no  fu. 

I  away  their 

favour  of 
In  1770,  of 
I1767,  togc- 
lintercourfe 
led  that  the 
led.     In  all 
fccmed  to 
I  to  the  pre- 
to  return, 
litful  I'ource 
lither,  with 
Ither  Coun- 
loth  Hoalcs 
jibitants  as  a 
all  lubor- 


liifution  to  Gr«>t  Britain.  They,  on  the  other  hand,  were  accuC 
tomed  to  look  upon  the  foldicry  as  indruments  of  tyranny,  f«nt 
on  purpofc  to  dragoon^  them  out  of  their  liberties. 

Reciprocal  infults  fourcd  the  tempers^   and  mutual   injuries 
embittered  the  pafllons,  of  the  oppofite  parties :  befides,  fome 
fiery  fpirits  who  th||ught  it  an  indignity  <o  have  troops  quartered, 
among  them  were,  conftantly  exciting  the  towns-pe'Clj^te  fo  (Mpfei    ^ 
wilh  the  ibldiers.  /^^^  .  *! 

On  the  2d  of  March,  a  fray  took  place  near  }lAu'C0f^$:till^.:f. 
walk,  between  a  private  folder  of  the  89th  regiment  i|f|^,|:(^jt||^ 
bitant.    The  former  was  fuppoited  by  Kis  comrades,  titl1|yt||t|C^)i^^ 
the  ropcmakers,Jtll  feveral  on  both  fides  were  invo|y^M  *t.  e 
confequences.    On  the  5tl}  a  more  dreadful  fcene  wat^|M|p^|^  ^ 
The  foldicrs,  when  under  arms,  were  prefled  upon,  infulii^  and 
pelted^  by  a  mob  armed  with  clubs,  fticks,  and  fnowballs  cover- 
11^  {lones }  they  were  alfo  dared  to  fire.     In  this  fttuatioQ,  one  of 
the  foldiers  who  had  received  a  blow,  in  refcntment  fired  at  the 
fuppofed  aggreffor.    This  was  followed  by  a  (ingle  difcharge  from 
fix  others.    Three  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed,  and  five  were 
dangeroufly  wounded.    The  town  was  immediately  in  commotion. 
Such  was  the  temper,  force,  and  number  of  the  inhabitants,  that 
nothing  but  an  engagement  to  rempve  the  troops  out  of  the  town, 
together  with  the  advice  of  moderate  men,  prevented  the  townf- 
mcn  from  falling  on  the  foldiers.    The  killed  were  buried  in  one 
Vault,  and  in  a  moft  refpeftful  manner,  to  exprcfs  the  indignation 
of  the  inhabitants  at  the  flaughter  of  their  brethren  by  foldiers 
quartered  among  them,  in  violation  of  their  civil  liberties.  Prefton 
the  captain  who  commanded,  and  the  party  which  fired  on  th« 
inhabitants,  were  committed  to  jail,  and  afterwards  tried.     The 
captain  and  fix  of  the  men  were  acquitted.   Two  were  brought  in 
guilty  of  manflaughter.     It  appeared  on  the  trial,  that  the  foldicrs 
were  abufed,  intuited,  threatened,  and  pelted,  before  they  fired. 
It  was  alio  ptovcd,  that  only  feven  guns  were  fired  by  the  eig^it 
prifoners.     Thefe  circumftances  induced  the  jury  to  make  a  fa- 
vourable ver<lift.     The  rcfult  of  the  jtrial  refleftcd  great  honour 
on  John  Adams  and  Jofiah  Quincy,  the  council  for  the  prifoners 
and  alfo  on  the  integrity  of  the  Jury,  who  ventured  to  give  an 
upright  vcrdift,  in  defiance  of  popular  opinions. 

The  events  of  this  tragical  night  funk  deep  in  the  minds  of  tlie 
people,  and  were  mnde  fublervicnt  to  important  purpofcs*  The 
anniverfary  of  it  was  obferved  with  great  folcmniiy.  Eloquent 
orators  were  fuccenively  employed  to  deliver  an  annual  oration, 
to  prclcrve  the  remembrance  of  it  frcfli  in  their  minds.  On  thefe 
©ccalions  the  blcfTings  of  liberty — the  horrors  of  flavery — the 
danger*  of  a  Handing  army — the  rights  of  the  Colonies,  and  a 


/!?". ' 


1^  MIstokYdF  t^E 

variety  of  fueh  topics  were  prefentcd  to  the  public  vteiir,  ifti^ 

their  mod  pkkfing  atid  alarming  formi.  TKeTc  annual  orations  ad- 

ininidcred  fuel  to  the  fire  of  liberty,  and  kept  it  burning  with  an 

inceflant  flame.  / 

'  T^^  to  returning  harmony,  which  have  a)  reaif  been 

Ibentionedi  were  incrcafcd,  by  making  the  fbvernoi  and  judges 

•  iQ.^flJichufctts  independent  of  the  province.     Formerly    thry* 

*te^lwi^,|atd  by  yearly  grants  from  the  Affembly,  but  about  this 

^lp|f|ifa*lffiion  was  niade  for  paying  their  falaries  by  the  crown; 

refcnted  as  a  dangerous  innovation,  as  an  iniia£tion  of 

and  as  deftroying  that  balance  ot  power  which  i^ 

'fr<ie  gofVernmkiitii     That  the  Crown  flipuld  pay  the 

dTiieff  jufticc,  was  rcprefented  by  the  AiTcmbly,  as  at 

f^eiies  of  1h*ibcry,    tending  to  bias  his  judicial  determinations. 

They  nKade  it.  th«?  foundation  for  impeaching  Mr.  Jufticc  Oliver, 

before  the  OoVernot,  but  he  excepted  to  their  proceedings  as  un. 

•conftitutional.     The  AiTcmbly,  nevcrthdicfs,  gained  two  points^ 

^hcy  rendered  t  uc  governor  more  odious  to  the  inhabitants,  and 

increai^d  the  public  rcfpcft  for  themffUi'es,  as  the  counterpart  of 

the  Britifli  Houfe  of  Comvnunsj  and  a^  guardians  of  the  rights  of 

flic  people^  ?~^ 

A  pcrfonal  ani-aofity  Hctvirceh  Lieut.  doVcrnor  ^utchinfoa and 
fome  diftinguUhra  patuots  in  MaflFachufctts^  contributed  to  per- 
pctua;e  u  {iam^  of  difcontcnt  in  thai  orovinte  after  it  had  eire« 
Where  viiibiy  abated.  '  This  was  worked  up,  in  the  year  1773,  t?' 
a  high  pitch,  by  i  lingular  combination  of  circuinflanrss.  Some 
letters  had  been  written  in  the  fcourfe  of  the  dilpufji  by  Gover- 
nor Hutchinfoni  lieut;  Governor  Oliver,  and  othvrs,  in  Boftonj 
to  |)«fi-fons  in  power  and  <)fftce  in  England^  which  Contained  a  very 
unfavourable  reprefentation  of  the  ftate  of  public  affairs,  and 
tended  to  fheW  the  neccflity  of  tocrcive  meafurcs,  and  of  chang- 
ing the  chartered  fy ftem  of  government,  to  fecure  the  obedience 
of  the  province^  Thefe  letters  fell  into  the  h^nds  of  Dr  Frank- 
lin, agent  of  the  pt-ovince,  who  tranfmittcd  them  to  BoflOn.  The 
indignation  and  ahimonty  which  was  excited  on  the  receipt  of 
tills,  knew  no  bounds.  The  Krufe  of  Affembly  agreed  on  a  pe- 
tition and  rcmOnftrance  to  his  Majefty,  in  which  they  charged 
their  Governor  and  Lieut.  Governor  with  being  betrayers  of 
their  trufts  and  of  the  people  they  governed,  and  of  giving  p/i- 
vate,  partial^  and  falfe  informaition.  They*  alfo,  Jan.  29,  1774, 
declared  them  enemies  to  the  Colonics,  and  prayed  for  jufticc 
againft  them,  and  for  tllcir  fpccdy  retrioval  from  their  places. 
Thcle  charges  were  carried  through  by  a  majority  of  eighty-two 
to  twelve. 


AMEklCAif  kEUOLUtlON. 


457 


'""lliis  petition  itid  xemonftrance  being  tranfmitted  to  England, 
the  merits  of  it  were  dircufled  before  his  Majefty'a  privy-coun- 
cil.>  After  nn  hearihg  before  that  board,  in  which  Dr.  Franklin 
reprefented  the"  province  of  Maflfachurctts,  the  Governor  and 
Lieut;  Coverrior  were  acquitted.  Mr.  Wedderburne,  who  de- 
fended the  acdiJKd  royal  lervanta,  in  the  courfe  of  hisipleMUngf), 
inveighed  againft  Dr.  Franklin  in  the  fevereft  li 
fttnenter  of  the  difputes  between  the  two  countlli|i^  ;i  ] 
prote£kion  to  this  venerable  fage,  that  being  (be:||^  of ^ 
chufetts, '  he  conceived  it  his  duty  to  inform  hit  eonftiti 
letters  written  on  public  affairs,  calculated  to  ovr 
tered  conftitution.     The  age,  refpeftability>  and  ei 

rafter  of  the  fubjeft  of  Mr.  Wcdderburne's  phili  li 

attention  of  the  public  on  the  tranfa&ion.  The  luiult  offered  to 
one  of  their  public  agents,  and  efpecially  to  'one  whp  was  both 
the  idol  and  ornament  of  his  native  country,  funk  deep  in  thjO 
minds  of  the  Americans.  That  a  faithful  fervant,  whom  they 
loved  and  almoil  adored,  Ihould  be  infulted  for  difcharging^his 
official  duty,  rankled  in  their  hearts.  Dr.  Franklin  was  alfqjp- 
mediately  difmifled  from  the  o^ce  of  deputy  pod-mader  generll, 
which  he  held  under  the  crown.  It  was  not  only  by  his  tranf- 
midipn  of  thefe  letters  tha^|^e  had  given  offence  to  the  Brltifh 
miniftry,  but  by  his  popular  writings  in  favour  of  America.  Two 
pieces  of  his,  in  particular,  had  lately  attra£ted  a  large  fhare  of 
public  attentipn,  and  had  an  cxtenfiv(?  influence  on  both  rid|s  the 
Atlantic.  The  one  purported  to  be  an  edift  from  the  k|M  of 
PrufTia,  for  taxing  the  inhabitants  of  Great-fir itaitiijis  defc^ndants 
of  emigrants  from  his  dominions.  The  other  was  #ititled^  "Rules 
for  reducing  a  great  empire  to  a  fmaU  one."  .  In  both  thefe  he 
bad  expofed  the  clain%s  of  the  Mother-Country,  and  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Britifh  miniftry,  with  the  fcverity  of  poignant  fatire. 

For  ten  years  there  had  now  been  but  little  intermiflion  to  the 
difputes  between  Great-Britain  and  her  colonies.  Their  rcfpcc- 
tive  claims  had  never  been  compromii'ed  on  middle  ground.  The 
calm  which  followed  the  repeal  of  the  (lamp  aft,  was  in  a  few 
months  difturbedby  the  revienue  aft  of  the  year  1767.  The  tran- 
quillity which  followed  the  repeal  of  five  fixths  of  that  aft  in  the 
year  1770,  was  nothing  more  than  a  triice.  The  refcrvation  of 
the  duty  on  tea,  made  as  an  avowed  evidence  of  the  claims  of 
Great-Britain  to  tax  her  colonics,  kept  alive  the  jealoufy  of  the 
colonifts,  while  at  the  fame  time  the  Rationing  of  a  (landing  army 
in  Madachufctts — the  continuance  of  a  board  of  commiflloners  in 
Boflon-— the  conflituting  the  governors  and  judges  of  that  pro- 
vince independent  of  the  people,  were  conftant  (burccs  of  irrita- 
tion. The  altercations  which,  at  this  period,  were  common  be- 
Vol.  I.    .  3  N 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


m  JM  moo 
^  Ug   12.0 


|K8 


< 

6"     

/ 


^/ 


V 


V 


Hiotograjdiic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


'^.V^ 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WfUTIR,N.Y.  145M 

(716)t72-4S03 


'^ 


4> 


^ 


tween  the  royal  governors  and  the  principal  a0ennblie>,  togetmf' 
with  nymerous  vindications  of  the  ckims  of,  America,  made  thcf 
iubjcft  familiar  to  the  colonifts.  The  ground  of  the  coiitroverfy 
Vas  canvafied  ineVery  company.  The  more  the  A|q|idricans  read, 
rei%rie4,  and  conVerfed  on  thefubjcft,  (he  nxoravi'ei^e  tll^eon* 
«dF  their  right  to  the  excV^iive  difpo&l  ^l^heir  prop«e(^^  v 
red  by  a  determinatioh  to  refift  all  encroaehm<|ipii»^ 

mf  Britifli  liberty.    They  were  as  flbrongty  ciiip 

II  to  r^tfttfo  and  reitft  parliamentary  taxatioii^iiV'; 

^9f  Qreae-Britain^  of  their  r%ht  to  deiAand^idr 

Ifltoatoittf 
'l^  two^ounfrfes  being  thus  inreconcileably  op4 

rr,  the  partial  calm  vhwh  fbIIowe<i  the  concef« 
It  'ta  i77<>>  was  liable  to  diilurha'nce  from  every 
iicident.'^lfiftfer  liidi  circumftancies,  nothing  lefs  than  the  moft 
^^ard^d  '0ndlift  on  both  itdes  could  preV^eht  a  renewal  of  the 
l^rov^rfy.  Inftead  of  foU'owing.  thafe  prudential  meSfuret' 
wl^h  would  have  kept  the  ground  of  the  dffjpuM'  out  of  fight 
ftH^^plitic  fcheme  was  concerted  between  the  Britifii  mintftrf 
£aft-India  Company,  which  plac^  the  claimi  of  Greal^ 
alid  of  her  colonies  irt'hoftile  array  againft  each  other. 
Masters  were  now  ripe  for  the  umpit  extremities  on  the  pttrt 
of  the  Americans;-  and  they  were  brought  on  iufthe  foll<(i#i«ig^ 
natmer;  Though  the<ok)nills  had  entered  into  a' non-importation^ 
a^Kjutat  againil  tea^  as  well  as  Hk  other  commodities  from  Bri« 
tai^^^^M|j.4^^^l^helsfs  found  its  way  into  America^  though  in- 
fmaU^^^^^9S  than  before^  This  was  fenfibly  felt  by  the 
EaK^-ln^^"  Idempany,  who  had  now  agfeed  to  pay  a  hirge  fum 
annually  tp  government  ;•  in  recompence  for  whi<:h  compHancCy 
aiK<d  to  mak<(  up  their  loffes  in  other  refpeffcs,  they  were  empower- 
ed to  expiOit  their  tea  from  any  duty  payable  in  Britain  \  and  in  ' 
conrequence  of  this  perniiflion,  feveral  fliips  freighted  with  the 
eommodity  were  fent  to  North- America,  and  proper  agents  ap^ 
ptointcd  for  difpofing  of  it.  The  Americans  now  perceiving  that 
the  tax  Was  thus  Ukely  to  be  enforced  whether  they  would  or 
not,  determined  to  take  every  poflible  method  to  prevent  the  tea 
from  being  Itanded,  as  well  knowing  that  it  would  be  impoflible  to 
hinder  the  lale,  fhould  the  commodity  once  be  brought  on  Ihore. 
For  this  purpofe  the  peopk  aflembkd  in  great  numberii,  forcing 
thoie  to  whom  the  tea  was  configned  to  refign  their  offices,  and  to 
promii'c  folemnly  never  to  refume  them  j  and  committees  were  ap- 
pointed to  examine  the  accounts  of  merchants,  and  make  public 
teRsy  declaring,  fuehas  would  not  take  them  enemies  to  their  coun- 
try.  Nor  was  this  behaviour  confined  to  the  colony  of  Maffa- 
chuflTct's  Bay ;  the  rcfl  of  the  provinces  entered  into  the  contcil 


AMERlCAif  REVOltXTlON, 


Am 


«ltch  the  (ame  Warmth,  and  manifefted  the  fame  refelution  ta 
.(Oppofe  the  mother>country. 

In  the  midft  of  this  eonfufion  three  (hipa  laden  with  tea  arrived 
it  Bofton  ;  bitf  ib  much  were  the  captain*  alarmed  at  the  difpoiU 
iaon^mk  fe«iaed  to  prevail  among  the  pe|ople,that  they  offered, 
provM^tig  theyiijl^d  obtain  the  proper  difeharges  ^(|{^;j^  tcf^ 
Kon^p(l^t»,  cuftom-houfe,  ^^  governor,  to 
fivifhottt  Unding  their  cargoes.  ^,  The  parties  < 
they  du^ft  not  order  the  tea  to  bey 
the  difcKs^es  required.  The  ihips,  tl 
obliged  to  remain  in  the  harbour;  bu|| 
tenftve,that  if  they  remained  there  the  tea 
ImiU  quantities,  and  difpofed  of  i)i  fpite  of  i 
pr^vttnt  it,  refolved  to  deftroy  it  at  once, 
executed  with  equal  fpeed  and  fecrecy.  Tltt^' 
|h#  above-mentioned  dificharges  had  been  refufed,  atliund^r^jr 
Itipople  drefled  like  Mohawk  Indians,  boarded  the  flu|i^  a^d 
threw  inter  the  Tea  their  whole  cargoes,  conlifting  of  threi  hon* 
dred  and  forty-two  chefts  of  tea;  after  which  they  retired  with. 
ajat  making  any  further  difturbance,  or  doing  any  more  damage, 
]Nf0>t«i  was  decoyed  in  other  placet,  though  the  fame  fpiritj^waji 
evCdty  where  manifefted.  At  Philadelphia  the  pilots  Werm -est^ 
joined  not  to  condui6fc  the  vefTcls  up  the  river ;  and  at  New-York, 
ihoiagh  the  gpvernor  caufed  fome  tea  to  be  landed  un(£er  tW 
proleftion  of  a  man  of  war^  he  was  obliged  to  deliyer  it  up  to  the 
Cufl:ody  of  the  people,  to  prevent  its  being  fold*. 

The  deftruftion  of  the  tea  at  Bofton,  which  happened  in  No* 
ven^r  t773)  was  the  immediate  prelude  to  the  difafters  attending 
civil  difcord.  Government  finding  themfelves  every  where  in- 
fulted  and  defpifed,  refolved  to  enforce  their  authority  by  all  pof 
Able  means }  and  as  Bofton  had  been  the  principal  fcene  of  the 
riots  and  outrages,  it  was  determined  to  pun ifh  that  city  in  an 
exemplary  manner.  Parliament  ^va^  acquainted  by  a  meflage  from 
his  Majefty  with  the  undutiful  behaviour  of  the  city  of  Bofton, 
as  well  as  of  all  the  colonies,  recommending  at  the  fame  time  the 
moft  vigorous  and  fpirited  exertions  to  reduce  them  to  obedience. 
The  parliament  in  its  addrefs  promifed  a  ready  compliance  ;  and 
indeed  the  Americans,  by  their  fpirited  behaviour,  had  now 
loft  many  of  their  partifans.  It  was  propofed  to  lay  a  fine  on  the 
town  of  Bofton  equal  to  the  price  of  the  tea  which  had  been 
deftroyed,  and  to  (hut  up  its  port  by  armed  vciTels  until  the  re^ 
fra£lory  fpirit  of  the  inhabitants  ihould  be  fubdued  ;  which  it  was 
(bought  muft  quickly  yield,  as  a  total  ftop  would  thus  be  put  to 
th^ir  trade.    The  bill  was  ftrongly  oppofed  on  the  fame  grounds 

3  N  8 


'/4'^'^' 
l'i\- 


09 


HtttOtiYOFTHM 


tBst  the  other  hid  been ;  and  \i  was  predi^di  that  infteadMll 
having  any  tendency  to  reconcile  or  fubdue  the  Amciicani,  it^ 
would  infallibly  exafperate  thiim  beyond  any  pofilbjlity  of  recon- 
dliatioli.  The.  fetitiona,  Mgainft  it,  prefented  by  tite  colony^ 
•gent,  jpo^ted  out  the  iame  ^onfequencea  in  thte  ftroftg(4l||nnf , 
Ifld  li^Aili^ft  pofitive  manner  ifeclared  that  iffj^  A<nsfri<»n%  Ae- 
*'  lit  to  it ;  but  fueh  Mt^  the  infatuationi  a\|fndin^ 
Megree  of  men,  that  it  nevjcff  \v)is,ttn8giiie4tl[he 
ire  to  rerift  the  parent  ftatt  oprnly, 
implicitly  to  her  commahd*.  .  JIk  tbil 
IjlNNia  propofed  for  the  impartial  a||^|i|ft( 
(riona  asimight  be  employed  in  tll|vj#»| 
ptiimulli  in  the  province  of  Mailacni^|9 , 
avided^  that  O^ouldany  perfons.afting  in  tli^t: 
•for  murder,  and  not  abl^  to  obtain,  a  fair  \ 
m'  i^  j^rovince,  they  might  be  fent  by  the  governoi^>  to 
i,  or  to  foi;ae  other  colony,  if  neceiTary,  to  be  tried  Tor  t|^ 
(t;i|i|iofed  crime.      .,  ;'  • 

Thefe  three  bills  having  pafled  To  eaftly,  the  mtniftry  propofed 
a  fouirlD,  relative  to  thf  government  of  Canada  }  which,  )f1^ 
iaid,^  huid  tibt  been  fettled  0nany*propcr' plan,  fiy  thialjiUt  m 
extQ|t  of  that  pro:|iiiiice  WH  greatly  enlarged  ;  its  aflnirs  w<br*:put 
ui^dlt' the  dire^ion  of  •  eoi#icil,  in  which  Roman  Catholic!  were 
to  1^  admitted  ;  thft  Itoman  Catholic  clergy  were  fecured  in  theif- 
pcifeflibils,  and  the  ufual  perquiliitea  from  thofe  of  their  own 
profeffi'on.  il^e'#funcil  above  mentioned  were  to  \^  appointed  "^ 
by  the.  crown,  to  be  removeable  at  its  pleafure  ;  and  to  be  ihveil- 
ed  with  every  legiflative  power,  excepting  that  of  taxation. 

No  fooner  were  thefe  laws  made  known  in  America,  than  they 
cemented  the  union  of  the  colonies  beyond.any  poinbility  of 
diflfolving  it.  The  affcm*bly  of  Maffachufetts  Bay  had  pafled  a 
vote  againft  the  judges  accepting  falaries  from  the-crown;  and 
put  the  queftion,  Whether  they  would,  accept  them  as  ul'ual 
from  the  general  affcmbly  ?  Four  anfwered  in  the  affirmative; 
but  Peter  Oliver  the  chief-juftice  rel'ufed.  A  petition  againft 
him,  and  an  accufation,  were  brought  before  the  governor ;  but 
the  latter  refufed  the  accufation,  and  declined  to  interfere  in  the 
matter;  but  as  they  ftill  infilled  for  what  they  called  juflice 
agairiil  Mr.  Oliver,  the  governor  thought  proper  to  put  an  end 
to  the  matter  by  diflblving  the  affcmbly. 

In  this  fituation  of  affairs  a  new  alarm  was  occafioned  by  the 
news  of  the  port-bill.  This  had  been  totally  unexpefted,  and 
W^as  received  with  the  moft  extravaganfexpreffionsof  difpleafure 
among  the  populace ;  and  while  thefe  continued,  the  hew  gover* 
nor,  General  Gage,  arrived  from  England.     He  had  been  chofen 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


461 


ead  1^ 
cani|  % 
recoil" 
:olony^ 
|||rm4 


ett» 
tg  in  thit;, 
liaa  fait' 
ernoi*-  to 
sd  4or  thf 


'^.:te 


plici  were 

sd  in  theiiT 
heir  own 

appointed 
)e  iriveft- 

;ion. 

than  they 
nbility  of 
a  paffed  a 
own;  and 
as  ul'ual 
lirmativc ; 
on  againd 
;rnor ;  but 
"ere  in  the 
led  juftice 
>ut  an  end 

led  by  the 

^e£led,  and 

Ufpleafure 

lew  gover- 
len  cbofen 


to;  <  this  office  on  account  of  hi»  beinf^  well  acquainted  in  Amert- 

<;#,'  and  generally  ..  agreeable  to  the  people }   but  human   wif- 

dom  could  not  noV  point  out  t  method  by  wHich  the  flaae  coi44 

be  allayed.,    The  firfta^  of  hii  office  as  ^overno^  W|^  If  ffaiov* 

the  aiTetXbly  to  .$alem^  a  townieveate«n  nules 

feqttainceof  the  tkt  a^.  '  When  this  was  intiml^^j 

bly,  they  itplim  by  requefttng  him  ^o 

humiltltion  fo«  deprecating  the  wrath  of  h< 

a  refiilak    When  met  at  Salen,  they  pafl(0d| 

ing'the  i^effity-6f  a  genera^  congrd's  comf 

all  the  provinces,  in  order  to  take  the  al 

large' into   conlidcration ;  and  five  gent 

the|r  oppofition  to  the  Britifli  nieafuresi  werlfl 

that  of  Maflfachuretts  Bay.    They  then  pre 

dition  to  dr^w  up  a  declaration,  containing  a  detai 

races  they  Uboured  under^dtnd  the  ne<^ffity  ofexetting  thp^ 

felVes  af^ainft  laiwlefs  power ;   they  fet  forlh 'the  difregard  (howa 

to  their  petitions,  aiid  the  attempt  of  Great-Britain  to  deftroy 

their  ancient  conftitiition .;  and  concluded  with  exhorting  the 

inhabitants 

power,  fuch 

renunciation  of  every  thing  imported 

redrefs  of  grievances  could  be  procured. 

Intelligence  of  this  declaration  vas  carri(iid  to  thi^  f  oyeif|t)r  on 
the  very  day  that  it  was  completed  4  on  which  he  cUfiUved.  the 
aiTembl^.  This  yras  followed  by  an  addrefs  from  the  inhabitants 
of  Salem  in  favour  of  thofe  of  Bollon,  and  concluding  with  thefe 
remarkable  words :  "  By  ihutting.  up  the  port  of  Bollon,  fome 
imagine  that  the  courfe  of  trade  might  be  turned  hither,  and  to 
pur  benefit ;  but  nature,  in  the  formation  of  our  harbour,  forbids 
our  becoming  rivals  in  commerce  with  that  convenient  mart ) 
and  wefe  it  otherwife,  we  mud  be  dead  to  every  idea  of  juftice, 
loft  to  all  feelings  ^f  humanity,  could  we  indulge  one  thought 
to  feize  on  wealth,  and  raife  our  fortunes  on  the  ruin  of  our  fuf- 
fcring  neighbours."  " . 

It  had  been  fondly  hoped  by  the  minifterial  party  at  home,  that 
the  advantages  which  other  towns  of  the  colony  might  derive 
from  the  annihilation  of  the  trade  of  Boilon  would  make  them 
readily  acquiefce  in  the  meafure  qF  fliutting  up  that  port,  and 
rather  rejoice  in  it  than  otherwife ;  hut  the  words  of  the  addrefs 
above  mentioned  fecmed  to  preclude  all  hopd  of  this  kind;  andfubfe- 
quent  tranfa^ions  Ibdn  manifeHed  it  to  be  totally  vain.  No 
foqher  did  intelligence  arrive  of  the  remaining  bills  paflfed  in  the 
femon  of  iy'y4,  than  the  caufe  of  Bofton  became  the  caufe  of  all 
ibe  colonies.     The  port-bill  had  aheady.occafioncd  violent  corn- 


el 


-V 


#«• 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


mMioht  throughout  them  all.  It  had  been  reprobated  in  prorfii." 
fbial  nwettngs,  ^ndrcfiftan^e  even  to  the  laft  had  been  recommend* 
cd  againft  fueh  pj|^^re£&on,  .  Jn  Virginia,  the  iftof  June,  th« 
(i»y  oiryhMh  th4^  port  of  Bofton  was  to  be  (hut  up,  was  held  at 
*f^j|j^i|BilMtio^    and  a  public  interceflion  in  fv/fMroi  Ame- 

Thc  ftyle  of  the  prayer  en|bined  at  this  time 

l^^ould  give  the  p^ple  one  hea)rt  and  of|9  mind, 

iinrefy  inya^on  of  the  Aniericaa  rights**^    I'he 

tti  did  not  content  themfelves  witli^  a£U  of 

imended  in  thei  ftronge(t  nukin«|  a  general 

^iB^oiues,  as  fuUy  periliaded  that  an  iittempt  to 

an  trbkrary  manner  was  in  reality  an  attacl( 

muft  ultimately  end  in  the  twin  pf  ihcm 

ii|!|«lWf|iPf!picv  of  New-York  and  Pennfylvania,  however, 
wcrt  left  Sanguine  than  the  reft,  being  fo  dqfely  connefted  in 
tthe  way  of  trade  with  Creat^firitain,  that  the  giving  it  up  en- 
tirely appeared  a  matter  of  the  moft  ferious  magnitude,  and  not 
to  bqt  thought  of  \m%  after  every  other  method  had  fiiiled,  The 
inteljiigence  of  |^  rtmaining  bills  refpefiiing  Bofton,  however, 
Ipvoad  a'freill^lltiritn  throughout  the  continent,  and  fixed  thofe 
¥^110  ha4  fec^lied  to  be  the  moft  wavering.     The  propofal  of 

fl^^^'yk'*^^  ^°''^™^"*^'^  intercourfe  with  Britain  waji  again  pro- 
pofe^  €on|li^butions  for  the  inliabitanti  of  Bofton  were  raifed 
in  every  nnarter;  and  they  eyery  day  received  addreQcs  com. 
mending  them  for  the  heroic  courage  with  which  they  I'uftained 
their  calamity. 

The  Boftonians  on  their  part  were  not  wanting  in  their  endeavours 
to  promote  the  general  caufe.  An  agreement  was  framed,  which, 
in  imitation  pf  former  times,  they  called,  a  Solemn  League  and 
Covenant,  By  this  the  fubfcribers  moft  religioufly  bound  them* 
ielves  to  br^k  off  all  communication  with  Britain  after  the  moDth 
of  Auguft  enfuing,  until  the  obnoxious  a^s  were  repealed ;  at 
the  fame  time  they  engaged  neither  to  purchafe  nor  ufe  any 
goods  imported  after  that  time,  and  to  renounce  all  connexion 
with  thofe  who  did,  or  who  refi^red  to  fubfcribe  to  this  covenant; 
threatening  to  publifli'  the  names  of  the  refra&ory,  which  at  this 
time  was  a  punifhment  by  no  means  to  be  defpiCed.  Agreements 
of  a  fimilar  kind  were  almoft  inftantaneoully  entered  into  through, 
put  all  America,  General  Gage  indeed  attempted  to  counterafl 
the  covenant  by  a  proclamation,  wherein  it  was  declared  an  ille* 
gal  and  traiterous  combination,  threatening  with  the  pains  of  law 
fuch  as  fubfciibed  or  countenanced  it.  But  matters  were  too  far 
gone  for  his  proclamation  to  have  any  effe£i:.  The  Americans 
reported  the  f;harge  of  illegality  on  his  own  |>roclamatipn}  anUin* 


AUERtCAtf  kEt^OLUTidit. 


4<l 


me,  th« 
k  held  •• 
ofAme- 
thUtime 
lie  mindf 
\»:..  >rhe 

I  a£U  <^ 
t  general 
Uempt  to 
aiiatUcV 

howeyoPi 
Dpe^ed  in 
J  it  up  «ti- 
s^  and  not 
iled,     The 
j  however, 
fixed  thofc 
iTopofal   of 
^  again  pi^o- 
vrcrc  raifcd 
[re{[cs  com<? 
>y  i'uIUmed 


fifted  that  the  law  allowed  Athjefib  to  meet  in  order  to  confider 

of  their  grievances,  and^  aflbciate  for  relief  from  opprel&oq. 
Preparations  were  now  made  for  holding  the  general  congrefa 

fo  often  propofed.     Philadelphia}  u  being  the  mod  cailr^«^  god 

conllderable  town,  was  pitched  upon  for  tht  placie 

ing.     The  delegate!  of  whoni  it  waa  to  be 

by  the  reprefentatives  of  each  province, 

from  two  to  feven  fof  each  colony,  .tb( 

more  than  one  vote.     The  firft  cougrcfii* 

phia,  in  the  beginning  of  September  a^f^ 

one  delegates*     The  novelty  and  impotiai 

cited  an  untverfal  attention;  and  their 

coul4  not  but  tend  to  render  them  refpc 
,  The  firft  tSt  of  congrefs  vcas  an  approbation^ 
&fa&chufetts  Bay,  and  ui  exhortation  to  contiaue 
fpirit  with  which  they  had  begun.  Supplies  .fcr  the  fu 
inhaUtants,  whom  indeed  the  operation  of  tha  port-bill  had  te- 
duced  to  great  diftreis,  were  ftrongly  recoapiiended;  and  it  waa 
declared,  tbat  in  cafe  of  attempts  to  enforce  the  obnoxious  iSt*  by 
arms,  all  America  fhould  join  to  a(fift»  the  town  of  Bofton;  and 
ihould  the  inhabitants  be  obliged,  during  the  courfe  of  hoftilitics^ 
to  remove  farther  up  the  country,  the  lofTes  they  tni|;l.t  luftala 
ihould  be  repaired  at  the  public  expense.  ^ 

They  next  addreffed  General  Gage  by  Ilstter;  in  which,  hav" 
ing  ftated  the  grievances  of,  the  people  of  Maflachufetts  colony^ 
they  informed  him  of  the  fixed  ^nd  .unalterable  determination  of 
all  the  other  provinces  tt>  fupport  their  brethern,  and  to  oppofe 
the  Briti(h  »€ts  of  parliament',  that  they  themfelves  were  ap- 
pointed to  watch  over  the  liberties  of  America  v  and  intreated 
him  to  difift  from  military  operation^,  left  fiich  hoftilities  might 
be  brought  on  as  ^ould  fruflrate  all  hopes  of  reconciliation  with 
the  parent  ftate« 

The  next  ftep    was  to  publifli  the  following,  declaration  of 
their  rights* 

Declaration  or  Rights. 

The  good  people  of  the  feveral  Colonies  of  New-Hamfhire, 
Maflachufctts-Bay,  Rhode-Iiland,  and  Providence  Plantations, 
Connc£licut,  New- York  Ncw-Jcrfey,  Pennfylvania,  NewcafUe, 
Kent,  and  Suflex  on  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Caro- 
lina, and  South  Carolina,  alarmed  at  the  arbitrary  proceedings  of 
the  Britifti  Parliament  and  Adminiflration,  having  feverally  elc£l. 
ed  deputies  to  meet  and  fit  in  General  Congrefs  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  and  thofe  deputies  fo  chofen  being  aflembled  on 
the  5th  day  of  September,  after  fettling  feveral  ncceffary  preli- 


•»£», 


HISTORY  OF  TH£ 


Winartet,-  proceeded  to  take  into  their  moiiferious  confideirattoff 
thebeji  nmntof  attaining  the  rtdrefs  of  grievances.  In  the  firft 
•1m»,  they,  if  EngiiOiinen,  (and  as  their  ancellors,  in  like  cafes, 
lave  ilfili%  done,  for  averting  and  vindicating  Uieir  rights  and 

of  the  EngliQi  Colonies^  in  North  Ame- 

il^wa  of  nature,  the  principles  of  the  En- 

the  icveral  Chartlbrs  or  Compafts,  have 

,  That  they  are  entitled  to  life,  liberty, 
p!ft  ney^r  ceded,  to  atiy  fovereign  .power 
^^rpofe'of  either  without  ^irconfent* 
^^at  our  anceftors  wdre,  at  the  time  of  their 
^_  Mother-Country,  entitled  to  ill  the  ri|lits, 
^Mttunities,  of  free  and  natttral'bom  fubje^  with-' 
i&lh6ty>lm  of  England. 

Refblved^  «.  c.  3.  ,TJiati  by  fuch  emigration,  they  neithei"  for- 
feited, furrendered^  nor  loft,  any  of  thofe  rights. 

Halved,  «♦  <f»  4.  That  the  foundation  of  Englifh  liberty,  and 
of  alllree  government,  i»  a  right  in  the  people  to  participate  in 
.t^ir  LegiStive  Council;  and  as  the  Englilh  Colonifts  are  not 
zeprefentedi  and,  from  their  local  and  other  circumftances,  can- 
not proper)]!^  be  rcprefented  in  the  Britifh  Parliament,  they  are 
entitled  to  f'free  and  exclufive  power  of  legiflation,  in  their  feve- 
ral  Provincial  Legiflatures,  where  their  right  of  reprefcntation 
can  only  be  preferved,  in  all  cafes  of  taxation  and  internal  polity, 
fubjcft  only  to  the  negative  of  their  Sovereign,  in  fuch  manner 
as  has  been  heretofore  ufed  and  ace  u  Homed :  but,  from  the  nc- 
ccifity  of  the  cafe,  and  a  regard  to  the  mutual  intcrefts  of  bpth 
countries,  we  chearfully  confent  to  the  operation  of  fuch  Afts  of 
the  Britilh  Parliament  as  arc,  hnnajide,  reftrained  to  the  regu- 
lation of  our  external  commerce,  for  the  purpofe  of  iecuring  the 
commercial  advantages  of  the  whole  Empire  to  the  Mother-Coun- 
try, and  the  commercial  benefits  of  its  refpeftive  members,  ex- 
cluding every  idea  of  taxation,  internal  cr  external,  for  raifing  a 
revenue,  ^n  the  fubjefts  in  America  without  their  confent. 

Rcfolved,  «.  f.  5.  That  the  refpeftive  Colonies  are  intiOed  to 
the  Common  Law  of  England,  and  more  efpecially,  to  the  great 
and  ineftimable, privilege  of  being  tried  by  their  peers  of  the  vi- 
cinage, according  to  the  courfe  of  that  laW. 

Reiolved,  6.  That  they  are  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  fuch  of 
the  Englifh  Statutes  as  exifted  at  the  time  of  their  colonization, 
and  which  they^have,  by  experience,  refpcftively  found  to  be 
applicable  to  their  fcvcral  local  and  other  circumftances. 


AMERICAN  REVaiUfldN. 


^1 


jUfolved,  A.C,  ^;  ThM  th^fe  hii  Majefty's  Jd61oni«t,  •rtlike^*, 
wife  entitled  to  lU  the  immunities  and  privilegeni  granted  and 
confirmed  to  them  by  Royal  Chirten,;  or  fecured,  by  their  f^veral 
codes  of  Provincial  Laws. 

Refolv^d,  *,  e.  8.  That  they  have  a  Hf  ht  peaceaUy  ta^||i»Me« 
confider  of  their.  grievantes,>ind  petition  tlfej|i^  '"'^'        *^^" 
}Jrof4$ciitioHil,  pfohibitdi^  ptDchi|||^^| 
ihe  fame,  are  illegal* 

Refolyed,  tr.  c.  9;  That  the  kee; 
Colohiei,  in  time  of  peacej  without.! 
of  that  colony  in  which  fuch  armjl^  itl 

Rifqlvedj  n.  t,  16.  It  »  indifpenf 
vehWMlntj  and  rendered  effentiat  by 
thai  thf  cotyftituefit  braiithes  ofthelegtl  , 
each  other;  that,  theirefore,  the  exercife  bfl 
fieveral  Colbnies,  by  a  Cotincil  appointed  duruif  ^^ppfipMiiRptne 
Grown j  is  unconftitutional,  dan^crou^  and  deftitli^vW  m  th« 
iVeedom  of  American  legiflation. 

Alt  and  each  of  which,  the  aforefaid  Deputies,  inr  l^hal^  of 
themfelves  and  their  conftituents,  do  (Claim,  deittind^  and  in'ffft 
dn^  as  their  indubitable  n((hts  and  liberticf,  which'  cannot  be  le- 
gally taken  from  thcm^  altered  or  abridged  by  an^,  p6Wer  V^hafj 
ever,  without  their  own  confent,  by  their  ReprCfiinitativev  in 
their  Teveral  provincial  iegiflatures. 

ReCnlved,  n.  c.  Thai  the  following  A&%  of  Padiament  are  in-' 
fringemcnts  and  violations  of  the  rights  of  the  Colon'^is:  and 
that  (he  repeal  of  them  is  cfTentially  neccflary,  in  oi^der  to  re« 
ftore  harmony  between  Great-Britain  and  thfe  American  '   denies, 

Vllir 

The  fcVeral  Afts  of  4  Geo.  III.  ch.  15.  and;  ck  34.— ^5  Geo. 
HI.  ch;  25.-16  Oeo^  III.  ch.  591. — 7  Geo.  III.  Ch.  41.  and  ch. 
46.-8  Geo.  in*  ch*  8  a;  which  impofe  duties  for  the  purpofe  of 
taifing  a  revenue  ini  America,  extend  the  powers  of  ihe  Admi- 
hlty  Courts  beyond  their  ancient  limits,  deprive  the  American 
fubjc^  of  trial  by  Jury,  authorife  the  Judges'  certificate  to  in- 
demnify the  profecutor  from  damages  that  he  might  othcrwife  be 
liable  toy  re<piiring  oppreflive  feCurity  from  a  claimnnt  of  (hips 
and  goods  feized,  before  he  fliall  be  allowed  to  defend  his  pro- 
perty, and  are  fubverfive  of  American  rights,  .j 

Alfo  12  Geo.  III.  ch*  24.  intituled,.  *'  An  Aft  for  the  better  fe- 
curii^.his  Majefty's  dock -yards,  magazines,  (hips,  ammunition, 
and  iiores;"  which  declares  a  new  offence  in  America,  and  de- 
prives the  American  fubjefls.  of  a  c6nfl:itutional  trial  by  Jury  of 
the  vicinage^  by  authorifing  the  trial  of  any  perfon  charged  with 

Vot.  I.  3  O 


'  +.«,' 


>'-J*» 


'<-,.. 


.|66  HisranYOFTHt: 

ihe^^romifiittlng  any  offence  dcfcrihrd  in  the  faiil  Aft  nut  officer 
'  i^aln,  to  be  indiftedind  tried  for  the  liune  in  uny  fltire  or  coun- 
ty within  the  rcdlm, 
Alib'ftfV  three  Afti  puflcd  in  the  U(l  Seilimt  of  ParNamenr,  for 
the  yon  and  blocking  up  the  harbour  of  Boilon,  fpr  al« 
Itr  Mkd  government  of  MaflHchufetta'Aay,  and  that 
Aft  for  Che  better  adminiftration  of 

9  fame  Sedion  for  eftablifliing  the  . 
th«  Provinee  of  Quebec,  aboliihing 
i(h  lawa,  andercCking  a  tyranny  there, 
total  a  diflimilnrity  of  religion,  law, 
ghbouring  British  Cc^oniei,  by  the 
end  treal'ure  the  faid  country  wu  con- 
in  the  fame  Sefllon  for  the  better  piovid* 
ing  itmiide  tjuartera  f9r  ul&«era  and  Ibldicra  in  hia  Majefty't  fer* 
vice  in  North>America» 

Rololved,  That  this  Congrela  do  approve*  of  the  oppoAtion 
made  by<  the  inhabitanta  of  the  Mairachuietta-Bay,  to  the  execu- 
tion of  the  fiud  late  Afts  of  Parliament  \  and  if  the  fame  fhall  be 
attempted  to  be  carried  into  execution  by  force,  in  fuch  cafe,  all 
America  oii^t  to  fupport  them  in  their  eppofuiom  . 

Kefplved)  That  the  removal  of  the  people  of  Bofton  into  the 
country,  woukl  be  not  only  ejitremdy  difBcutt  in  the  execution 
but  To  important  in  its  confequenccs,  as  to  ree^iuire  the  utmoft  dc- 
libcrntion  before  it  is  adopted.  But  in  cai'e  the  Provincial  Meet* 
ing  of  that  Colony  fhall  judge  it  ahfolutely  nccelfiftry,  it  ia  the.opini- 
on  of  this  Congrcfs,  that  all  Amcricii  ought  to  contribute  towards 
cccompcnfmg  them  f»r  the  injury  they  may  thereby  iufHin. 

Kcl'oK'cdy  'I'hat  thia  Congrel's  do  recommend  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Malfuchuietts-'Bay,  to  Uibmit  to  a  fufpcnfion  of  the  adminiftra. 
tion  of  jufliicc,  where  it  cannot  be  procured  in  a  legaV  and  peace- 
able manner,  under  the  rules  of  the  charter,  and  the  laws  founded 
thereon,  until  the  elfcUs  of  our  application  for  the  repeal  of 
the  A£ks  by  which  their  charter-rights  arc  infringed,  is  known. 

Relolvcd  unaniinoufty,  That  every  perfon  who  fhall  take,  ac- 
cept, or  aft  under  any  commifnon  or  authority,  in  any  wife  de- 
rived from  the  aft  pafTcd  in  the  lafl;  Scthon  of  Parliament,  chang- 
ing the  form  of  Csbvernmcnt,  and  violating  the  charter  of  tiic 
Province  of  Mafluchul'cttS'Bay,  ought  to  be  held  in  dctcflatlon^ 
and  confidered  ^%  the  wicked  tool  of  that  dcfpotifm  which  u 
preparing  to  dcitroy  thofe  rights  which  Gud,  nature,  and  com- 
pa6l^  hath  given  to  America. 


i(fi4ik 


or  court' 


4874. 

Refolved  unanimoiifly   t))«t  the  p«npl«  omnHmlmd  th^  Mifei 
ftchulcttihay,  b«  advticd  ftill  tu  conduft  themrelvM  p«it«lbly^ 
«ow«rdi  his  K«c«Urncy  Gonenl  C*go,  «nd  h)i  Majtfty'i  t#M>i  ", 
now  {Utioncd  in  tho  town  of  Buftdii,  n  far  m  ««ik  ^VUfipiV.    * 
Aft  with  their  immcdiit*  fafety  and, the  feourity  «f  t|t|9)f ji ) 
•voiding  and  difcounttnnidnf  every  yi  *   "        ---^^.11^?. 
property,  or  any  ini'uU  to  l||  troa|^(  |   ' 
firmly  perfevere  In  the  lint  ||i 
^emfelvea  mn  the  defenftve. 

Refolved,  That  the  reislng,  or 
In  AmeHra,  in  order  to  tranfport . 
triti  of  offences,  committed  within  ^ 
rica,  being  againft  law,  will  juftify^ 
liftance  and  reprifal. 

A  copy  of  a  Utter  to  General  Gage  il 
ind,  agreeable  tu  order,,  figned  by  the 
fowl  j 

PhiMt^t,mn  li,  1771. 

"Si  a,  "'■ 

"  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Bofton  have  inf^med  us  tho 
Rcprcfentativcs  of  his  Majcfty's  fnUhful  fubjcfti  In  att  the  Co* 
loniea  from  Nova-Scotia  to  Georgia,  that  ilie'  fortlfiottlbns  erc^ 
ing  within  that  town,  the  frequent  invafiona. of  priMe  properly, 
and  the  repeated  inlults  they  receive  from  the  foldicry,  hath  given 
them  great  real'on  to  fufpeft  a  plan  is  formed  very  diftiuaivc  to 
'them,  and  lending  to  overthrow  the  libcrtiea  of  America, 

"  Your  EKellcncy  cannot  be  a  ftrangcr  to  the  fentimentsof  Ame- 
rica with  refpeft  to  the  late  Afts  of  Parliament,  under  the  execu- 
tion  of  which  thofc  unhappy  people  are  opprcfled;  the  npproba. 
tion  univerfally  exprcflcd  of  their  conduft,  and  the  determined 
rcfolution  of  the  Colonics,  for  the  prcfervntion  of  their  Common 
Rights,  to  unit^  in  their  oppofition  to  thofe  Afts.     In  confequenco 
of  thefe  fentiments,  they  have  appointed  us  the  guprdians  of  their 
rights  and  liberties,  and  we  are  under  the  dcepell  concern,  that 
whilft  we  are  purfuing  every  dutiful  and  pcueable  meafure,  to 
procure  a  cordial  and  cffcftual  reconciliation  between  Great  Bii- 
tain  and  the  Colonics,  your  Excellency  fhould  proceed  in  a  man. 
ner  that  bears  fo  hoftilc  an  appearance,  and  which  even  thofe  op. 
prelHve  Aflis  do  not  warrant. 

We  entreat  your  Excellency  to  confidcr,  what  tendency  this 
conduft  muft  hayc  to  irritate  and  force  a  people,  however 
well  difpofed  to  peaceable  meafurcs,  into  hoftilities,  which  may 
prevent  the  endeavours  of  this  Congrcl's  to  re  (lore  s  good  undcr- 
ftanding  with  a  Parent  State,  and  may  involve  us  in  the  horrors 
of  a  civil  war,  j  O  a 


46i  ^Ht^TORYOFTHB 

^.       .  .      .  '*      ■ 

''*  In  order  therefore  to  (|uiet  the  minds,  tnd  remove  the  reifon* 

ablcjealouficf  of  the  people,  that  they  may  not  be  driven  to  a  ftate 

of ''delperation,  being  fully  perfuadcd  of  their  pacific  difpofttioti 

|Owa|fia')he  King^a  troopt|  could  they  he  aflured  of  their  ovm 

^''ll^'tyxi^li^t i^fp  y^  ^^^  difcpntinue  Ihe  fortifica^ioni  in  ind 
^^~"f  ny  further  ^yaftona  of  private  property 
fo^^eri,  and  give  orders  tlut  the 
tiywn  apd  country  nuy  be  open, 

bchaU  of  the  Genenl  Copgreis, 
pEYTQN  RANDOLPH,  Prefident.'^ 

fitvour  of  a  nou-iinportation  and  noq- 
Fgood}  until  the  a£ls  were  repealed  by 
uppn  tea,  coffee,  wine,  fugar,  an4ilH)r 
laflel^inHippii^  America,  as  well  as  the  Bofton  port-aft,  au4 
the  thr^ramm  |^^ed  ii^  the  preceding  fefllon  of  parliament* 
The  neiii^jregulatioiliagainil  the  importation  and  confuroption  0| 
l^ritiilf  co||flqiDditlie»  were  then  drawn  up  with  great  fq^emnityi 
pnd  lYic^  excluded  wi(h  feti^rning  the  ^anx|cft  thanl^s  to  thofe 
members  pf  parliament  who  had  with  fo  much  ieal,  though  v^itl^. 
put  any  (Vicccfsi  oppofed  the  obnoxious  a6U  of  parliament. 

Their  next  proceedings  where  to  frame  a  petition  to  the  King. 
an  addrefs  to  the  Britifl^  nation,  and  another  to  the  colonies;  all 
of  which  where  fo  much  in  the  ufual  ftrain  of  American  language 
for  iome  time  paft,  that  it  is  ncedlcfs  to  enter  into  any  particular 
account  of  them.  It  is  I'ufficient  to  fay  that  they  were  all  drawn 
up  In  a  inaf^crly  n^anner^  and  ought  to  have  imprefled  the  pepple 
of  this  f  ountry  with  a  more  favourable  idea  of  (he  Americans 
(han  they  cou|d  at  that  time  be  induced  to  entertain.  . 

.  All  this  time  the  difpofition  of  the  people  had  correfponded 
with  the  warmel^  wiihes  pf  Consrefs.  llie  firft  of  June  had  been 
kept  as  a  fail,  not  pnly  thjrpughout  Virginia,  yrhere  it  was  firft 
propofed,  but  through  the  whole  continent.  Contributions  for 
the  diflreflcs  of  Bof^on  had  been  raifed  throughout  America,  and 
people  of  all  ranks  feemcd  to  be  particularly  tQtichjed  with  them* 
Even  thofe  who  feetned  to  be  mod  |ikely  to  deriye  advantage^ 
from  them  took  no  opportunity,  as  has  been  already  inflanced  in 
the  caic  of  Sulcm.  The  inhabitants  of  Marble-head  alfo  (hewed  a 
noble  example  of  magnanimity  in  the  prclent  cafe.  Though  fitu. 
ated  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Boflun,  and  mod  likely  to  derive 
benefit  from  their  diilrclTes,  they  did  not  attempt  to  take  any 
advantage,  but  gencroufly  offered  the  ufe  of  their  harbour  to  the 
Boflonians,  as  well  as  their  wharfs  and  warehoufes,  free  of  all 
cxpcnce.    In  the  mean  time  the  Britiih  forces  at  BoiUn  wer^ 


fponded 

Udbeen 

ru  firfl 

m$  for 

ica,  and 

them* 

^antagcs 

iced  in 

:wed  a 

^h  fitu. 

1  derive 

le  any 

to  the 

of  all 

wer? 


AMERICAN  REVOLVm^OH.  ^ 

continually  increifing  in  number,  which  frMUy  ■ugmenNd  tb« 

gcneril  jealoufy  and  dirai^ioni  the  'country  ivtr^  ratdy  to  rUb 

•t  a  moment's  warning  t  and  the  experiment  was  made  by  | 

a  Hdfe  ahnn  that  thercoQummicadon  bctwctn  ' 

iry  waa  ivbc cut  ol^  in  OMier  to  reduce 

a  compliance  with  the  aftl^|f  ParliaiMl 

the  country  people  aflemUediB greet ni^ 

fatitfied  till  they  hed  lent  nMfleofei 

the  truth  of  the  report.    ThcTe 

form  the  town's  people,  that  if  th^' 

as  to  make  a  furrender  of  their 

not  think  itfclf  bound  by  fuch  exam| 

breaking  their  original  clufrter,  had 

^fting  bctWfeea  them,    and  left  them 

proper. 

The  people  in  every  other  refpeft  man! 
determination  to  adhere  to  the  p)an  they 
The  new  counfellors  and  judges  were  obligfcd'^io  i^Min  their 
offices,  in.  order  tu  prcferve  their  lives  and  propcrtiefrnoi^  the 
fury  of  the  multitude*  In  fome  places  they  Ihut  up'^lihe  avenuef 
to  the  court-houfes ;  and  when  required  to  make  way  |br  the 
judges,  rt'plied,  that  they  knew  of  none  but  fuch  H  were  ap?> . 
pointed  by  the  ancient  ufage  and  cuftom  of  the  province.  Every 
where  they  nianifefted  the  moft  ardent  defire  of  learning  iht  art 
.of  war;  and  every  individual  who  could  bear  arms,  was  moft  af. 
fiduous  in  procuring  them,  and  learning  their  exercife. 

Matters  at  taft  proceeded  to  fuch  an  height,  that  General  Oage 
thought  proper  to  fortify  the  neck  of  land,  which  joins  the  town 
pi  Bofton  to  the  continent,  This,  though  undoubtedly  a  pru- 
dent meafure  in  his  fituation,  was  exclaimed  againft  by  the  Anie* 
rtcans  in  the  moft  vehement  manner ;  but  the  General,  inftead  of 
giving  ear  to  their  rcmonftrances,  deprived  them  of  all  power  of 
a£ling  againft  hlmfelf,  by  feizing  the  provincial  powder,  pmuni* 
tion,  and  military  ftoros,  at  Cambridge  and  Charleftown.  This 
excited  fuch  indigilation,  that  it  was  with  the  utmoft  di^culty 
the  people  could  be  roftraincd  from  marching  to  Bofton  and  at* 
tacking  the  troops.  £vpn  in  the  town  iti'elf,  the  company  of 
cadets  that  ufed  to  attend  him  difbandcd  themfelves  and  return- 
ed the  ftandard,  he  had  as  ufual  prcfented  them  with  on  his  ac- 
celfion  to  the  government.  This  was  occaAoncd  by  his  having  de« 
prived  the  celebrated  John  Hanpock,  afterwards  prcfident  "of  the 
conijrefs,  of  his  commiilion  as  colonel  of  :he  cadets.  A  ftmilar 
ipftance  happened  of  a  provincial  colonel  having  accepted  a  feat 
in  the  new  council ;  upon  which  twenty-four  ofEccrs  of  his  rc;- 
|iment  refi^ned  their  coipmiflions  ifi  one  day. 


47^ 


STORY  OF 


In  the  mean  tMM^fe  t|feeting  was  held  of  the  principal  inhahl, 
taqU  of  tb«  towas  Myaeani  to  Bofton.  The-  piirport  of  thia  was 
iHt^ifty  to  renounce  aU.obedience  to  the  late  »£ls  of  parliamcnti 

|[eillent  to  indemnify  fuch  as  (hould  be  proi- 

itit;.  the  membera  of  the  he#  council  were 

rights  of  their  (Ountry  s  all  ranks  and  de- 

im  th^  ufo  of  arms ;  and  the  receivers 

ordered  not  to  deliver  it  into  the 

^^Hieir  own  hands  till  the  conflitution 

vlacial  congrefa  difpofe  pf  it  other- 


^e  fortifications  on  Bofton  Neck  was 
•,  however,  they  ftill    pretended  their 
14  to  any  hoftile  meafurea;  afferting  only 
j^ermination  not  to  fubmit  to  the  a£is  of  par- 
ly fo  much  complained  of^     The  Gdver-^ 
if  pofllble,  called  a  general  aflembly ; 
^council  had  reitgned  their  feats,  that  he  was 
inducetl^iit  toiuntermand  its  fitting  by  proclamation.     This  mea- 
fuise,  howvreri  was  deemed  illegal ;   the  aifembiy  met  at  Salem  ; 
and  after  waiting,  a  day  for  the  Governor,  voted  themfelves  into 
•  provtnrtttcial  congrefs,  of  which  ]M[r.  Hancpck  was  chofen  Pre. 
fident.    A  committee  was  inftantly  appointed,  who  waited  on  the 
governor  with  a  remonftrance  concerning  the  fortifications  on 
Bofton  Neck  ;  but  nothing  of  confecjuence  took  place,  both  par, 
ties  mutually  criminating  each  other.     The  winter  was  now  com- 
ing on,  and  the  Governor,  to  avoid  (juartering  the  foldiers  upon 
the  inhabiti^nts,  propofcd  to  ercft  barracks  for  them ;  but  the  lelcft 
men  of  Bofton    compelled  the  workmen  to  defift.     Carpenters 
were  fcnt  for  to  New-York,  but  they  were  refufed ;  and  it  w»« 
with  the  utmoft  difHculty  that  he  could  procure  winter  lodgings 
for  his  troops.     Nor  was  the  difficulty  lefs  in  procuring  clothes; , 
as  the  merchants  of   New- York    told  him,  that    "  they  would 
4^ever   fupply  any  article  for  the  benefit  of  men  fent  as  enemiei; 
to  their  country." 

This  difpofition,  known  to  be  almoft  univerfal  throughout  the 
continent,  was  in  the  higheft  degree  l'?.tisfa£bory  to  congrefs, 
Every  one  faw  that  the  enfulng  fpring  was  to  be  the  ieai'on  for 
commencing  hoftilities,  and  the  moft  indefatigable  diligence  was 
ufed  for  the  colonies  to  be  well  provided  againft  fuch  a  formicla- 
ble  enemy.  A  lift  of  the  fencible  men  in  each  colony  was  made 
out,  and  efpccially  of  thofe  who  had  fervcd  in  the  former  war  j 
of  whom  they  had  the  fatisfaftion  to  find  that  two-thirds  wtre 
ftill  alive  and  fit  to  bear  arms.  Magazines  of  arms  were  collec- 
ted, and  money  was  provided  for  the  payment  of  troops.  The 
governors  in  vain  attempted  to  put  a  ftop  to  thetc  proceedings  by 


•V!li,.^» 


AMERlCAIf  REVOLU. 


41i 


al  inhabU 
F  this  was 
arliamentt 
Id  b«  pro* 
mcil  were 
ks  and  de< 
s  receivers 

L  into  the 
>nftitution 
t  it  othef- 

Neck  waJ 
tided  their 
erting  only 
»a»  ofpar- 
:he  Goiver- 
d  affembly ; 
that  he  was 
This  tnea- 
t  at  Salem  i 
mfelvcs  into 
chofen  Pre, 
aitcd  on  the 
ifications  on 
;c,  both  part 
as  now  com- 
jldiers  upon 
)ut  the  lelcft 
Carpenters 

;  and  it  w»« 
ter  lodgings 
ing  clothes;  / 
they  would 
as  enemies 

•oughout  the 
to  congrefs, 
ic  I'ealon  for 
iiligcnce  was 
;h  a  formida- 
ny  was  made 
jformer  war ; 
-thirds  >^^«e 

were  coUec- 
Iroops.  The 
oceedin§sby 


inft 


proclamations  :  the  fatal  period  wasnowi|rH|red.;  and  the  more  the 
iervants  of  government  attempted  to  repitoiil  the  fpirit  of  the  Ame* 
ricans,  the  more  violent  it  appeared. 

The  beginning  of  ftrife  between  the  nr^nt 
lonies  was  like  the  letting  out  of  waters, 
caufes  love  was  changed  intofufpicion  that^ 
ill  will,  and  foon  ended  in  hoftility.     Pi 
procal  intercil,  urged  the  expedtency 
fjire  honour,  and  mifconceived  digiiit) 
reflion.     Undecided  claims  and  doubtf 
influence  of  wifdom  and  humility   ml 
promifcd,,  imperceptibly  widened  into  aiifii 
Hatred  at  length  took  the  place  of  kind  aI 
ties  of  war  were  fubftituted  in  lieu  of  thei 

From  the  year  1 76B,  in  which  a  military^ 
oned  in  Bofton,  there  was  a  conilant  fucceifipii 
looks,  and  geftures.     The  inhabitants  were 
the  foldiers,  and  they  againft  the  inhabitants, 
on  the  latter  as  the  inftruments  of  tyranny,  and  the  latter  on  the 
former  as  fiditious  rioters,  or  fraudulent  fmuggters.     In  this  irri- 
table ftate,  every  incident,  however,  trifling,  made  a  fenfible  im- 
preflion.     The  citizens  apprehended  conftant  danger  from   an 
armed   force,   in  whofe  power  they  were ;  the  foldiers,  on  the 
other  hand,  considered   themfiplves   as  in  the  midft  .6f  their  ene- 
mies, and  expofed  to  attacks  from  within  and  without.     In  pro- 
portion   as  the  breach  between  Great-Britain  and  her  colonies 
widened,  the  diftruft   and  animoftty  between  the  people  and  the 
army  increafed.     From  the  latter  end  of  1774,    hoftiile  appear- 
ances daily  threatened  that  the  flames  of  war  would  be  kindled 
from  the   coUifion  of  luch  inflamn;table  materials.     Whatfoever 
was  done  by  either  party  by  way  of  precaution,  for  the  piirpofes^ 
of  felf-defence,  was  conilrued  by  the  other  as  preparatory  to  an 
intended  attack.     Each  difclaimed  all  intentions  of  commencing 
hoftil^ties,  but   reciprocally  manifeflcd  fufpicion  of  the  other's, 
fmcerity.     As  far  as  was   prafticable  without  an  open  rupture, 
the  plans  of  one  were  refpeftivcly  thwarted  by  the  other.     From' 
tvery  appearance   it   became  daily  more  evident  that   arms  mufti 
oUimately  decide  the  conteft.     To  fuffer  an  army  that  was  foon 
expe6led  to  be  an  enemy,  quietly  to  fortify  themfclves,  when  the 
inhabitants  were  both  able  and  wilting  to  cut  them  off,  appeared 
to  feme  warm  f'pirits  the  height  of  folly ;  but  the  prudence  and 
moderation  of  others,  and  cfpccially  the  advice  and  recommen. 
dation  of  Congrcis,  rcft^rained  their  impctuofity.     It  was  a  for. 
tUnate  circumftance  for  the  colonics  that  the  royal  army  was  poft. 
cd  in  New-England.     The  people  of  that  nothcrn  country  have 


UtTsi:  ^$TiSim.Y  OF  THE 

tKetr'.paflfion^  more  ynder  the  command  of  reafon  and  intcfefty 
than  in  th<|  fouthern  latiuides,  where  a  warmer  fun  excites,  » 
grifialer jJigi|je  of  irafcibility.  One  ralh  ofFenfive  a£lion  againf^ 
this  early  period,  though  fuccefsful,  Jiiighthave 
t^e  catife  of  America.  It  IJirouJid  have  lofl 
and  weakened  the  d^fpoiition  of  the  other 
l^he  patient  and  pbUlie  New-England 
|eir  fituation,  fubmitted  to  many  infults, 
In  civil  wars  or  ^  resolutions,  it  is 
:e  who  (IriiEes  the  firft  blbw.  The 
favour  of  the  attacked,  and  the  dif- 
lofe  who  are  the  fird  to  imbrue  their 
i^or  the  fpace  of  nine  months  after  the 
tthe  behaviour  of  the  people  of  Bofton  i^ 
imitation,  by  thofc  who  wifli  to  overturn 
S|ts^<  ^  they  condu£ied  their  oppoiition  witk 
They  avoided  every  kind  of  outrage  and  vio- 
plice  and  gpod  order  among  themfelves^  fuccefs- 
fully  en^ga^|sdi  the  other  Colonies  to  make  a  common  caufe  with 
t^em^fsnyl  covntera6ted  General  Gage  fo  eife^ually,-  a9  to  prevent 
his  doinf  any  thing  for  his  royal  mafter,  while  by  patience  and 
moderation  they  ikreened  themfelves  from  cenfure.  Though 
refolved  to  beistr  as  long  as  prudence  and  pblicy  diflated,  they  were 
ad  the  tnne  preparingr  for  the  la  ft  extremity,  "ithcy  were  fur- 
nifhing  themfelves  with  armsr  and  ampunition,-  and  training  their 
militia. 

ProviHons  were  alfo  eolle&cd  and  fllored  in  diiferent  places^ 
particularly  at  Concord,  about  twenty  miles  f(om  Bofton.  Ge- 
neral Gage,  though  zealous  for  his  royal  mafter's  intereft,  dif- 
eovered  a  prevailing  defire  after  a  peaceable  aceommodation.' 
He  wifhed  to  prevent  hoftilities  by  depriving  the  inhabitants  of 
the  means  neccffary  for  carrying  them  on. ,  With  this  vic%v  he 
determined  to  deftroy  the  ftores"  which  he  knew  were  coUeftcd 
for  the  fupport  of  a  provincial  army^  Wifhing  to  accomplifh  ' 
this  without  tiloodflied,  he  took  every  precaution  td  effefi:  it  by 
furprife,  and  without  alarming  the  country.  At  cfcven  o'clock 
at  night  on  April  i8,  eight  hundred  grena<Iiers  and  light  in- 
fantry, the  flower  of  the  royal  army,  embarked  at  the  Commoii^ 
landed-  at  Phipps's  farm,  and  marched  for  Ct>neord,  under  the 
command  of  Licutenant-Colonpl  Smith,  Neither  the  fccrccy 
with  which  this  expedition  was  planned,  the  privacy  with  which 
the  troops  marched  out,  nor  an  order  that  no  one  inhabitant 
fliould  leave  Bofton,  were  fufficicnt  to  prevent  intelligence  from 
being  fcnt  to  the  country  militia,  of  what  was  going  on.     About 


AMERlCAlf  R£VOI/t/tlO^, 


.*U 


two 

1  into 


fcWo  in  the  mOrning  one  hunidred  and  Xhttty  oFthd  Lekiiiglt^inU 
litiii  had  atTembled  to  oppofe  theth,  but  the  Air  b^i^g  chilly,  and 
intelltgente  rerp«£iing  the  regulars  ontodHaifi,  |)j^ '«|l^  )^^^ 
fed^  with  orders  to  appear  again  at  beat  of 
afecond  tiiM  to  the  number  of  feVdily,- 
o-dock  in  the  morning)  and  the  Briti 
their  appearance.  Major  ntcaimi)  'W'.^ 
rode  lip  to  thenl  tnd  oalM  eiiuti  ^' 
down  your  arms  and  difperfe.* 
on  which  he  advanced  neare^-««idi9( 
hit  foldicrs  to  fire.  This  Was  doi&c ' 
of  the  militia  was  the  confequenci;, 
wis  neyerthelefs  continuedi  Indivi 
upon)  though  difperfing,  returned 
idjlitia  were  killed  on  the  green  ;  a  fe# 
had  begun  to  difperfe*  The  royd 
■poncord,  and  executed  their  commiiifibn/  f 
tMfenty-fbur  pbunders-'-'threw  five  htindre4 
rivers  and  wells^  and  l^roke  in  pieces  about  fixty  barirels  of  flours 
Mr.  John  Butterick  of  Concord,  major  of  a  minute  regiment^  not 
knowing  what  had  paffcd  at  Lejtington,  ordered  his  men  n^  to 
give  the  firft  fire^  that  they  might  not  b^  the  aggrefibrs*  Upon 
his  approa^ching  near  the  regulars,  they  fired^  and  killed  Captain 
Ifaac  Davis,  and  one  private  of  the  provincial  minute  meii^  The 
fire  was  returned,  and  a  ikirmilh  cnlucd.  The  King's  troopS 
haying  d<>ne  their  bufinefs,  began  their  retreat  toWards  Bofton^ 
This  was  condufled  with  expedition,  for  the  adjacent  inhabitants 
had  aflfembled  in  arms«  and  began  to  attack  them  in  every  direct 
tion.  In  their  return  to  Lexington  they  were  exceedingly  an-* 
noyed)  both  by  thofe  who  prcfled  on  their  rear,  and  others  who 
pouring  in  on  all  fides,  f  cd  from  behind  (lone  walls^  and  -^h 
like  coVsrts,  which  fuppliedthe  place  of  lines  and  redoubts^ 
Lexington  the  regulars  were  joined  by  a  detachment  of  nine 
hundred  men,  under  Lord  Piercy,  which  had  been  fcnt  out  by 
General  Gage  to  fupport  Lieut.enant-icolonel.  Sl9ith«  This  rein- 
forcement having  two  pieces  of  cannOa  awed  the  provincinls,  and 
kept  them  at  a  greater  diftance,  but  they  (Continued  a  conflant, 
though  irregular  and  fcattei  ing  fire,  which  did  great  execution* 
The  clofe  firing  from  behind  the  walls  by  good  mark  (men,  put  the 
regular  troops  in  no  fmall  confufion^  but  they  neverthelefs  kept 
up  a  briik  retreating  fire  on  the  militia  and  minute  men<  A  little 
after  (unfct  the  regulars  reached  Bunker's  Hill,  worn  down  with 
exceflive  fatigue,  having  marched  that  day  between  thirty  and 
forty  miles.  On  the  next  day  they  «roired  Charleftown  ferry 
and^rcj^urned  to  Boftun.  .? 

"  Vol.  i.  3  P 


40 


M'MTaHY  OF  Tftt 


.ttl^K)*  never  wtre  n^ovt  ^htin  four  hundred  provincials  engaged 
dt  €»tt«  time,  and  often  Kiot  fo  many ;  a$  fomc  tired  and  gave  oUt^ 
other|^»4p>iip  and  took  their  places^  There  was  fcarcely  any 
OJJUllJi(BM>l''KWf|^jiiiii)i)l[  them;  officers  and  privat^f  fir0d.wheni 

a  royal  uniform,  without  Vrahing  for 

^IITieir  knowledge  of  the  epuntry  enabled 

by  crofling  fields  and  fences,  and  to 

the  Kilig?s  troops  who  kept  ,to  the 

IdUiBd,  one  hundred  and  eighty 
prifonet^.  Of  the  provincialt 
(ht  wounded  and  miffing. 
I  eontroverfy,  it  was  fortunate  for 
ll'ft.  blood  was  drawn  in  New-England. 
Intry  are  fo  conne£ted  with  each  other 
1,  ptditics,  and  a  general  equality,  that 
the' klKIM^HMPIti^  individual  inteir;ft  the  wh<^^  and  made 
them  comPw^w^<|  Ik  common  caufc.  The  blood  of  thofe  who 
were  killediit  Lexington  and  Concord  proved  the  firin  cement  of 
an  ejttellfive  unioRi, 

« '  To  prevent  the  people  within  Bofton  from  co-operating  with  their 
countrymen  without,  in  cafe  of  an  adault,  which  %vas  now  daily 
expc£led«  General  Gage,  April  22,  agreed  with  a  cotmhittce  of 
the  town,  that  upon  the  inhabitants  locking  their  arms  in  Faneuil- 
hall,  or  any  other  convenient  place,  under  the  care  of  the   feleft 
men,  all  fuch  inhabitants  as  were  inclined,  might  depart  from  the 
town,  with  their  families  and  effeCb.     In  five  days  after  the  rati- 
fication  of  this  agreement,  the  inhabitants  had  lodged  one  thou- 
fand  Icven  hundred  and  feventy-eight  fire  arms,  fix  hundred  and 
thirty-four  piftols,  two  hundred  and  feventy-threc  bayonets,  and 
thirty-eight  ^lunderbulfes.     The  agreement  was  well  obfervcd  in 
the  beginning,  but  after  a  fhort  time  obftrufticns  were  thrown  in 
the  way  of  its  final  completion,  on  the  plea  that  perfons  who  went 
from  Bo  (Ion  to  bring  in  the  goods  of  thofe  who  chofe  to  continue 
within  the  town,  were  not   properly  treated.     Congrefs  remon- 
ftrated  on  the  infraftion  of  the  agreement,  but  without  efFe£]:. 
The  General,  on  r  farther  consideration  of  the  confequences  of 
mioving  the  whigs  out  of  Bofton,  evaded  it  in  a  mapncr  not  con- 
fident '.vith  good  faith.     He  was  in  fome  meafure  compelled  to 
adopt  this  difhonourable  meafure,  from  the  clamour  of  the  torics, 
who  allcdgcd,  that  none  but  enemies  to  the  Britifli  government 
were  difporcd  to  remove,  and  that  when  they  were  all  fafe  with 
their  families  and  effefts,  the  town  Would  be  fet  on  fire.    To 
prevent  the  provincials  from  obtaining  fupplics  which  they  much 
wanted,  a"  quibble  was  made  on  the  meaning  of  the  word  effcfts, 


AMERICAN  REVOJ^UXION.  I75 

wlikH  was  eonibrued  by  the  general  ai  not  including  merchaodtcc' 
;^By  this  cpnilrudion,  unwarranted  by  every  rule  of  genuine  in* 
<  terfnretatton,  many  who  quitted  the  town  were  deprived  of  their, 
ufual  rcfources  for  a  fupport.  Paffports  \ttxn  n<)ti  ui||iw|||(jjjly  ic  1 
fufed,  bat  were  given  out  very  flowly^  aiM|p|l^;'|mnn^JWiM 
conduced  that  families  were  divided,^*' 
from  their  hufbanda,  children  from^  tli 
and  infirm,  from  their  rclatioB|  and  ff ^ 
vered  a  difinclinattonib  part  with  thj 
ing  that,  on  their  account^  the  pK'Ovic 
making  an  aftault  on  the  town, 
aflurancc  that  the  inhabitants  had  d| 
at  coyer  for  violating  the  agreemcnt^^ 
mation,  in  which  he  aflcrted  that  ho 

A 

trary.    A  fety  might  have  i'ecreted  4h 
all  the  training  arms  were  delivered  u|h;^^i|l|ii^^ 
the  Generalfactjjficed  his  honour,  to  pf(4loy  i 
the  tories.     Contrary  to  good  faith  he 
fairly  entitl<rd  by  agreement  to  go  out,  and  Mrhe^i 
departure  of  others  he  would  not  allow  them  to  move  thtir  fami- 
lies and  effects. 

The  Provincial  Congrcfs  of  MaiTachufetts,  whicK  Was  in  feflton 
at  the  time  of  the  Lexington  battle,  difpatchedan  account  of  it 
to  Great-Britain,  accompanied  with  many  depofitions,  to  prove 
that  the  Britifh  troops  were  the  aggreflbrs.  They  alfo  made  an 
addrefs  to  the  inhabitants  of  Great-Britain,  in  which,  after  com- 
plaining of  their  fufferings,  they  fay,  "  thefe  have  not  detached 
us  from  our  royal  Sovereign  ;  we  profefs  to  be  his  loyal  and  duti- 
ful fubjefts,  and  though  hardly  dealt  with,  as  we  have  been,  are 
ftill  ready  with  our  lives  and  fortunes,  to  defend  his  perfon, 
crown,  and  dignity ;  neverthelefs,  to  the  perfecution  and  tyranny 
of  his  evil  Miniflry,  we  will  not  tamely  fubmit.  Appeialing  to 
Heaven  for  thejufliceof  ourcauCe,  we  determine  to  die  or  be 
free."  From  the  Commencement  of  hoftilities,  the  difpute  be- 
tween Great-Britain  and  the  Colonics  took  a  new  direftipn. 

Intelligence  that  the  Britifh  troops  had  marched  out  of  Bodon 
into  the  country  on  fome  hoflile  purpofe,  being  forwarded  by 
expreflcs  from  one  committee  to  another,  great  bodies  of  the  mi- 
litia, not  only  from  MaiTachuretts  but  the  adjacent  Colonics^  graf- 
ped  their  arms  and  marched  to  oppofc  them.  The  Colonies  were 
in  fuch  a  (late  of  irritability,  that  the  leail  {hock  in  any  part  wasj 
by  a  powerful  and  fympathctic  affcftion,  indantancoufly  felt 
throughout  the  whole.  The  Americans  who  fell  were  revered 
by  their  countrymen,   as  martyrs  who  had  died  in  the  caule  of 


H 


.'/F 


4^        ' .      v\|p(rtn?»r  of  the 

lU>elkyv 'fiuren«iiiien»  ligfUift!  tih«  Britiih  burned  fliore  ftrongty: 
thktf'>«>ver^^  NbdiM  Tug*  took  i^ffeffion  of,  the  br«sft«  of  t^^jj^ 
fifi^JJiiki^^  »n4  •ffo^iations  (iibfenNiRipi 

""  " *'"  "*""    jiii^fo-an«UiitoMiBr>y  the  fftcffc4tie§of  ho. 

ribotttitry,  to>  doi  yshiCflfy«r  Iheir  p^blio 
iTtnrVatlon  of  their  )i|i|Pti¥i.    Htthert(» 
«^y^ /i«MA  |^li^pl«»P^ 

>rs.  ^, their ;miUt«ry iregu? 
1^1^  under 'the  old  e(Ul 
^ce  of  the  Colonies,  the  ixC 
yiy  years,  enrolled  u|ifiomp«mfSy 
kws  lor  this  ptit^ofo«|^sd  nevf» 
IjliHtte  months  ]»revidi(if't%i^|<«^ 
smtnigemcnts,  which'  IM  -iMiieit 
ling  the  Colonics  from  hoftilefrtneh 
etfion  turned  sgainft  the  trooptof  th« 
igasines,:  and  arfenals,  by  the  conftttutioti 
of  th^  (^mHPIpPl^  in  the .  keeping  of  his  Majefty.  Immediately 
after  t||H|^eiiKil||pii^  b^  thcfe  w«re' for  the  mod  part  takei| 
poffeOion^'^^f  ^^^S^°^^ ''^^  Colonics,  by  parties  of  the  provim 
ciallmlitlkl ''Hr)C4^^  in  which  was  a  (matl  royel  garrifon, 

was  furpje|f<ed  and  taken  by  adventure*  from  different  ftates.  '  Fublio 
money  Whifih  had  been  coUe^ed  in  ton  fequence  of  previous 
grants,  wt».ai|b  ieizcd  for  common,  ferviceSf  Before  the  com. 
menccment  oiThoftilitie^thrfemeafttres  would  have  been  condemn- 
ed by  the;mt>deratc  even  among  the  Americans,  but  'that  6vent 
juftified  a  bolder,  line  of  oppofition  than  had  been  adopted.— 
Sundry  citizens  having  been  put  to  death  by  Britifh  troops^ 
ielf-prefervition  dieted  nfieaiures  which,  if  adopted  under  other 
cireumftahces,  would  have  difunited  the  Colonifts,  One  of  the 
moil  important  <^  this  kind  was  the  railing  an  aroiyJ^  Men  of 
warm  lempers,  whofe  courage  exceeded  their  prude&ce,  had  for 
monthjiriirged  the  nccefilty  pf  raiting  troops ;  but  they  were  re- 
ftrained  by  the  more  moderate,  who  wi0ved  ()ut  the  Colonies 
might  avoid  extremities,  or  at  lead  that  they  might  not  lead  in 
bringing  them  on.  The  Provincial  Congrefs  of  Maifachufetts  be- 
ing in  iellion  at  the  time  the  battle  of  Lexington  was  fonght, 
voted  that  ^'  an  army  of  thirty  thoufandmen  be  immediately  raifed 
.  that  thirteen  thoufand  Hx  hundred  be  of  their  own  province, 
and  that  a  letter  and  delegate  be  lent  to  the  feveral  Colonies  of 
New-Himplhire,  Connedicut,  and  Rhode>Iflandt  In  eonfe^uence 
of  this  vote,  the  butinel's  of  recruiting  was  begun,  arid  in  a  fliort 
time  a  provincial  army  was  paraded  in  the  vicinity  of  Bofto^i, 
^hich,  though  far  below  what  had  been  voted  by  the  Proyincia) 


AMZmCAN'REVOZV^^Mpk 


477 


^' 


CongreftI  wai  .duieh  fnperior  in  numbeis  WUlielfiijniI  m«^»  Tb« 
v-^nil^d  of  this  force  v^  given  to  Genenl  Wird*. 
Hill  thetBHtiih  troops  confined  tfaemielves  t^ 
fot*  ^  ^Sth  of  April,  tMtffetiiMing  an 
only  Ibr^^tHi  pttffvfo  of  oblervatioq  jM^ 
appeared  in  thevftiUture  ff ,«  ch«K| 
man/  lefs  wilHtif  tq  fwpbfl  t^  P< 
ter  the  Briufli  had  exMnnfBnom^ot 
adopted,  witkbut  fi^cAbg^^'au^ 
without  giving  offence  or  hai 
hittle  not  only  f  unu&ed  the^^ 
g^:  for  railing  an  army, '  hut  ioQpiit 
prq^ie£l*  '  Amtdil;  ^e  moft  anti 
fbitaiil^:  'and.rifquing  life  itfeU^ 
itghwi  a  (ecret  €gh  would  Irequiii^ 
hev.mekft  determined  friends,  for 
befcf^eMhe  hravery.and  difciplinlk  <4^ 
Vrautd  (hake  their  heads  and  la^i^' 

wiiht  you  futcefs,  biit  I  fear  that  your  iii»illliip|iP^^<Mr  muft 
he'oyercomf»  in  the  unequal  conteft.  I^^ter  a'l|nf^ 
you^iave  fallen,  the  Provinces  muft  litilRlittely  hoi|^  ti^||i^ 
which  has  fo  repeatedly  humbled  France  and  8p|lii^^tj:^i|^^SIIIfi- 
dent  were  the  Brttifh  of  their  iupwiprity -im^ml^  tjiit^^y 
feemed  deftrous  that  the  conteft  might  be  brought  1(1  t^lEB^^ 
decifion.  Som^  of  the  difUnguiflied  fpeakers  in  I^AlMiiKtlt  had 
publicly  aflferted  that  the  natives  of  America  hit  lijihtngbof  the 
foldier  in  th^m,  and  that  they  were  in  no  rfiCj^Gt  tl^jiitmBic^  tp 
face  a  Britifli  army.  European  philofophers  had  piii^(h«i  th^ 
ries,  fetting  forth  that  not  only  vegetables  and  hmm,  Itttt  ^at 
even  men  degenerated  in  the  weftern  hemifphere.  -  De^rting 
from  the  fpirit  of  tru^  philofophy,  they  overlooked  the  flhite  of 
foeiety  in  the  new  world,  ,and  charged  a  comparative  inferiority 
on  every  produ£lion  thsit  %vas  American.  The  Colonics  tbfiS;^ 
felves  had  imbibed  opinions  from  their-forefathers,  thatno  peo» 
pie  on  earth  were  equal  to  thofe  with  whom  they  were  about  to 
contend.  Imprefled  with  high  ideas  of  Britifli  fuperiority,  and 
diffident  of  themfeives,  their  ,beft  informed  citizenp,  though 
willing  to  run  all  rifques,  feared  the  cohfequence  of  an  appeal  to 
arms.  The  fuccefs,  that  attended  their  fii;(l  military  eiiterprize 
in  fome  degree  baniihed  thefe  fuggeilions.  Perhapi  in  no  fuW 
fequent  battle  did  the  Aihericans  appear  to  greater  advantage 
than  in  their  firil  elTay  at  Lexington.  It  is  almoft  without  parallel 
in  military  hiftoiy,  for^  the  yeomanry  of  the  country  to  come 
forward  in  a  fingle  disjointed  manner,  without  order,  and  for 
t^  190ft ,  pf  rt  without  oil^cers^  and  by  an  irregular  fire  put  to 


V 


^I^StORYOFTMM 


iigkt  tiaopt  cqutl  nt  dtfeipline  to  any  m.  ftlie  world.  ■  lin  Cfp«i. 
fition  to  the  boiA;*«rertion$  offome,  and  the  ilefpoli(yii|  fe;^a  <||l 
'       !|»rav^tlkit  Amei4oai^  night  eitt&aill^^^i^^ 
illffidientr grew  bol«F in  th^'ceiMitny't ^raie^ 
\,kofKk  that  ]ica^cit>'twi(Mld'lkMiny  crown 


58' 


>l»tt|«!,  tnd/^  confcquenoe  mf  the 
>  toimiihllfonf  Jsrti,  and  r  fertificttSbnt, 
i#diJlMiifii>>|  the  PmvmciMls^  but 
j)n«y  ftroek  for  their  fupport* 
^iayi  (?«trt&ncd  to  the  New«£fi|^  ' 
^  j^ioiit'lhe  Colenitt.  The  4»- 
Iriiametit  to  enfoiiee  liibmUfiMi  >t«| 
W  Lexington  bftlle,  «ame  to^4hi 
i^the  iame  4iine.  It  w»*^  £a{9>(>fed 
in  Confc^uence  of  the  foroiWP»  *»d 
Eiiit  brdera  to  proceed  unmfditixif  to 


■  :frott 
to  ci 


^fcirctfwrftances  the  Amerjaha  hsid  good  rcifon 
.„  ,w^,^--  thSfhoftiliStes  would  foon  be  cait4od  on  yigoroufly 
iri'^lillllcliufeii,  *and  i(ifi#«b  apprehend  that,  fooner  or  later,  each 

p^^^'-H^GiM'^  the  theatre  of  war.  "The  more  fpeedily, 
theM«|^  i^fifey,  wear*  prepared  for  that  event,  the  better 
chahle^^ilV*  for  defehdittg  owrfclvei."  Previews  to  khia  peri, 
od,  6r  ra«he«^to  tli«  jgth  qf  ApYl!,  1775.  t^c  difputc  had  been 
carried  on  tf  Ihe  pen,  or  at  moft  by  affociation*  and  Icgiaativc 
aai-,  4>ut  frotn^his  time  forward  it  was  cohdufted  by  the  fword. 
ifhl  ^ifis  ^»  arrived  when  the  Colonies  had  no  alternative,  but 
eithci^^  #bmit  to  the  mercy,  or  to  refift  the  power  of  Great- 
Britii«.  An  unconquerable  lave  of  liberty  could  not  brook  the 
idca%f  fiibmiffion,  while  reafon,  more  temperate  in  her  decifions 
fugicaed  to  the  peopk  t'neir  infufhciency  to  make  effeaual  op- 
p&fitiori.  They  were  fully  apprised  of  the  powfir  of  Brium— 
they  kn^w  that  her  fleets  covered  the*  ocean,  and  that  her  flag 
hadwa^ed  in  triumph  through  .the  four  quarters  of  the  globe; 
hut  the  animated  language  of  the  timfe  was,  ♦*  It  is  better  to  die 
freemen  than  to  live  flaves."  Though  the  juRicc  of  their  caufe,  and 
the  infpiration  of  liberty  gave,  in  the  opinion  of  difmtereftcd 
judges,  a  fuperiority  to  the  writings  of  Americans,  yet  in  the 
latter  mode  of  condufting  their  oppofition,  the  candid  among 
thcmfclves  acknowledged  an  inferiority.  Their  form  of  govern- 
ment  was  deficierit  in  that  decyion,  dijpatch,  ?nd  coercion,  whick 
are  neceflary  in  military  operations. 

In  the  year  1775,  a  martial  fpirit  pervaded  all  ranks  of  men  m 
th    Colonics,     Thi^y  believed  their  liberties  to  be  in  danger,  and 


AMKKHAI9  RUraiUttO^, 


m 


t  crown 

ictt&bni, 
Ulft*  Vttt 
fupt^rt. 
«w4tiny' 
The  4#- 
itfllon  10 
le  to;!tliA 

itmt  •«»* 
dti(^  to 

tMidreifen 

yigoraufty 

later,  each 

B  fpoedily* 
the  better    . 

J  this  peri- 

:  had  been 
legiftative 

the  fword. 
lative,  but 
of  Great. 
brook  the 
'  declfions 
Feftual  op- 
Briuin— 
It  her  flag 
the  globe; 
jtter  to  die 
caufe,  and 
lifmtereftcd 

yet  in  the 

iiiid  among 

of  govcrn- 

ion,  wh^ck 

Is  of  men  in 

tanger,  and 


inr^.  g^eiplly  difj^llKl  lo  rtf<|«i»  iheir  Uvea  for  their  •(UUiih^ 

meiit*    Their  jlgn«drMic« of. the  militery  «rt  prev«ttt«4  the^iiNsiib. 

inf  th«  «hilil«M  of  WMr  with  that  esi£ln^i»  ofi4|^ 

if  iodulftd^  mifhl>lN(v^  dimped  their  ho| 

ihtt  there  wwrlilll*  i/mm  to.  do  l]^' 

country.    Thiy 'tMlMti  Jkhemreti 

their  firft  attemilt  migllf;  bf  uofuccl 

admit  of  a  repeiicfton  lel  ithfi,4|q|leHi 

teUy  exterminate:,  M#v)ii|ilidei| 

loi^ft  purfa  decidei  fliilto«te'^|i|nr 

iiilthi  wealth  of  Brittiiin.    ^ihV/ 

th»  Hfhoie  difp^^te  would  be. 

iitgagmtfiitm     Elevated  with  th^tli 

ih«>,^  of  «#n£iq)iejni«et,  by  an 

baled  by  ^caUutatjl^  about  the  exteatir^i 

of  tl^  war,  the  people  of  Atnetica  feci 

ndqily  in  an  appdtl  to  Heaven  for  the  vii 

Al  tile  tittttihe  Colonicaadojptc4thil»  Spirited  cefeliililvi^ 

jfUXMSt^  not  1  fingle  ibip  of  werii  nof  fo  much  aa  an'lrnwd  viffd 


that  their  Ifap^ 
ioBritain;  thta  w«i 

The.  lowe  of  pro^ 
ai|iitiated  vota- 
[fiNli  thcmCelyea 


ihould  be  laid 
eft/and  «nj«»y 
aabfiBrarediii- ' 

uth 


ol  Iny  kind.     It  had  often 
towns  ley  at  the  mercy  of  the  n 
both  known  and  believed^  but 
petty  was  4>forbed  in  the  love  ol/ltbei 
rtes  of  the  equal  righta  ,of  human 
with  the  idea,  that  though  their  wli||» 
in  alhf%  they  xoitld  retire  to  f he  wc^mk 
the  lujtury.  of  being  free;  on  thia  octal 
C0hgre(3  by  Chriflopfaer  Gadtden,  on*  of 
delegates,  "Our  houTes  being  conftruifted 
wood,  though  deitroyed  may  be  rebuilt}  b^l 
is  loft  for  ever." 

The  fober  difcretion  of  the  prefent  age  will 
fure  than  admire,  but  can  mqre  eafily  admire  th^g^miUie  the 
fervid  zeal  of  the  patriots  bf  1775^  ^ho  in  idea'j^kii^i^jed-  pro^ 
perty  in  the  caufe  of  liberty,  with  the  cafe  that  they  nqiilr*  lacri- 
^ce  almoft  every  other  conftderation  for  the  acquiQtion  of 
property.  / 

The  Revenues  of  Britain  were  immcnfc,  and  her  people  were 
habituated  to  the  payment  of  large  fums,  in  every  form  which 
contributions  to  government  have  aiTumed;  bat  the  American 
Coloaies  pol&fTcd  neither  money  nor  funds,  nor  were  their  peo- 
ple accuftomed  to  taxes  equal  to  the  exigences  of  wa^ ,  The 
conieft  having  begun  about  t^xatipn,  to  have  railed  money  by 
taxes,  for  carrying  it  on  would  have  been  impolitic.  The  temper 
Bfthe  tioies  precluded  the  necefllty  of  atteni|>ting  the  dangerous 


Ito 


>'  BtStOttYOtTUe     * 


aS|»' ..'■  *||i 


expedietit,  for  fueh  wis  the  enthufiafm  of  the  ^aj^  that'  rhtf^tfv 
lonift«  g«vo  tip  both  their  pqrfonal  fervices  artd  their  property  to 

•the^JIphMfi^^  1^  vague  promifci  that  they  fliotld  it  a' future 
^^l^|i^4|i.l||||j^     Without  enquiring  into  the  foHdity  of  thtf 

period  of  pnyment,  tl|C^  relburcea  of  thd 
'  '(iim  generalyafluraAcef/.thBt  allcxpencet 
itely  be  equallfedi'    The  Parent  State 
ftatefiMn  and  officera,  but  the  de« 
It  exerdfed  in  th^  Colonica,  precluded 
that  <^raAi«i|i 'knowledge  which  ia 
<h^d  Of  publlb  departments.    There 
^     jdlMa  who  underftood  the  bufinefa  of 
^i!<«|itt4  ftill'  iewer  wl^>  had  experience  and 
f:|)pefatio>ns.    The^ipoiition  of  the  finan- 
^  the  moid  effedj^l  inod9,of  drawing  forth 
watl»  whkli  fcarce  any"  of  l|ie  inhibi* 
Itcquaantadk    Arroa  and  aintnunittoa  were  nilmoft 
who^^iilficicnt t  and, though  th%  couiitr)(  ebeunded  with  the 
matednla  of  which  they  are  manufaftured,  yet  there  was  neither 
time  nor  artifta  enough  to  fttpjply  an  army  with  the  meanf  of  de* 
fence.     The  country  waa  deftitute  both  Ofvfortificationa  and  eu'- 
gineers.     Amldft  foinany  difcouragements  there  were  fome  flat- 
tering  drcumftanc^.-   Thfs   war  could  not  be>  carried  on  by 
Great-Britain,- but  to  ft  great' dilJidvantage,  and  at  an  immenfe 
cxpence.     It  waa  eafy  for"Miniflcrs  at  St.James's  tci  plan  cam- 
|Migns,  but  hard  wei  the  fate  of  the  oificer  from  whom  the  exe- 
cution of  them  i|f' the  woods  of  America  was  expefted.     The 
country  was  fo  ^JEenfivCi  and  abounded  'fo  much  with  defiles, 
that  by^'i^ciMiMing  and  retreating,  tire  Americans,  though  they 
could  n^l^ ffiiM|(!|tteri  yet  might  (are  themfdves  from  being  /Con- 
quered^ /P&Slttthora  of  the  a£ts  of  parliam;.nt  for  reftrdining  the 
trade  of  ^^';6c4onies  were  mod  excellent  recruiting  officers  for 
the  Congrelk*     They  impofed  a  neccilityon  thoufands  to  become 
IbldieN.  r'  All  other  buftnefs  being  fufpended,  the  whole  refour- 
ccs  of  llle  country  were  applied  in  fupporting  an  army.     Though 
the  Colonills    were    without    difcipline,    they  poflfeffed   native 
valour.     Though  they  had  neither  gold  tlor  niver,  they  poflefled 
a  mine  in  the  cnthuiiafm  of  their  people.     Paper  for  upwards  of 
two  years  produced  to  them  more  folid  advantages  than  Spain 
derived  from  her  fupcrabounding  precious  metals.     Though  they 
had  no  ihips  to  protc£):  their  trade  or  their  towns,  they  had  ftm* 
plicity  enough  to  live  without  the  former,  and  enthufiafn^  enough 
to  rifque  the  latter,  rather  than  fubmit  to  the  power  of  Britain. 
They  believed  their  caufe  to  be  juft,  and  that  Heaven  approved 
their  exertions  in  defence  of  their  rights.     Zeal  originating^  from 


AMEKlCA^  JkSi^0l(/TfOK. 


ih 


^erty  to 
•  future 
ty  of  thtf 
eft  of  th6 

exp«nce» 
ent  Sute 
t  the  de* 
pvecluded 
whkh  it 
I,    Th«re 
mfineft  of 
riencetnd 
thttfiAftn- 
wifif  Joth 
^  iiihibi' 
ere  4kno(i 
i  with  tVi» 
WM  neither 
leans  of  de* 
MIS  and  tQ' 
re  foMie  flat- 
ried  ott  hy 
m  immenfe 
I  plan  cam- 
am  the  exe- 
saed.    Th« 
with  defiles, 
hough  they 
being  /Con- 
arAintttg  the 
[  offiters  for 
to  becom* 
hole  rcfour- 
Though 
.fled   native 
ley  jroffcffed 
upwards  of 

than  Spain 
•hough  they 
jcy  had  ftm- 
[\afn\  enough 

of  Britain, 
len  approved 
linatingfwm 


Ibcii  awiives  fupplied  the  place  of  difeipline,  sndinfpiMcTeieoQ- 
*tfilence  and,faUitary  arddur  which  overleaped  all  difficuitics. . 
.  Refiftanoe  being  reTolvedupoo  by  Ihe  AMifri<efis--tlie  pulpit 
^~the  preinM-the  bench,  and  the  bar,  (iiverallx  m|pj||i[|^|p  jmiito 
and  itaiCQurafe  them.  The  clergy  of  N«Wi 
rous,  learned,  .Sfid  refpc^bU  l»odyi  wl 
bver  the  minlU  of  their  hcairers* 
patriotifm,  and  in  their  fernsfins  pmd' 
of  Americs  ss  the  «iu(f  0{  ll««vf  n^^i 
and  ?hila4ilphifti|l%(ei|t  forth  a  m4 
Ucly  lead  iA  IMr  ^iir^het,  Jhm^ 
(entimenU  end  iasNMh^fS  were 
terssnd  vntm^  fo^owtd  in  th« 
to  them  had  tliejy«iie(i:  haift^lii 
Gentlemen  of  ih^JMbich  aacl  of  the^ 
rebellion)  eii^  Juft^  ^  refiftanee 
^n«^  fo^n«^d  o^  teW  B«tw^  the  kiiiJ 
iatro4iiMd;  thefom^,  il  we*  cftni^nded,  «o«iii||iip|||iiig« 
l^e 4rtmit  q£  tMiTofi  was'charg^  on  the  Utter,  liir  tiilll  tha 
r4^  name  to  VMmi&' their  own  unconftitutional  meafmis,r-fi 
'fhe  i^arale  of  a  mtnifierial  war  became  common,  and  was  ufed  i| 
a  medium  for  rcc^ciling  refiftance  with  allegiance. 

Coeval  with  therefblutions.for  organieing  an  army,  was»onef 
appointing  the  adtWday  o(  July,  1775,  a  da|r  of  public  humilia- 
tion, fading  and  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  **  to  blcfs  their  r)ght<t 
ful  Sovereign  King  George,  and  to  infpire  him  with  wifdom  10 
dirtem  and  purdie  the  true  interefi./if  his  I'ubjefts ;  and  that  tlur^\ 
Britiih  nadon  might  be  influenced  to  .re|^  the  things  that  bet  - 
longed  to  her  pea^r^vbefore  tlicy  were.;||ld  from  her  eycsr^— thai 
the  Colonies  might  be^  ever  binder  the  4are  end  proteftion  of  a 
kind  Providence,  and  be  profpered  in  all  theif  intereilsr-~thsk 
America  might  fobn  behold  a  gracious  interpofitioint  of  Heaven 
for  the  redVefs  of  her  many  <  grievances,  the  reAoration  of  her 
invaded  rights,  and  a  reconciliation  with  the  Parent  State  on 
terms  conftitutional  and  honourable  to  both.V  The  forces 
which  had  been  coUcAcd  in  Maflachulietts,  we^  ftationed  :n 
convenient  places  for  guarding  the  country  from  farther  cxcur- 
ftons  of  the  regulars  from  Bofloa*  Brcailworks  were  alfo  ere&cd 
indifferent  places  for  the  fame  purpoCe.  While  both  partiea 
were  attempting  to  carry  off  ftock  from  the  ieveral  iilands,  with 
which  the  bay  of  Bofton  isagreesbly  diverfiified,  fundry  fkirmiihes 
took  place.  Theie  were  of  real  fervice  to  the  Americans.  They 
habituated  them  to  danger,  and  perhaps  much  of  the  courage  of 
old  foldiersy  ii  derived  from  an  experimental  convi&ion  that  the 

Vol.  I.  3  Q 


4«f 


>7^i 


Hntd\Yoftii£ 


';m-  |,ip:':ik3a»»^'  ^'.  v 


cfnt^ce  i^  efaiping  unhurt  from  cngagementi,  U  much  frett# 
thaif  young  recruiu  fuppofe. 

About  tha  Uttor  end  of  May,  •  great  part  of  thi  fdnforcc- 
melttk  '^<d|»nl'  *Hmk  Grcit-Britain,  arrived  at  Bofton*  Three 
H I  lliil,Miiilitttll(l Wi"  < l  Burgoyne,  and  Clinton^  whole  behavi" 

"had  gained  them  great  reputation,  alfo 
May  •$*    General  Gage«  thut  rcin- 
vfith  moip  deciAon }  but   before  h« 
hs  conceived  it  due  to  ancient  forma 
forth  to  the  Hkhi^tanta  the  al- 
p  Me  therefore  June'  1 1,  offered  par- 
fit  who  Oiould  forthwith  lay  down 
refpe^ve  occupation*  fnd  peace- 
from  the^  benefit  of  that  pardon 
Hancock,  whoAs  offancca  were  find 
%ture,  to  admit  of  any  other  confideirft- 
„  _^  _-  ^Sdign  puniihment."     He  alfo  prockimedy 
that  m^ei^  ^he  perfona  above  named  and  excepted,  but  aUb 
all  tlid^  a^erenU,  alTociatea,  md  correfpondentc,  fhoukt  be 
deemediguiUy  of  treafon  and  rebellion,  and  treated  accordto^y*  . 
By  thi»  procbmation  it  wu  alfo  declared,   «*  that  aa  the  courts 
of  judicature  were  ftut,   marihal  law  Ihould  take  place,  till  a 
due  courfe  of  jufticc  fliould  be  re^ftabliftied."    It  waa  fuppofed 
that  this  proclamation  waa  a  prelude  to  hoftilitiea,  and  prepera- 
tiona  were  accordingly  made  by  th^,  Americana.    A  confiderable 
height,  known  by  the  name  of  Bunker'a-ilill,  juft  at  the  entrance 
of  the  peninluU  of  Charto(town,  was  fo  fituated  aa  to  make  the 
poffeflion  of  it  a  matter  of  grwit  confequence  to  either  of  the 
contending  partica.     Ordera  were  therefore,  June  16,  iffued  by 
the  provincial  commandera,  that  a  detachment  of  a  thoafandmen 
(hould  entrench  upoii  thia  height.     By  fome  miOake  Breed's 
Hill,  high  and  large  like  the  other,  but  fituated  near  Bofton, 
wu  marked  out  for  the  entrenchment!,    inftead  of  Bunker's 
Hill.     The  provincials  proceeded  to  Breed's  Hill,  and  worked 
with  fo  much  diligence,  that  between  midnight  and  the  dawn 
of  the  morning,  they  had  thrown  up  a  fmall  redoubt  jibout  eight 
rods  fquarc.     They  liept  fuch  a  profound  ftlence,  that  they  were 
not  heard  by  the  Britilh,   on  board  their  veflfcls,   though  very 
near.     Thefc  having  derived  their  firft  information  of  what  wa» 
going  on  from  the  fight  of  the  work,  near  completion,,  began  an 
inccffant    firing   upon  them.    T1»e   provincials  bore   this  with 
lirmncls,  and  though  they  were  only  young  foldicrs,  continued 
to  labour  till  they  had  thrown  up  a  fmall  brCaftwork,  extending 
from  the  eaft  fide  of  the  brcaftwork  to  the,  bottom  of  the  hill. 


AMERtCAS  RKHLUTION. 


nh 


A»  tliU  cminetiM  overloi  kcd  Bofton,  Gencnl  CtfetiMii|^'4t 

flMceffary  to  drive  the  provificUU  from  it.     About  ndon,  then* 

fore,  he  detached  Mijor  Generil  Howe,  and  Brig»ditr  Gencnl 

Pignt,with  the  flower  of  the  army,  conftftiiig  of  IMi«littttUo»ei 

ten  comptniet  of  the  grer^adiert,  ind  ten  ofj 

a  proportion  of  field  irtiitery,  to 

troopi  landed  it   Morelon't  Point, 

landing,  but  mntined  in  that  pollttMi| 

by  a  fecond  detachment  of  light  inf 

niei,  a  battalion  of  bnd  forces,  and 

ing  in  the  whole  near  three  tho« 

who  firft  landed  were  waiting  for  t| 

vinciali,  for  theii*  farther  fecurity, 

and  nil  fentes,  and  fet   them  dc 

fmall   diftince  from  each  other,  and^il 

with  hay,  which  having  been  lately  __ 

IM^acent  ground.  »    '    "  '  '^ 

The  king's  troopa  formed  in  two  linea,  and  advuMpHlowLyi 

to  give  their  artillery  time  to  demolifli  the  Ameticanworka. 
^  While  the  Britifli  were  advancing  to  the  attack,  they  received 
orders  to  bum  Charleftown.  This  wss  not  done,  becanfe  they 
were  fired  upon  from  the  houfes  in  that  town,  but  from  the  mi- 
litsry  policy  of  depriving  enemies  of  a  cover  in  their  approaches. 

.  In  a  fhort  time  this  ancient  town,  confiding  of  jbout  five  hun- 
dred buildings,  chiefly  of  wood,  was  in  one  great  blaze*  The 
ic>fty  fteeple  of  the  meeting«houfe  formed  a  pyramid  of  fire  above 
the  reft,  and  ftnick  the  aftoniihed  eyes  of  numerous  beholders 
with  a  magnificent  but  awful  fpeCUcLc.  In  Bofton,  the  heights 
of  every  kind  were  covered  with  the  citizens,  and  fuch  of  the 
king's  troops  as  were  not  on  duty.  The  hills  around  the  adja^ 
cent  country  which  afForded  a  fafe  and  diftin£i  view,  were  occu- 
pied by  the  inhabitants  of  the  country, 

Thoufands,  both  within  and  without  Boflon,  were  anxious 
fpeftators  of  the  bloody  fcene.  The  honour  of  BritiO  troops 
beat  high  in  the  breads  of  many,  while  others,  with  ;-  xeener 
fehfibility,  felt  for  the  liberties  of  a  great  and  growing  country. 
The  Britilh  moved  on  but  flowly,  which  gave  the  provincials  a 
better  opportunity  for  taking  aim.  The  latter,  in  general,  re- 
ferved  themfelves  till  their  adverfaries  were  within  ten  or  twelve 
rods,  but  then  began  a  furious  dilcharge  of  fmall  arms.  The 
ftrcam  of  the  American  fire  was  fo  incefiant,  and  did  fo  great 
execution,  that  the  king's  troops  retreated  i..  diforder  and  pre- 
cipitation.  Their  officers  rallied  them,  and  pulhed  them  forward 
wiih  their  fwords,  but   they  returned  to  the  attack   with  great 

3  Q  2 


4^ 


HISTORY  PF  THE 


veluClincfe^.  Tbe  Americans  igain  referved  their  fir«  till  thtifi 
•dveifaries  were  near,  and  then  put  them  a  fccond  time  to  flight, 
General  Howe  and  the  officers  redoubled  their  exertions,  and 
\Were«t  iaft,  Aieceraful,  though  the  foldiers  difcovered  a  great 
•  Mrerfton  to  going  <»i,  By  this  time  the  powder  of  the  Ameri- 
eanil>eg»n  toSmtp  fu\,  that  they  were  not  able  to  keep  up  the 


Ml 


Hit 

'I 


4m^^M.    Ij  liM  ft  ^'  ^^"^^  '"'^' 


The  Britifh  alfo  brought  fome  cannon 

ihe  iofide  of  the  jstreaftwork,  from  end  to. 

fhipSj  batteries,  and  field   «rtil|ery  wa$ 

in   the  rear  were  goaded  on  by  their 

||(K«s  attaekcd  on  three  fides  at  once.     Un« 

'  1  retreat   from  it  was  ordered,  but  the 

fipi^'^illlit  made  refinance  with  their  difcharged 

1^  lien  clubs,  fo  long  that  the  king*s  troopS| 

%||pfil|^ltt«|lili4  fl^drks,  had  half  filled  the  redoubt  before 

jii%i;«»K^i^(oth«m,  -■ 

Wmw  thefe  operations  were  going  on  at  the  breafl work  an4 
redoubt^  the  ^ritifh  ligl^f  infantry  were  attempting  to  force  the 
left  point  of  the  foi^er,  that  they  might  take  the  American^  line 
in  flank.  uThcugh  they  exhibited  |:he  mod  undaunted  courage^ 
they  met  with  an  pppofition  which  called  for  its  greatcd  exer- 
tions. The  provincials  here,  in  Uke  manner,  referved  their  fire 
till  their  adverfaries  were  near,  and  then  poured  >t  upon  the 
light  infantry,  with  fuch  an  inceilant  flream,  and  in  fo  true  ^ 
direftipn,  as  mowed  down  their  ranks.  The  engagement  was 
kept  up.  on  both  fides  witb  great  refolution.  The  peri'everihg 
exertions  of  the  King's  troops  could  not  compel  the  Americans 
to  retreat,  till  they  obfervcd  that  their  main  body  had  left  the 
hill.  This,  when  begun,  expofed  them  to  new  danger,  for  it 
could  not  be  effe^led  but  by  marching  over  Charleftown  Neck, 
every  part  of  whiph  was  raked  by  the  (hot  of  the  Glafgow  man 
of  war,  and  of  two  floating  batteries.  The  inceffant  fire  kept  up 
acrofs  this  Neck  prevented  any  confiderable  re-inforcement  from 
joining  their  countrymen  who  were  engaged  ;  but  the  few  who 
fell  on  their  retreat  over  the  fame  ground  proved,  that  the  ap- 
prehenfions  of  thofe  provincial  officers  wlio  declined  pafling 
over  to  fuccour  their  companions,  were  without  any  folid 
foundation. 

The  number  of  Americans  engaged  amounted  only  to  one  thoq. 
fand  five  hundred.  It  was  apprehended  that  the  conquerors 
would  pufh  the  advantages  they  had  gained,  and  march  immedi- 
ately to  American  head  quarters  at  Cambridge,  but  they  advan- 
ced no  farther  than  Bunker's  Hill ;  there  they  threw  up  works 
for  their  own  fecurity.     The  provincials  did  the  fame  on  Piofpc^ 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 


4«5 


1  thciv 
flight, 
IS,  an4 
i  great 
^.meri- 
up  the 
cannoi^ 
end  to. 
;ry  wa$. 
y  their 
:.     Un- 
out  the 
charged     , 
troopS|   ' 
t  before 

ovk  ?n4 
orce  the 
catt  line 
courage, 
eft  exer- 
;hcir  fire 
ipon  the 
fo  true  A 
cnt  was 
levering 
ierican$ 
left  the 
for  it 
Neck, 
low  man 
kept  up 
nt  from 
w  who 
the  ap- 
paflingj 
y    folid 

le  thou- 
kqucrors 
immcdi- 

advan- 
works 

>iofpc^ 


flill  in  front  of  them.  Both  were  guarding  againft  an  attack,  and 
|>oth  were  in  a  bad  condition  to  receive  one.  The  lofs  of  the 
peninfula  deprefled  the  fpirits  of  the  Americans,  and  their  grrat 
lofs  of  men  produced  the  fame  efFc£l  on  the  Britifli.  Thort  have 
been  few  battles  in  modern  wars,  in  which,  all  circumft^nces  cono 


ftdcred,  there  was  a  greater  deftru£lion  of  men  thi| 
engagement.    The  lofs  of  the  Britiih,  as  acl 
ticral  Gage,  amounted  to  one  thoufand  and  Bfty^f, 
commiflfioned    officers    were    killed,    and    {lKVf(0y 
wounded,     The  battle  of  Quebec  in  1759,  ;V| 
Britain  the  Province  of  Canada,  was  not'  fo  d«| 
officers  as  this  affair  of  a  flight  entrenchment^ 
a  few  hours.    That  the  oflicers  fufFered  fo 
ted  to  their  being  aimed  at.     None  of  the  pre 
gagement  were  riflemen,  but  they  were  all  gc 
whole  of  their  previous  military  knowledge  had  been  &rivfe4| 
from  hunting,  and  the  ordinary  amufemcnts  of  fpprtrm^tt,    TWife 
dexterity  which  by  long  habit  they  had  acquired  in  hitting  bf^ftsj^ 
birds,  and  marks,  was  fatally  applied  to  the  deftru£lion  of  Britifli  " 
pfficeri.    From  their  fall  much  confufion  was  expe£led;   they 
vfCYC  therefore  particularly  fingled  out.    Mofl:  of  thofe  who  were 
near  the  perfon  pf  General  Howe  were  either  killed  or  wounded, 
but  the  General,  though  he  greatly  expofed  himfelf,  was  unhurt. 
The  light  infantry  and  grenadiers  loft  thrce-fou^s  o^peir  men. 
Of  one  company  not  more  than  five,  and  of  another,  not  more 
than  fourteen  efcaped.     The  unexpefte4.refiftance  of  the  Ameri- 
cans was  fuch  as  wiped  away  the  re^oiches  of  cowardice,  which 
had  been  caft  on  them  by  their  enemies  in  Britain.     The  fpiritcd 
condufi  of  the  Britifli  oflicers  merited  and  obtained  great  applaufc, 
but  the  provincials  were  juftly  entitled  to  a  large  portion  of  the 
fame,  for  having  made  the  utmoft  exertions  of  their  adverfaries 
neceflary  to  diflodge  them  from  lines,  which  were  the  work  only 
of  a  fingle  night,     The  Americans  loft  five  pieces  of  cannon, 
Their  killed  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine.     Their 
wounded  and  mifling  to  three  hundred  and  fourteen.     Thirty  of 
the  former  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  conquerors.     They  particu. 
larly  regretted    the   death   of  General  Warren,     To  the  pureft 
patriotifm  and  moft  undaunted  bravery,  he  added  the  virtues  of 
domcftic  life,  the  eloquence  of  an  acccompliflied  orator,  and  the 
xvifdom  of  an  able  ftatcfman.     Nothing  but  a  regard  to  the  liberty 
of  his  country  induced  him  to  oppofe  the  meafures  of  Govern. 
mcnt.     He  aimed  not  at  a  feparation  from,  but  a  coalition  with  the 
Mother  Country.     He  took  an  aftivc  part  in  defence  of  his  coun- 
tiy,  not  that  he  might  be  applauded  and  rewarded  for  a  patriotic 


486 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


v** 


fpirit,  but  becaufe  he  was,  in  the  bcfl  fenfe  of  the  word,  t  real 
patriot.  Having  no  interefted  or  pcrfonal  views  to^anfwer,  tht 
friends  of  liberty  confided  in  his  integrity.  The  foundnefs  of 
his  judgment,  and  his  abilities  as  a  public  fpeak^^r,  enabled  him 
'^  "l^o  pnaik«  «  diftinguifhed  figure  in  public  councils,  but  his  intrepi- 
*4it)(  tiod  i^S^fli  seal  induced  his  countrymen  to  place  him  in  the 
I  ^ithin  four  days  after  he  was  appointed  a  Major 
:  t-  noble  facriBce  to  a  caufc  which  he  had  efpoufed 
|irinciples.  Like  Hampden  he  lived  and  like 
iniverfally  beloved  and  univcrfally  regretted, 
re  celebrated  in  an  elegant  eulogiiim  written 
t^y. •j^^^B^^^'^lattguagc  equal  to  the  illuftrtous  fubjefi:.  The 
.l^fi^l^^MpjPpirleftown,  though  a  place  of  great  trade,  did  not 
y|rdH^h^^|^iBie  pVovincials.  It  excited  refentment  and  execration, 
'^  but  H^  iiiy  difpolition  to  fubmit.  Such  was  the  high-toned  ftate 
'  of  the  public  mind,  and  fo  great  the  indifiFerence  for  property, 
'  whon  put  in  competition  with  liberty,  that  military  conflagrations, 
,  thougli  they  diflreflfed  and  impoverilhed,  had  no  tendency  to 
fubVlue  the  Colonifls.  They  might  anfwer  in  the  old  world,  but 
were  not  calculated  for  the  new,  where  the  war  was  undertaken, 
not  for  a  change  of  mafters,  but  for  fcuring  eflential  rights.  1  he 
a£lion  at  Breed's  Hill, , or  Bunker's  Hill,  as  it  has  been  commonly 
called,  produced  many  and  very  important  confequences.  It 
taught  tib  Britifh  fo  much  rcfpcft  for  Amettcans  intrenched  be- 
hind works,  that  their  fubfcqucnt  operation  ^vere  retarded  with  a 
caution  that  wafted  away  a  ^bole  campaign  to  very  little  purpofc, 
It  added  to  the  confidenibc  the  Americans  began  to  have  in  their 
own  abilities;  but  inferences,  very  injurious  to  the  future  inter- 
cfts  of  America,  were  drawn  from  the  good  conduft  of  the  new 
troops  on  that  memorable  day.  It  infpired  fome  of  the  leading 
members  of  Congrefs  with  fuch  high  ideas  of  what  might  be  done 
by  militia,  or  men  engaged  for  a  (hoft  term  of  eniiftment,  that 
it  was  long  before  they  aflentcd  to  the  efiablifhment  of  a  perma- 
nent army.  Not  dlftingulfhing  the  continued  exertions  of  an  army 
through  afcries  of  years,  from  the  gallant  efforts  of  yeomanry  of  the 
country,  led  direftly  to  aC^Jon,  they  were  flow  in  admitting  the  i 
neceflity  of  permanent  troops.  They  conceived  the  country  | 
might  be  defended  by  the  occafional  exertions  of  her  fons,  with, 
out  the  expence  and  danger  of  an  army  engaged  for  the  war.  In  I 
the  vrogrcfs  of  hofl;ilities,  as  will  appear  in  the  fequel,  the  militia 
loft:  much  of  their  firft  ardour,  while  leading  men  in  the  councils  I 
of  America,  trufting  to  its  continuance,  ncglcftcd  the  proper  timcf 
of  recruiting  for  a  feries  of  years.  From  the  want  of  pcrfevcrance  I 
in  the  militia,  and  the  want  of  a  dilciplined  ftanding  army,  llicj 


AMEHICAN  kEi^OLUtiOif, 


i^ 


rbrd,  treal 
infwer,  the 
mndnef&  of 
snabled  him 
his  intrcpi- 
him  in  the 
ted  a  Major 
lad  efpoufed 
ed  and  like 
ly  regretted, 
gium  written 
ubjeft.    The 
rade,  did  not 
id  execration, 
jh-toned  ftate 
for  property, 
conflagrations, 
>  tendency  to 
•Id  world,  but 
as  undertaken, 
il  rights.    Ihc 
)cen  commonly 
fequences,     I* 
intrenched  be 
retarded  with  a 
little  purpofc. 
:o  have  in  their 
le  future  inter- 
iuft  of  the  new 
of  the  leading 
It  might  be  done 
cniiftment,  that 
lent  of  a  perma- 
tions  of  an  army 
yeomanry  of  the 
n  admitting  the 
[cd  the  country 
her  fons,  with- 1 
[or  the  war,    I" 
Luel,  the  militia 
in  the  councils 
the  proper  time 
It  ofpcrfevcranco 

.nding  army,  M 


wiiere 


,  Mufic!  for  which  arms  were  at  firft  taken  up,  was  more  than  once 
brought  to  the  brink  of  deftru£lion. 

jn  other  places  the  fame  determined  fpirit  of  refiftance  appeared 
on  the  part  of  the  Americans.  Lord  North's  conciliatory  fcheme 
was'Utterly  rejeded  by  the  aflemblies  of  Pennfylvania  and  New- 
Jerfey,  and  afterwards  in  every  other  colony.  .The  cojpnneftcc^w  * 
ment  of  hodilities  at  Lexington  determined  the  Qokmy  pf  ]MeW'< 
York,-  which  had  hitherto  continued  to  waver,  t0 
reil ;  and  as  the  fituation  of  New- York  rendera  H  ^ 
an  attack  from  the  fea,  it  was  refolved,  before  J||0;i 
Britiih  fleet,  tb  fecure  the  military  flores,  few  ol^ 
and  children,  and  to  fet  fire  to  the  city  if  it^waf^^HJ 
pable  of  defence.  The  exportation  of  provifioiia^ 
prohibited,  particularly  to  the  Britifli  fifhery  on  t|»ft^|liiaik»  of 
Newfoundland,  or  to  fuch  colonies  of  America  as  fliould*  a^^iere 
to  the  Britifli  intereffc.  Congrefs  refolved  on  the  eftabliihinent  of 
an  army,  and  of  a  large  paper  currency  in  order  to  fupport  it.  In  ^ 
the  inland  northern  colonics,  Colonels  Eaftan  an4  £than  Allen*  ■  V 
without  receiving  any  orders  from  Congrefs,  or  communicating 
their  defign  to  any  body,  with  a  party  of  only  two  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  furpril'ed  the  forts  of  Crown  Point,  Ticonderoga,  and. 
the  reil  that  form  a  communication  betwixt  the  Colonies  and  Ca- 
nada. On  this  occafton  two  hundred  pieces  of  cannon  fell  into 
their  hands,  befi«les  mortars,  and  a  large  quantity  of  military 
(lores,  together  with  two  armed  veffcls,  and  materials  for  the 
con(lru£lion  of  others. 

After  the  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill,  the  provincials  erefted  for- 
tifications on  the  heights  which  comnnanded  Cbarleftown,  and 
ilrengthened  the  reil  in  fuch  a  manner  that  there  was  no  hope  of 
driving  them  from  thence,  .t  the  fame  time  that  their  aflivity  and 
boldnefs  ailoniflied  the  Britifli  officers,  who  had  been  accuflomed 
to  entertain  too  mean  an  opinion  of  their  courage. 

The  troops,  thus  fliut  up  in  Bofton,  were  loon  reduced  to  dif- 
trefs.  Their  neceiTities  obliged  them  to  attempt  the  carrying  off 
the  American  cattle  on  the  iflands-  before  Bofton,  which  produ- 
ced frequent  Ikirmifties ;  but  the  provincials,  better  acquainted 
with  the  navigation  of  thefe  fhorcs,  landed  on  the  iflands,  dcf- 
troyed  or  carrycd  off  whatever  was  of  any  ule,  burned  the  lighj 
houfe  at  the  entrance  of  'the  harbour,  and  took  prifoneft  the 
workmen  Yent  to  repair  it,  as  well  as  a  party  of  marines  who 
guarded  them.  Thus  the  gairilbn  were  reduced  to  the  neceffity 
of  fending  out  armed  veFds  to  make  prizes  indHcriminatcly  cf 
all  that  came  in  their  way,  and  of  landing  in  dllFcrcnt  place*  to 
plunder  for  fubf^cucc  as  well  us  they  could. 


-;   JtUTdltYdF  fiiM    .'• 

« ■  ,r.'  .  ■  ^   '  ■ 

The  Congrefs,  j^i  the  mean  time,  continued  t<{aA  witii  ill  thU 
vigour  which  its  epAftituents  had  expefted.  Articles  of  confede* 
ration  and  perpiftual-  union  were  drawn  up  and  folemnly  ai;r«cd 
uponi  ty  whicK  tH^bound  themfelves. 

After  the  aSlicm  of  Qunker's  Hill,  however,  Wf^ipi  the  power 
i  &f  Qit0^*flfi^tsm^mt»1kd  lefs  formidable  in  the  eyes  of  America 
*.  c    "^^-^iijgiiijjiip^fj  prt^ceded  formally  to  juftify  their  proceed- 

i^rawn  up  in  ierma  iftore  exprdfiivlej  and  well 
attenfSon^ 

(faid  they)  for  men  who  exercife  their  rea- 

the  divine  Author  of  our  exiftence  intended  i 

race  to  hold  an  abfolute  property  in  and  un- 
others,  marked  out  by  His  infinite  goodnefs 

obje£fcs  of  a  legal  domination,  neVer  rightfully 
>e(tftil^?'lt6<UrbVtfr  fevere  and  opprefliVej  the  inhabitants  of 
theft  'Cotonie$  might  at  leafl  re<Juir«  froiir  the  parliament  of 
(Lyreat-Britain  fome  evidence  that  this  dreadful  authority  over 
them  had  been  granted  to  that  body ;  but  a  reverence  for  out 
Great  Creator,  principles  of  humanity,  and  the  didtates  of  com* 
inottifenfe  mud  convince  all  thofe  who  refliefb  upon  the  fubjeft^ 
that  government  was  inflituted  ^o  proiftote  the  welfare  of  man- 
kind, and  ought  to  be  adminiftered  for  the  attainment  of  that 
end. 

"  The  legiflature  of  Creat  Britain,  hoU^ever,  (Simulated  by  an 
inordinate  pafTion  for  poWcr^  .hot  only  unjuftifiable,  but  which 
they  know  to  be  peculiarly  reprobated  by  the  very  conftitution 
bf  that  kingdom ;  and  defpairing  of  fuccefs  in  any  mode  of  contefl, 
where  regard  fhould  bef  had  to  law,  truth,  or  right ;  haVe  at  length 
deferting  thofe,  attempted  to  elFeCfc  their  cruel  and  impolitic  pur- 
pofe  of  enflaving  thefe  Colonies  by  violence,  and  have  thereby 
rendered  it  neceffary  for  us  to  clofe  with  their  laft  appeal  from 
reafon  to  arms.  Yet,  however  blinded  that  aifembly  may  be,  by 
their  intemperate  rage  for  unlimited  domination,  fo  to  flight 
judicc  in  the  opinion  of  mankind,  we  eiteem  ourfelves  bound  by 
obligations  to  the  red  of  the  world  to  make  known  the  juftice  of 
our  caufe." 

After  taking  notice  of  the  manner  in  which  their  anccftors  left 
Britain,  the  happinefs  attending  the  mutual  friendly  commerce 
betwixt  that  country  and  her  Colonics,  and  the  remarkable  fuc. 
cefi  of  the  late  war,  ;  hey  proceed  as  follows  ;  "  The  new  mini- 
ftry  finding  the  brave  toes  of  Britain,  though  frequently  defeated, 
yet  ftill  contcndijig,  took  up  the  unfortunate  idea  of  granting  them 
a  hafty  peace,  and  of  then  fubduing  her  faithful  friends. 


AMERICAN  REVOLIX^ION,, 


489 


**  Thcfe  (levotcd  colonies  were  judged  to  be  iiV'fi!ich  a  ftate  as 
to  prefent  viftorics  without  bloodthed,  and,  all  ^be  cafy  emolu- 
ments of  (latutable  plunder.  The  untjiterrupted  tenor  of  their 
peaceable  and  refpe£lful  behaviour  fr«ii>  the  t>eglnning  of  their 
colonization  ;  their  dutiful,  zealou»vWand,,urefu.l  fervices  during 
the  war,  though  (o  recently  and  amn^  ackd^wledgeji  it)  the  mbfl 
honorable  manner  by  his  Maje(ly,^y  the  late  kinj|[f  and  by  par- 
liament, could  not  fave  them  fr9m  t^e  in1^nd44  )lM|pvations. 
Parliament  was  influenced  to  adopV  the  peo^ic^lit  fp^p(lb'}  and 
afluming  a  new  power  over  them,  has 'in  4h^  <»!Hi|t«ie  q|f  eleven 
ybars  given  fuch  decifivc  fpecimens  of  the  ||pi^  tlltid  4!0nf<i^uen« 
ces  attending  this  power,  as  to  leavenodo^t'^^^f^^^/ac- 
quiefcence  under  it.  ■''' 

"  They  have  undertaken  to  give  and  grant  our  tnpney  without 
our  confent,  though  we  have  ever  exercifed  an  exclufiye  right 
to  difpol'e  of  our  own  property.  Statutes  have  been  pafled  for 
extending  the  jurifdiftion  of  the  courts  of  admiralty,  and  vice- 
admiralty,  beyond  their  ancient  limits ;  for  depriving  us  of  the 
accuflomed  and  ineftimable  rights  of  trial  by  jury,  in  cafes  aflcft- 
ing  both  life  and  property  ;  for  fufpending  the  legiflaturc  of  one 
of  our  colonies  ;  for  interdi£ling  all  commerce  to  the  capital  of 
ahother  ;  and  for  altering  fundamentally  the  form  of  government 
eftablifhed  by  charter,  and  fecured  by  a6ls  of  its  Own  legiflature  ; 
and  folemnly  confirmed  by  the  crown  ;  for  exempting  the  mur- 
derers of  colonics  from  legal  trial,  and  in  eflefcl  from  punilhment ; 
for  ere£ling  in  a  neighbouring  province,  acquired  by  the  joint 
arms  of  Great-Britain  and  America,  a  delpotifm  dangerous  to  our 
very  exiflence  ;'  and  for  quartering  foldiers  upon  the  colonifts  in 
time  of  a  profound  peace.  It  has  alfo  been  rcfolved  in  parlia- 
ment, that  colonics  charged  with  committing  certain  offences, 
ihall  be  tranfported  to  England  to  be  tried. 

"  But  why  fliould  we  enumerate  our  injuries  in  detail  ?  By 
one  ftatute  it  was  declared,  that  parliament  can  of  right  make^ 
laws  to   bind  us  in  all  cafes  whatever.     What  is   to  defend 


us 


againfl:  16  enormous,  fo  unlimited  a  power  ?  Not  a  finglc  perion 
who  adumes  it  is  cholen  by  us,  or  is  fubjcft  to  our  controul  or 
influence  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  they  are  all  of  them  exempt  from 
the  operation  of  fuch  laws;  and  an  Arherican  revenue,  if  not 
diverted  from  the  oftenfible  purpofes  from  which  it  is  railed, 
would  aftually  lighten  their  own  burdens  in  porportion  as  it  in- 
creafes  ours. 

"  We  faw  the  mifery  to  which  fuch  defpotifin  would  reduce 
us.  We  for  ten  years  inceifantly  and  inclleftually  befiegcd  the 
throne  as  fupplicants  ;  we  reafoned.  we  rcmonftratcd  with  parlia» 

Vol.  I.    *  3  R 


49^ 


HISTORY  OT  THE 


ment  in  the  ihoft  mild  and  decent  language;  but  adminiftrtftJoff^ 
fenfible  that  we  (hould  regard  thefe  nieafures  as  freemen  ought  to> 
do,  fent  over  fleets  and  armies  to  enforce  them* 

"  We  have  purfued  cverjr  temperate,  every  refpeftful  meafure  j 
ive  have  even  proceeded  to  break  off  all  commercial  intercourre 
with  out"  ffUQW'fubj^fts  as  our  laft  peaceable  admonition,  that 
our  attacliiliint  to  no  nation  on  earth  would  fupplant  our  attach« 
mcnt  to  iUS«nir:  this  we  flattered  ourfelves  was  the  ultimate  ftep 
^^  r^^iS^^f^fy.  i,  But  fubfequent  events  have  mown  how  vain 

Was  tfliljinHiiLtdKfiinmfMt  mrtrl«ratirtn  in  our  enemies  f 


moderation  in  our  enemies 
Commons,  in  their  addrefs  in  the  month  of 
Febru^ip,  JOti(|^j^|a^^  at  that  time  a£lually  exifted  in  the 

provincf^  pf  Mii^^ufett's  Bay ;  and  that  thofe  concerned  in  it 
hadbi^Countfnjiiiiced  and  encouraged  by  unlawful  combinations 
and  eng9j[f nients  entered  into  by  his  Majeily's  fubjc£b  in  feverat 
of  the  colonies }  and  therefore  they  befought  his  Majefty  that  he 
Would  take  the  moft  effe£hial  meafures  to  enforce  due  obedience 
to  the  laws  and  authority  of  the  fupreme  legiflature.  Soon  after 
the  commercial  intercourfe  of  whole  colonies  with  foreign  coun- 
tries waS'  cut  off  by  an  a£l  of  parliament;  by  another,  feveral 
of  them  were  entirely  prohibited  from  the  liberies  in  the  feas 
near  their  coaffs,  on  which  they  always  depended  for  their  fubfift- 
ence  ;  and  large  reinforcements  of  fhips  and  troops  were  immedi« 
atcly  fent  over  to  General  Gage." 

"  Fruitlefs  were  all  the  intreaties,  arguments,  and  eloquence  of 
an  illuffrious  band  of  the  moil  diftinguifhed  peers  and  commoners^ 
who  nobly  and  flrenuoufly  afferted  the  juffice  of  our  caufe,  to 
flay,  or  even  to  mitigate,  the  heedlefs  fury,  with  which  thefe 
accumulated  outrages  were  hurried  on.  Equally  fruitlefs  was  the 
interference  of  the  city  of  London,  of  Briflol,  and  many  other 
rcfpcftable  towns  in  our  favour." 

After  having  reproached  parliament.  General  Gage,  and  the 
Britifh  government  in  general,  they  proceeded  thus  :  "  We  are 
reduced  to  the  alternative  of  choofing  an  unconditional  fubmif- 
fion  to  tyranny  or  refiftance  by  force.  The  latter  is  our  choice. 
We  have  counted  the  cod  of  this  conteft,  and  find  nothing  fo 
dreadful  as  voluntary  llavery.  Honor,  juflice,  and  humanity, 
forbid  us  tamely -to  furrender  that  freedom  which  w  received 
from  our  gallant  anceftors,  and  which  our  innocent  pofterity 
have  a  right  to  receive  from  us.  Our  caufe  is  juft ;  our  union 
is  perfcft  ;  our  internal  vefources  are  great ;  and,  if  neceffary, 
foreign  afTiftance  is  undoubtedly  attainable.  We  fight  not  for 
glory  or  conqucfl ;  we  exhibit  to  mankind  the  remarkable  fpcfta- 
cle  of  a  people  attacked  by  unprovoked  enemies.  They  boafl  of 
their  privileges  and  civilization,  and  yet  proffer  no  milder  con- 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 


49» 


r  con- 


ditions than  fervitude  or  death.  In  our  own  native  land,  in  de- 
fence of  the  freedom  that  is  our  birthright,  for  the  proteflion  of 
our  property  acquired  by  the  honeft  induftry  of  our  forefathers 
and  our  own,  againft  violence  aftually  offered,  we  have  taken  up 
arms ;  we  ftiall  lay  them  down  when  hoftilities  {hall  ceafe  on  the 
part  of  our  aggreflbrs,  and  all  danger  of  their  being  Jl  renewed  fhall 
be  removed— and  not  before." 

Thefe  are  fome  of  the  mod  ftriking  paflages  in  the  i||pdaration 
of  congrefs  on  taking  up  arms  againft  Grfsat-Britain^  imd '  dated 
July  6th,  1775.  The  determined  Spirit  which[  it  {k«lliyit»  oujj^t  to 
have  convinced  England,  that  the  conqucfli  (OJF  ^jnii^c*  W^ 
event  fcarce  ever  to  be  expeflcd.  In  every  o^^l(|^ei&  an  equal 
fpirit  was  (hewn;  and  the  rulers  of  the  Britiih.  Jutian  hfd  the 
mortification  to  fee  thofe  whom  they  ftyled  rebels  and  tirtitors, 
fucceed  in  negociations  in  which  they  themfelves  Were  utterly 
foiled.  In  the  palTing  of  the  Quebec  bill,  miniftry  had  flattered 
themfelves  that  the  Canadians  would  be  fo  much  attached  to  them, 
on  account  of  reftoring  the  French  laws,  that  they  would  very 
readily  join  in  any  attempt  againft  the  colonifts  who  had  reproba- 
ted that  bill  in  i'uch  ftrong  terms  :  but  in  this,  as  in  every  thing 
elfe  indeed,  they  found  themfelves  miftaken.  The  Canadians 
having  been  fubjeft  to  Britain  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  and 
being  thus  rendered  fcnfible  of  the  fuperior  advantages  of  Britifh 
government,  received  the  bill  itfelf  with  evident  marks  of  difap- 
probation  ;  nay,  reprobated  it  as  tyrannical  and  onprefllve.  A 
i'cheme  had  been  formed  for  General  Carleton,  governor  of  the 
province,  to  raife  an  army  of  Canadians  wherewith  to  a£l  againft 
the  Americans ;  and  fo  languine  were  the  hopes  of  adminiftration 
in  this  refpe^l,  that  they  had  fent  twenty  thoufand  ftand  of  arms, 
and  a  great  quantity  of  military  ftures,  to  Quebec  for  the  purpofe. 
But  the  people,  though  they  did  not  join  the  Americans,  yet 
were  found  immoveable  in  their  purpofe  to  ftand  neuter.  Appli- 
cation was  made  to  the  biftiop  ;  but  he  declined  to  interpofe  his 
influence,  as  contrary  to  the  rules  of  the  Popiih  clergy  :  fo  that 
the  utmoft  efforts  of  government  in  this  province  were  found  to 
anfwer  little  or  no  purpofe. 

The  Britifh  adminiftration  next  tried  to  engage  the  Indians  in 
their  caufe.  But  though  agents  were  dilpcrfed  among  them  with 
large  prefents  to  the  chiefs,  they  univerl'ally  replied,  that  they 
did  not  underftand  the  nature  of  the  quarrel,  nor  could  they 
diftinguifti  whether  thofe  who  dwelt  in  America  or  on  the  other 
fide  of  the  ocean  were  in  fault :  but  they  were  furprii'ed  to  fee 
Englifhmen  aflc  their  afliftance  againft  one  another  ;  and  advifed 
them  to  be  reconciled,  and  not  to  think  of  flicdding   the  blood  of 

3  R  a 


4^2  HISTORY  OF  THE      . 

their  brethren.  To  the  reprefcntations  of  Congrefs  they  paid 
more  refpefl.  Thefe  ifet  forth,  that  the  Englifli  on  the  other  fide 
of  the  ocean  had  taken  up  arms  to  cnflavc,  not  only  their  coun. 
trymcn  in  America,  but  the  Indians  alfo  ;  and  'it  the  latter  (hould 
enable  them  to  overcome  the  colonifts,  they  themfelves  would 
foon  be  reduced  to  a  (late  of  flavery  alio.  By  argumeiits  of  this 
kind  thefe  faviges  were  engaged  to  remain  neuter ;  and  thus  the 
colontftt  iw'ete  fifeed  from  a  moft  dangerous  enemy.  On  thisoc- 
<!ifion  tJ[iil|f)pong]refs  thought  proper  to  hold  a  fotp^n  conference 
wtth  ^ilt^iTerenl  itribes  of  Indians.  The  ipecch  made  by  them 
on  t1ie;^pfli^ytfl  curious,  but  too  long  to  be  fully  infer  ted. — 
ThefoPi(|!wiil|||W^^cimen  of  the  European  mode  of  addiciring 
thefc  p^pl*^.j\*"'- ■'  .' \ 

**  Qrotheri^  Sachems,  and  Warriors ! 

"  We,  the  delegates  from  the  Twelve  United  Provinces,  now 
fitting  in  general  Congrefs  at  Philadelphia,  fent  their  talk  to  you 
our  brothers. 

**  Brothers  and  Friends  now  attend  ! 

*'  When  our  fathers  croffed  the  great  water,  and  came  over  to 
this  land,  the  King  of  England  gave  them  a  talk,  affuring  them 
that  they  and  their  children  fhould  be  his  children ;  and  that  if 
they  would  leave  their  native  country,  and  make  Icttlcments,  and 
live  here,  and  buy  and  fell,  and'  trade  with  their  brethren  beyond 
the  water,  they  fhould  ftill  keep  hold  of  the  fame  covenant-chain, 
and  enjoy  peace  ;  and  it  was  convenanttd,  that  the  fields,  houfes, 
good^f  and  pofleffions,  which  our  fathers  fhould  acquire,  fhould 
remain  to  them  as  their  own,  and  be  their  childrens'  for  ever,  and 
at  their  folc  difpofal. 

"  Brothers  and  Friends  open  a  kind  ear  ! 

"  We  will  now  tell  you  of  the  quarrel  betwixt  the  counfellors 
of  King  George  and  the  inhabitants  and  colonies  of  America. 

"  Many  of  his  counfellors  have  perfuaded  him  to  break  the  co- 
venant-chain, and  not  to  fend  us  any  more  good  talks.  They 
have  prevailed  upon  him  to  enter  into  a  covenant  againfl  us  : 
and  have  torn  afunder,  and  cad  behind  their  backs,  the  good 
.  old  covenant  which  their  anceflors  and  ours  entered  into,  and 
took  flrong  hold  of.  They  now  tell  us  they  will  put  their  hands 
into  our  pocket  without  afliing,  as  though  .it  were  their  own  ; 
and  at  their  pleafure  they  will  t-ke  from  lis  our  charters,  or 
written  civil  conflitution,  which  we  love  as  our  lives ;  alfo  our 
plantations,  or  houles,  and  goods,  whenever  they  pleafe,  without 
afking  our  leave.  They  tell  us,  that  our  vefTels  may  go  to  that 
Or  this  illand  in  the  fca,  but  to  this  or  that  particular  ifland  we  fhall 
not  trade  any  more  ;  and  in  cafe  of  our  non-compliance  with  thefe 
new  orders,  they  fhut  up  our  harbours. 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


493 


ly  paid 
ler  fide 
r  coun- 

fiioulA 
i  would 

of  this 
:hu5  the 
this  6c- 
tferencc 
by  them 
crtcd. — 
Idi  effing 


cs,  now 
L  to  you 


c  over  to 
ing  them 
d  that  if 
lents,  and 
|n  beyond 
,nt-chain, 
s,  houfcs, 
c,  ftiould 
ever,  and 


♦'Brothers,  we  live  on  the  fame  griound  with  youj  the  ftr-^ 
land  is  our  common  birth-place.  We  defire  to  fit  down  uncu. 
the  fame  tree  of  peace  with  you ;  let  us  water  its  roots,  and  chetf 
i(h  the  growth,  till  the  large  leaves  and  flourifliing  branches  (hall 
extend  to  the  fetting  fiin,  and  reach  the  ikies.  If  any  thik||  diC- 
agreeable  (hould  ever  fall  out  between  \is,  the  Tw.^p  Untied 
Colonies^  and  you,  the  Six  Nations,  to  wound  our  JM|^|^lf|t  llf 
immediately'  feck  mearures  for  healing  the  brraefei^  linqjili  xHf 
prefent  I'ltuation  of  our  affairs,  we  judge  it  expedi^  j^  Mndle 
up  a  i'mall  fire  at  Albany,  where  we  may  hear  ««cli;'qi|y|^^|r|F|ij|BC^ 
and  dirdofc  our  minds  fully  to  one  another,"  ;    ■ 

The  other  remarkable  tranfaflicms  of  this  CofO^pft^-Wft^.Am 
ultimate  refufal  of  the  conciliatory  propofal  made  by  (rf^jH  ttorth, 
of  which  fuch  fanguine  expeflations  had  been  formed  l»y  the 
Englifli  miniftry;  and  appointing  a  generaliffimo  to  command 
"  their  armies,  which  were  now  very  numerous.  The  perfoa 
chofen  for  this  purpofe  was  George  WaQiington :  a  man  fo  uni- 
verfally  beloved,  that  he  was  raifed  to  fuch  an  high  {lation  by  the 
unanimous  voice  of  Congrefs :  and  his  fubfequent  conduft  (bow- 
ed him  every  way  worthy  of  it.  Horace  Gates  and  Charles  Lee, 
two  Englifh  officers  of  confiderable  reputation,  were  alfo  chofen; 
the  former  an  adjutant-general,  the  fecond  a  major-general.  Ar. 
temus  Ward,  Philip  Schuyler,  and  Ifrael  Putnam,  were  likewife 
nominated  major-generals.  Seth  Pomeroy,  Richard  Montgomery, 
David  Woofter,  William  Heath,  Jofeph  Spencer,  John  Tho- 
mas, John  Sullivan,  and  Nathaniel  Green,  were  chofen  briga- 
dier-generals at  the  I'amc  time. 

Congrefs  had  now  alfo  the  fatisfa£lion  to  receive  deputies  from 
the  colony  of  Georgia,  exprefllng  a  defire  to  join  the  confederacy. 
The  reafons  they  gave  for  renouncing  their  allegiance  to  Britain 
were,  that  the  condu£l  of  parliament  towards  the  other  colonies 
had  been  oppreffive  ;  that  though  the  obnoxious  a£ls  had  not 
been  extended  to  them,  they  could  view  this  only  as  an  omifEon, 
bccaufe  of  the  feeming  little  confequence  of  their  colony :  and 
therefore  looked  upon  it  rather  to  be  a  flight  than  a  favour.  At 
the  fame  time  they  framed  a  petition  to  the  King,  fimilar  to  that 
fent  by  the  other  colonies^  and  which  met  with  a  fimilar  re~ 
ception. 

The  fucccfs  which  had  hitherto  attended  the  Americans  in  all 
their  meafures,  now  emboldened  them  to  think  not  only  of  de- 
fending themfelves,  but  likewile  of  afting  ofFcnfivcly  againft 
Great  Britain.  The  conqueft  of  Canada  appeared  an  objeft 
within  their  reach,  and  that  one  would  be  attended  with  many 
advantages;  and  as  an  invafion  of  that  province  was  lately  facili- 
tated by  the  taking  of  Crown  point  and  Ticonderago,  it  was  re- 


494 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


int«r«t 


folved  if  poflible,  to  penctnte  that  way  into  Canada,  and  reduce 
Quebec  during  the  wintei-,  befort  the  fleeta  and  armiea,  which 
they  were  well  afltired  would  fail  thither  from  Britain,  ihould 
arnve.  By  order  of  Congrefs,  therefore,  three  thoufand  men 
Iverapllt  under  the  command  of  Generala  Montgomery  and  l^chuy. 
llllhll  ord^ra  to  proceed  to  Lake  Champlain,  ifrom  whence 
i  to  be  conveyed  in  flat-bottomed  boata  to  the  mouth  of 
•  branch  of  the  great  river  St.  Laurence,  and  on 
a  fort  of  the  fame  name  with  the  river.  On 
'tiiey  were  oppofed  by  General  Carleton,  gover- 
lilp^^iB  man  of  great  a&ivity  and  experience  in  war; 
Very  few  troops,  had  hitherto  been  able  to  keep 
^ttfaffc^ed  people  of  Canada,  notwithftanding  all  the 
rtprefentationa  of  the  Colonifts.  He  had  now  augmented  his 
army  by  a  confiderable  number  of  Indians,  and  prcmiftd  even  in 
hia  prefimt  fituation  to  make  a  very  formidable  refiftaiice. 

As  foon  as  General  Montgomery  arrived  at  Cro'ivn  Point,  he 
received  information  that  fcveral  armed  veflels  Were  (lationcd  at 
St.  John's,  a  ftrong  fort  on  the  Sorel,  with  a  view  to  prevent 
his  crofling  the  lake;  on  which  he  took  poflefHun  of  the  ifland 
which  commands  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel,  and  by  which  he  could 
prevent  them  from  entering  the  lake.  In  conjun£iion  with  Ge. 
neral  Schuyler,  he  next  proceeded  to  St.  John's:  but  finding 
that  place  too  flrong,  .he  landed  on  a  pari  of  the  country  confide. 
rably  diftant  and  full  of  woods  ond  fwamps.  From  thence,  how> 
ever,  they  were  driven  by  a  party  of  Indians  whom  General 
Carleton  had  employed. 

The  provincial  army  was  now  obliged  to  retreat  to  the  ifland 
of  which  they  had  at  firll  taken  poflfefliun  ;  where  Generel  Schuy- 
ler  being  taken  ill,  Montgomery  was  left  to  command  alone.  His 
iiril  (lep  was  to  gain  over  the  Indians  whom  General  Carleton 
had  employed,  and  this  he  in  a  great  meafure  accomplifhed ;  after 
which,  on  receiving  the  full  number  of  troops  appointed  for  his 
expedition,  he  determined  to  lay  fiege  to  St,  John's.  In  this  he 
was  facilitated  by  the  reduftion  of  Chamblee,  a  fmall  fort  in  the 
neighbourhood,  where  he  found  a  large  fupply  of  powder.  An 
attempt  was  made  by  General  Carleton  to  relieve  the  place ;  for 
which  purpofe  he  with  great  pains  colIe£lcd  about  one  thoufand 
Canadians,  while  Colonel  Maclean  propofcd  to  raife  a  regiment 
of  the  Highlanders  who  had  emigrated  from  their  own  country 
to  America. 

But  while  General  Carleton  was  on  his  march  with  thcfe  new 
levies,  he  was  attacked  by  a  fuperior  force  of  provincials,  and 
utterly  defeated ;  which  being  made  known  to  another  body  of 
Canadians  who  had  joined   Colonel  Maclean,   they  abandoned 


AMEttlCA^  KEyolUTIOIf. 


m 


I  reduce 
,  which 
,  {hould 
ind  men 
I  §chuy- 

whence 
nouth  of 
I,  and  on 
;er.     On 
n,  gover- 
!  in  war; 
e  to  keep 
ng  all  the 
[lented  his 
:d  even  in 
:e. 

Point,  he 
lationed  at 
to  prevent 
f  the  illand 
h  he  could 
1  with  Gc- 
).ut  finding 
ry  confidc- 

ince,  how. 
General 

the  ifland 
jjrel  Schuy- 
I  alone.  His 
^l  Caileton 

tied;  after 
(ted  for  his 

In  this  he 
I  fort  in  the 

irdcr.     An 

place ;  for 
le  thoufand 

a  regiment 

irn  country 

thcfc  new 
Incials,  and 
ler  body  of 
labandoncd 


"9?^Li'*^ 


him  without  ftriking  •  blow,  and  he  wu  obliged  to  retmt  to 
Quebec. 

The  defeat  of  General  Carleton  waa  a  fufficient  recoinpenc«  to 
the  Americana  for  that  of  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  which  Had  hap* 
pened  fome  time  before.  The  fuccefa  which  had  aAtsiid«4  tlUt 
gentleman  againft  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderago  had 
him  to  make  a  fimilar  attempt  on  Montreal  *,  but  b^iii|| 
the  militia  of  the  place,  fupporfed  by  a  dctacl 
he  waa  entirely  defeated  and  taken  prifoner. 

As  the  defeat  of  General  Carleton  and  the 
clean's  forces  left  no  room  for  the  garrifon  of  St. 
for  any  relief,  they  now  confented  to  furrenderi 
fonera  of  war ;  but  were  in  other  refpe&s  treated 
manity.  They  were  in  number  five  hundred  regulars  and  two 
hundred  Canadians,  among  whom  were  many  of  the  French  no- 
bility, who  had  been  very  adive  in  promoting  the  caufe  of  Britain, 
among  their  countrymen. 

General  Montgomery  next  took  meafures  to  prevent  the  Britifh 
(hipping  from  pafling  down  the  river  .from  Montreal  to  Quebec. 
This  he  accompliihed  fo  eifeftually,  that  the  whole  were  taken. 
The  town  itfelf  was  obliged  to  furrender  at  difcretion ;  and  it  was 
with,  the  utmoil  difficulty  that  General  Carleton  eficaped  in  an 
open  boat  by  the  favour  of  a  dark  night. 

No  further  obftacle  now  remained  in  the  way  of  the  Americans 
to  the  capital,  except  what  arofe  from  the  nature  of  the  country } 
and  thefe  indeed  were  very  confiderable.     Nothing,  however, 
could  damp  the  ardour  of  the  provincials.     Notwithftanding  in 
was  now  the  middle  of  November,  and  the  depth  of  winter  was 
at  hand,  Colonel  Arnold  formed  a  defign  of  penetrating  through 
Woods,  morafles,   and  the  moft  frightful  folitudes,   from  New. 
England  to  Canada,   by  a  nearer  way  than  that  which  Montgo- 
mery had  chofen;  and  this  he  accompliihed  in  fpite  of  every 
difficulty,  to  the  aftonifhment  of  all  who  faw  or  heard  of  the 
attempt.      This  defperate   march,    however,   cannot  be    looked 
upon  as  conducive  to  any  good  purpofe.     A  third  part  of  his  men 
under  another'  Colonel  had  abandoned  him  by  the  way,  under 
pretence  of  want  of  provifions ;  the  total  want   of  artillery  ren- 
dered his  prefence  inlignificant  before  a  place  flrongly  fortified; 
ind  the  fmallnefs  of  his  army  rendered  it  even  doubtful  whether 
he  could  have  taken  the  town  by  furprife.     The  Caliadians  in- 
deed were  amazed  at  the  exploit,  and  their  inclination  to  revoit 
froih  Britain  was  fomewhat  augmented;  but  none  of  them  as  yet 
took  up  arms  in  behalf  of  America.     The  condernation  into 
which  the  town  of  Quebec  was  thrown,  proved  detrimental  ra- 
[ther  thanotherwife  to  the  expedition;  as  it  doubled  the  vigilance 


496 


HISTORY  or  THE 


and  lAlvity  of  the  inhabitin^ti  to  prevent  any  furprife;  and  th« 
appearance  of  ccmnon  danger  united  all  partiea,  who,  before  the 
arrival  of  Arnold,  were  contending  moft  violently  with  one  ano- 
ther. W  WM  therefore  obliged  to  content  himfelf  with  block- 
i.fih(t  avenuca  to  the  town,  in  order  to  diftrefa  the  garrifon 
»rovirion»;  and  even  this  he  waa  upablet^doefFcAu- 

of  the  fmall  number  of  hia  men. 
^,9iraa  not  much  mended'  by  the  arrival  of  General 
The  fbrce  he  had  with  him,  even  when  united 
lold,  waa  too  infignificant  to  attempt  the   re. 
ee  fo  ilrongly  fortified,  efpecially  with  the  aflif. 
mortara  apd  field-pieces.     Aftqr  the  fiege  had 
through  the  rnqnth  of  December,  General  Montgome- 
ry, cottiifcioua  that  he  could  accomplifti  hia  end  no  other  way  than 
by  furprife,  refolved  to  make  an  attempt  on  the  lad  day  of  the 
year  1775.     The  method  he  took  at  thia  time  waa  perhapa  the 
bcfl  that  human  wifdom  could  devife.     He  advanced  by  break  of 
day,  In  the  n^dfl  of  an  heavy  fall  of  fnow,  which  covered  his 
men'  from  the  fight  of  the  enemy.     Two  real  attacka  were  made 
by  himfelf  and  Colonel  Arnold,  at  the  fame  time  that  two  feigned 
attacka  were  made  on  two  other  placea,  thus  to  diftraft  th<i  garri- 
fon, and  make  them  divide  their  forces.     One  of  the  real  attacks 
was  made  by  the  people  of  New- York,  and  the  other  by  thofe  of 
New-England,  under   Arnold.     Their  hopes  of  furprifmg  the 
place,  however,  were  defeated  by  the  figrtal  for  the  attlik  beingi 
through   fome  miftake,  given  too  foon.     General   Montgomery 
himfelf  had  the  moft  dangerous  place,  being  obliged  to  pafs  be- 
tween the  river  and  fome  high  rocks  on  which  the  Upper  Town 
(lands ;  fo  that  he  was  forced  to  make  what  hafle   he .  could  to 
dole  with  the  enemy.     His  fate,  however,  was  now   decided. 
Having  forced  the  firfl  barrier,  a  violent  dil'charge  of  mufkctry 
and  grape-fliot  from  the  fccond  killed  him,  his  principal  officers^ 
and  the  moft  of  the  party  he  commanded;  on  which  thofe  who 
remained  immediately  retreated.     Colonel  Arnold  in  the  mean 
time  made   a  defperate  attack  on  the  Lower  Town,  and  carried 
one  of  the  barriers  aftei  :n  obftinate  rcfiftance  of  an  hour;  but 
in  the  aftiou  he  himfelf  recei\    '1  a  wound,  which  obliged  him  to 
withdraw.     The  attack,  however,   was  continued  by  the  officers 
whom  he  hjd  left,  and  another  bairier  forced;  but  the  garrifon, 
now  perceiving  that  nothing  was  to  be  feared  except  from  that 
quarter,  collcfted  their  whole  force  againft  it;  and  after  a  defpe- 
rate engagement  of  three  hours,  overpowered  the  provincials,  and 
obliged  them  to  furrender. 

In  this  aftion  the  valour  of  the  provincial  troops  could  not  be 
exceeded.     Such  a  terrible  difaftcr  left  no  hope  remaining  of  the 


AMlKtCAH  RSr0^lUTtON. 


497 


dc^mplifliment  of  their  purpolc,  M  GeiMnl  Arnold  could  now 
ficirce  number  eight  hundred  cffeftive  inen  under  his  cMnnuind. 
He  did  not,  however,  abandon  the  province,  or  even  roaove  to 
a  greater  di(Uncc  than  three  milea  'from  Quebec  |  end  here  he 
ftill  found  nM»na  to  annoy  the  ^itrrifiro  very  confidenMy  by  in- 
tercepting their  provifionak  The  Canadiaoa,  noiii<||h|t|»ldil»t th» 
had  fufCefe  of  the  Amerian  urma,  ftiU  contimiiAJliiKli^  M^ 
thAa  he  wi^a  enabled  to  fuftain  the  hajcdihil 
cunpment  in  thai  moft  feveire  elknate. 

paffing  any  cenfure   on  him  for  his  MiaMB^^^^^^HBI  ft 
brigadier-geneniL 

•  While  hoftilitiea  were  thua  carried  ,_^^^__r 
aorth^  the  flame  of  contention  %traa  S*^<^lv4l^lHHRHfi|lM  in 
the  fouth.  Lord  Dunmore,  the  govenior  of :  ^nj^pppwil  in- 
volved in  difputea  fimiiar  to  thole  which  had  li$ei|  piece  in 
other  coloniea.  There  had  proceeded,  lb  far  thai  the  aflembly 
waa  diflblved ;  which  in  thia  province  wM  attended  with  a  con- 
<e(|uence  unknown  to  the  reft.  Aa  Virginia  contained  •  gre>t 
number  of  (lavea,  it  waa  necellary  that  a  mtU(ia  Ihoiild  be  kept 
conftantly  on  foot  to  keep  them  In  awe.  During  the  diflblution 
of  the  afliembly  the  militia-law  expired ;  and  the  people,  after 
comphining  of  the  danger  they  were  in  from  the  negroes,  form* . 
ed  a  convention,  which  -naAed,  that  each  country  ihould  raile 
e  quota  fpr  the  defence  of  the  province.  Dunmore,  on  thii, 
removed  the  powder  from  Williamlburg  i  which  created  fuch  dii- 
Gontisnta,  that  an  immediate  quarrel  would  probably  have  enfucd, 
had  not  the  merchants  of  the  town  undertaken  to  obtain  liitis- 
fiiftion  for  the  injury  fuplpc^ied  to  be  done  to  the  community. 
Thia  tranquillity,  however,  waa  Toon  interrupted  ;  the  people, 
alarmed  by  a  report  that  an  armed  party  on  their  way  from  the 
man  of  war  where  the  powder  had  been  depofited,  aflcrnbled  in 
>rms,  and  determined  to  oppofe  by  force  any  farther  removals. 
In  fome  of  the  conferences  which  paffed  at  this  time,  the  Gover- 
nor let  fall  fome  unguarded  expreffions,  fuch  a^  threatening  them 
with  fetting  up  the  royal  ftandt^rd,  proclaiming  liberty  to  the 
negroes,  deftroying  the  town  of  Williamfburg,  4ic.  which  were 
afterwards  made  public,  and  exaggerated  in  fuch  a  manner  as 
greatly  to  increafethc  public  fertr  eu'. 

The  people  now  held  frequent  alTembHes.  Some  of  them  took 
up  arms  with  adeiign  to  force  the  governor  to  rcdore  tlic  powder, 
atnd  to  take  the  public  money  into  their  own  pofleflion  :  but  on 
their  way  to  Williamfburg  for  this  purpofe,  they  were  met  by 
the  receiver-general,   who  becagie    fecurity  '  .   the  payment  for 

Vol.  I.  .  3  S 


498 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  gunpowder,  and  the  inhabitants  promifed  to  Uke  care  of  the 
magazine  and  public  revenue. 

By  this  infurre£lion  the  governor  was  fo  much  intimidated, 
that  he  lent  his  family  on  board  a  man  of  war.  He  himfelf, 
however,  iffiied  a  proclamation,  in  which  he  declared  the  beha* 
viour  of  the  perfon  who  promoted  the  tumult  treafonable,  ac- 
cufed  the  people'of  difaffedion,  &c.  On  their  part  they  were 
by  no  m«an|^«^de&cient  in  recriminating  \  and  fome  letters  of  his 
tO/Bri(ft|a:^l|j||^  about  the  fame  time  difcovered,  confequences 
enfued  «(i$i«pi^  ^'mthr  to  thofe  which  had  been  occafu>ned  by 
thofe  of  Mf^rlpielktnfon  at  Bofton. 

Itt  this,  fiiif'tkf  tonfufion  the  Governor  thought  h  neceflary  to 
fortify  iy«  |NilHse  with  arttilery,  and  procure  a  party  of  marine» 
to  goam  it.  Lord  North's  conciliatory  propofal  arriving  alfo 
about  the  hate  time,  he  ufed  his  utmoA;  endeavours  to  caufe  the 
people  to  comply  with  k.  The  arguments  he  ufed  weve  fuch  as 
mufl  do  him  honour ;  and  had  not  matters  already  gone  to  fuch 
a  pitch,  ^t  is  highly  probable  that  fome  attention  would  have 
been  paid  to  them.  '*  The  view,  he  faid,  in  which  the  colonies 
ought  to  behold  this  conciliatory  propofal  was  no  more  than  an 
earned  admonition  from  Great-Britain  to  relieve  her  wants  :  tha( 
the  utmoft  condefcendence  had  been  ufed  in  the  mode  of  appli- 
cation ;  no  determinate  fum  having  been  fixed,  as  it  was  thought 
mofc  worthy  of  Britifh  generoiity  to  take  what  they  thought 
could  be  conveniently  fpared,^  and  likeWife  to  leave  the  mode  of 
railing  it  to  themfelves,"  &c.  But  the  clamour  and  diflbti^a£iion 
were  now  fo  univerfal,  that  nothing  elfe  could  be  attended  to. 
The  Governor  had  called  an  affembly  for  the  purpofe  of  laying 
this  conciliatory  propofal  before  them ;  but  it  had  been  little  at- 
tended to.  The  affembly  began  their  feffion  by  ini^uiries  into 
the  ftate  of  the  magazine.  It  had  been  broken  into  by  fome  of 
the  townfmen ;  for  which  reafon  fpring-guns  had  been  placed 
there  by  the  Governor,  Which  difcharged  themielves  upon  the 
offenders  at  ::heir  entrance :  thefe  circumflances,  with  others  of  a 
llmilar  kind,  railed  fuch  a  violent  uproar,  that  as  foon  as  the  pre- 
liminary bufinefs  of  the  feffion  was  over,  the  Gdvcrnor  retired 
on  board  a  man  of  war,  informing  the  affembly  that  he  durft  no 
loR»;r  trufl  himfelf  on  ihore.  This  produced  a  long  courfe  of 
difputation,  which  ended  in  a  pofitive  refufal  of  the  Governor  to 
trud  himCelF  again  in  WiHiamfburg,.even  to  give  his  aifcnt  to  the 
bills,  which  could  not  be  palled  without  it,  and  though  the  af- 
fembly offered  to  bind  themfclves  for  his  perfonal  faiety.  .  In 
his  turn  he  rcqiiefled  them  to  meet  him  op  board  the  man  of  war, 
where  he  then  was;  but  this  propofal  was  rejcftcd,and  all  further 


!,*>' 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


499 


cerrefpondence  containing  the  leaft  appearance  of  friencHhip  was 
difcontinued. 

Lord  Dunmore,  thus  deprived  of  his  government,  attempted  to 
reduce  by  force  thofe  whom  he  could  no  longer  govern.  Some 
of  the  mod  flrenuous  adherents  to  the  Briti(h  caufe,  whom  their 
zeal  had  rendered  obnoxioua  at  home,  now  repaijrfd  t»  hi|n.     He 

'  was  alfo  joined  by  numbers  of  black  flavei.  Wi(lki|HrfiBLjiul  the 
afliftance  of  the  Brtttih  (hipping,  he  was  £nr  iiiiMpi!|p 
tb  carry  on  a  kind  of  predatory  war,  fuffick||ii^^|^"  ia4  cxaT- 
perate,  but  not  to  fubdue.  After  fome  in<5<il|l|pilainl|^ 
on  land,  proclaiming  liberty  to  the  flaves,  and-fetp|ji|-.|y'-  the  royal 
ftandard,  he  took  up  his  refidence  at  Norfolk^  Jk^llMfitime  town 
of  fome  confequence,  where  the  people  were  better  i^£bed  to 
Britain^  than  in  moft  other  places.  A  confiderable  force,  how- 
ever, was  coUefted  againft  him  ;  and  the  natural  impetuofity  of 
his  temper  prompting  him  -to  aft  againfl  them  with  more  courage 
than  caution,  he  was  entirely  defeated,  and  obliged  to  retire  to 
his  (hipping,  which  was  now  crowded  by  the  number  of  thofe 
who  had  incurred  the  refentment  of  the  Provincials. 

In,  the  mean  time  a  fcheme  of  the  utmoft  magnitude  and  im- 
portance was  formed  by  one  Mr.  ConoUy,  a  Pennfylvanian,  of 
an  intrepid  and  afpiring  difpofition,  and  attached  to  the  caufe  of 
Britain.  The  firft  ftep.of  this  plan  was  to  enter  into  a  league 
with  the  Ohio  Indians,  This  he  communicated  to  Lord  Dun- 
more,  and  it  received  his  approbation :  Upon  which  ConoUy  fet 
out,  and  aftually  fucceeded  in  his  detign.  On  his  return  he  was 
difpatched  to  General  Gage,  from  whom  he  received  a  colonel's 
commiflion,  and  fet  out  in  ord^r  to  accomplifh  the  remainder  of 
his  fcheme.  The  plan  in  general  was,  that  he  fhould  return  to 
the  Ohio,  where,  by  the  affiftance  of  the  Britifh  and  Indians  in 
thefe  parts,  he  was  to  penetrate  through  the  back  fettlements  into 
Virginia,  and  Join  Lord  Dunmore  at  Alexandria.  But  by  an 
accident  very  naturally  to  be  expe£led,  he  was  difcovered,  taken 
prifoner,  and  thrown  into  a  dungeon. 

In  the  fouthern  colonies  of  Carolina  the  governors  were  ex- 
pelled and  obliged  to  take  refuge  on  board  of  men  of  war,  as  Lord 
Dunmore  had  been  and  Mr.  Martin,  governor  of  North-Caro- 
lina, on  a  charge  of  attempting  to  raife  the  back-fcttlers,  confid- 
ing chiefly  of  Scots  Highlanders,  againfl:  the  colony.  Having 
fecured  themfelvcs  againfl  any  attempts  from  thefe  enemies,  how- 
ever, they  proceeded  to  regulate  their  internal  concerns  in  the 
fame  manner  as  tlie  reft  of  the  colonies  j  and  by  the  end  of  the 
year   1775)  Britain  beheld  the  whole  of  America  united  againfl 

'her  in  the  mod  determined  oppofition.     Her  vafl  pofTefrions  of 

3  S  a 


i 


fiOo 


HlSTOnrOF  THE 


thiit  trad  of  land  wer6  now  reduced  to  the  fingle  town  of  Bofton; 
in  which  her  forces,  were  befieged  by  an  enemy  with  whom  they 
were  apparently*  not  able  to  copf,  and  by  whom  they  mull  of 
,COurfe  expdCl  in  a  very  Ihort  time  to  be  expelled.  The  fuuation 
of  the  inhal>it8lits  of  fioflcn^  indeed,  was  peculiarly  unhappy. 
After  hayi^fiiled  in  their  attempts  to  leave  the  town,  General 
Cager  :him|yhttted  to  allow  them  to  retire  with  their  efFe£ls ; 
but  *)^^ii^iMi|tt^^  what  reafon  does  not  well  appear,  he  refufed 
to  f^i^^fw^^ppfe.  When  he  refigned  his  place  to  General 
Howt  itl1C|iM|piV775,  the  latter,  apprehenfive  that  they  might 
give  intd|ifm^  ,  of  the  /ituation  of  the  firitiih  troops,  ilrtfUy 
prohibit«iii  «ny  pcrfoii  from  leaving  the  place  under  pfiin  of  mili« 
tary  executibn.  Thus  matters  continued  till  the  month  of  March 
1 7  76,  when  the  town  was  evacuated. 

On  the  ad  of  that  month,  General  Wafliington  opened  a  bat- 
tery on  the  weft  (ide  of  the  town,  from  whence  it  was  bombarded 
with  a  heavy  fire  of  cannon  at  the  fame  time ;  and  three  days  after, 
it  was  a(  lacked  by  another  battery  from  the  eaftern  fhore.  This 
terrible  attack  continued  for  fourteen  days  without  intermiffion  ; 
when  General  Howe,  finding  the  place  no  longer  tenable,  deter- 
mined if  poflible  to  drive  the  enemy. 'from  their  works.  Prepa- 
rations were  therefore  made  for  a  mod  vigorous  attack  on  an 
hill  called  Dorchefler  Neck,  which  the  Americans  had  fortified 
in  fuch  a  manner  as  would  in  all  probability  have  rendered  the- 
enterprife  next  to  defperate.  No  difficulties,  however,  were  fuf- 
ficient  to  daunt  the  fpirit  of  the  general  ;  and  every  thing  was  in 
readinefs,  when  a  dorm  prevented  this  intended  exertion  of  firix. 
tifh  valour.  Next  day,  upon  a  more  clofe  infpeftion  of  the 
works  they  were  to  attack,  it  was  thought  adviieable  to  defift 
from  the  cnterprife  altogether.  The  fortifications  were  very 
ftrong,  and  extremely  well  provided  with  artillery  ;  and  befides 
other  implements  of  deflru£lion,  upwards  of  one  hundred  hogf^ 
heads  of  ftones  were  provided  to  roll  down  upon  the  enemy  9\ 
they  came  up ;  which,  as  the  afcent  was  extremely  deep,  mafk 
have  done  prodigious  execution. 

Nothing  therefore  now  remained  but  to  think  of  a  retreat ; 
and  even  this  was  attended  with  the  utmoft'  difficulty  and  danger. 
The  Americans,  however,  knowing  that  it  was  in  the  power  of 
Briti{h  general  lo  reduce  the  town  to  alhes,  which  could  not 
have  been  repaired  in  many  years,  did  not  think  proper  to  give 
the  leaft  moleftation  ;  and  for  the  Ipace  of  a  fortnight  the  troops 
were  employed  in  the  evacuation  of  the  place,  fiom  whence  they 
carried  along  with  them  two  thoufand  of  the  inhabitants,  who 
duril  not  ftay  on  account  of  their  attachment  to  the  Britilh  caufe, 
from  BoHon  they  failed  to  Halifax  ;  but  all  their  vigilance  could 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 


2^ 


Bofton; 
om  they 
mull  of 
fituatipn 
mhappy. 
General 
■  effeds; 
;  refufed 
General 
ey  might 
,  -ftriaiy 
1  of  mili- 
af  March 

ted  a  bat- 
>mbarded 
ays  after, 
«.     This 
rmiflion ; 
Ic,  dctcr- 
Prepa- 
;k  on  an 
fortified 
ered  tho- 
were  fuf- 
l  was  in 
n  of  firi>« 
of  the 
to  defift 
re  very 
d  befidcs 
ed  hogf- 
snemy  a«^ 
:p,  muj^ 

retreat; 

danger, 
[)ower  of 
iuld  not 

to  give 
^c  troops 

ice  they 

Its,  who 
kh  caufe. 
be  could 


not  prievent  a  number  of  valuable  ihips  from  falling  into  the  hand* 
of  the  enemy.  A  confiderable  quantity  of  cannoh  arid  ammupi^ 
tion  had  alfo  been  left  at  Bunker's  Hill  and  Bofton  Neck;  and  itt 
the  town,  an  immenfe  variety  of  goods,  principally  woollen  and 
linen,  of  which  the  pirovincials  ftood  very  much  in  nee<l.  The 
eftates  of  thofe  who  fled  to  Halifax  were  confifcated ;  «•  aqfo  tlMife 
who  were  attached  to  government,  and  had  rremainea  miyp|.|oy-iu 
As  an  attack  was  expe£led  as  foon  as  the  Britilh 
arrive,  every  method  was  employed  to  render  tlw  *| 
already  very  (Irong,  impregnable.  IVir  this  purpole 
engineers  wefe  employed,  who  ha(1  he  .ic  arrived  at  Bt^PII!i|~«^ 
fo  eager  wer6  people  of  all  ranks  to  accomplifh  this  bufiii^  that 
every  able-bodied  man  in  the  place,  without  diftin^ion  of  rank 
fet  apart  two  days  in  the  week,  to  coimiletc  it  the  fooher. 

The  Americans  about  this  tim«j  began  to  be  influenced  by  new 
views.  The  military  arrangements  of  the  preceding  year — their 
unexpeCbed  union,  and  prevailing  enthufiafm,  expanded  the  minds 
of  their  leaders,  and  elevated  the  fentiments  of  the  great  body  'of 
their  people.  Deciilive  meafures  which  would  have  been  lately 
reprobated,  now  met  with  approbation. 

The  favourers  of  fubordination  under  the  former  conilitution, 
urged  the  advantages  of  a  fupreme  head,  to  controul  the  difputc* 
of  interfering  colonies,  and  alfo  the  benefits  which  flowed  from 
union;  aivd  that  independence  was  untried  ground,  and  (hould 
not  be  entered  upon  but  in  the  lafl:  extrimety.  ,. 

They  flattered  thcmfelves  that  Great  Britain  was  fo  fully  con- 
vinced of  the  determined  fpirit  of  America,  that  if  this  prelent 
controverfy  was  compromifed,  fhe  would  not  at  any  future  period 
refume  an  injurious  exercife  of  her  fupremacy.  They  were  there- 
fore for  proceeding  no  farther  than  to  defend  themfelves  in  the 
chara£fcer  of  fubjefls,  trufling  that,  ere  long  the  prefent  hoflile 
meafures  wouh)  be  relincjuiflied,  and  the  harmony  of  the  two 
countries  re-ef*1>li(hcd.     The  favourers  of  this  fyftem  were  em, 
barraflcd,  and  all  their  arguments  weakened  by  the  perfcvcrance 
of  Great-Britain  in  her  fchemes  of  coercion.     A  probable  hope  of 
.afpecdy  repeal  of  a  few  a£b  of  Parliament  would  have  greatly  in« 
creafed  the  number  of  thofe  who  were  advocates  for  reconciliation. 
But  the  certainty  of  intelligence  to  the  contrary  gave  additional 
force  to  the  arguments  of  the  oppofite  party.      Though  new 
weight  was  daily  thrown  into  the  fcale,  in  which  the  advantages 
of  independence  were  weighed,  yet  it  did  not  preponderate  till 
ibput  that  time  in  1776,  when  intelligence  reached  the  Colonics 
;of  theaA  of  Parliament  pafled  in  December  1775,  for  throwing 
them  out  of  Britilh  protcftion,  and  of  hiring  foreign  troops  to 
iflift  in  cffcfting  their  conijucft,'    Refpefting  the  |i»ll  it  was  laid, 


\ 


502 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


**that  proCeft^on  and  allegiance  were  recit>rocaI,  and  that  the 
refufal  of  the  firft  was  a  legal  ground  of  juftification  for  withhold, 
ing  the  laft.*'  They  confidered  themfelves  to  be  thereby  dif. 
charged  from  their  allegiance,  and  that  to  declare  themfelves  in* 
dependent  was  no  more,  than  to  announce  to  the  world  the  rea^ 
political  ftate  in  which  Great  Britain  had  placed  them.  This  aft 
pimlll* J^t  the  Colonifts  might  conftitutionally  declare  them. 
ipji^ili|j^pendent,  but  the  hiring  of  foreign  troops  to  make  war 
timiiflipiit  demonftrated  the  neceflity  of  their  doing  it  immedi* 
AH^yir^l^j^key  reafoned  that  if  Great-3ritain  called  in  the  aid  of 
^|i|^|il^ito  crufh  them,  they  muft  feek  fimilar  relief  for  their 
own  prefervation.  But  they  well  knew  this  could  not  be  ex* 
peCked,  while  they  were  in  arms  againfl:  their  acknowledged  So- 
vereign, They  had  therpfore  only  a  choice  of  difficulties,  and 
muft  either  (eek  foreign  aid  as  independent  dates,  or  continue  in 
the  aukward  and  hazardous  fituation  of  fubje£ls,  carrying  on  war 
from  their  own  refources,  both  againft  the  King,  and  fuch  mer.. 
f;enaries  as  he  chofe  to  employ  for  their  fubjugation.  Nece(rit)r 
not  choice,  forced  them  on  the  decifion.  Submifllon,  without 
obtaining  a  redrpfs  of  their  grievances,  was  advocated  by  none  I 
who  pofleflTed  the  public  confidence.  Some  of  the  popular  lead-> 
crs  may  have  fecretly  wiflied  for  independence  from  the  begin* 
ning  of  the  controverfy,  but  their  number  was  fmall  and  their  I 
fentimcnts  were  not  generally  known. 

While  the  public  mind  was  balancing  on  this  eventful  fubjeft,] 
fcveral  writers  placed  the  advantages  of  independence  in  various 
points  of  view.  Among  thefe  Thomas  Paine  in  a  pamphlet,  under 
the  fignature  of  Common  Sen/e,  held  the  moft  diftinguifhed  rank. 
The  (lile,  .nanner,  and  language  of  this  performance  was  calcu< 
Jated  to  intereft:  the  paflions,  and  to  roufe  all  the  aftive  powers  of] 
human  nature.     With  a  view  of  operating  on  the  fentiments  oft  I 
religious  people.  Scripture  was  prefled  into  his  fervice,  and  the  I 
powers,  and  even  the  name  of  a  king  was  rendered  odious  in  the  I 
eyes  of  the  numerous  Colonifts  who  had  readsnd  ftudied  the  hif-J 
tory  of  the  Jews,  as  recorded  in  the  Old  Tefbment.    The  folly] 
of  that  people  in  revolting  from  a  government,  inftituted  by  Hea>[ 
ven  itfelf,  and  the  oppreffions  to  which  they  were  fubje6led  inj 
confequence  of  their  lufting  after  kings  to  rule  over  them,  afFordJ 
ed  an  excellent  handle  for  pre-pofleifing  th«  Colonifts  in  favourl 
of  republican  inftitutions,  and  prejudicing  them  againft  kihglyl 
government.      Hereditary    fucccflion  was  turned  into  ridicule.! 
The  abfurdir*' of  fubjcfting  a  great,  continent  to  a  fmall  iflandoni 
the  other  fide  of  the  globe,  was  rcprcfentcd  in  fuch  ftrikin^  lami 
guage,  as  to  intereft  the  honour  and  pride  of  the  Colonifts  in  r^j 
nouncing  the  government  of  Great- Britain,     The  neceflity,  tb«l 


AMiRICA^  kEt^OLVTlON. 


5<5J 


and  that  the 
for  withhold, 

thereby  dif. 
themfclves  in* 
inrorld  the  rei^ 
cm.  This  tk 
declare  them- 
s  to  make  war 
ting  it  immcdi' 
in  the  aid  of 
dief  for  their 
lid  not  be  cx» 
nowledged  So- 
lifBcultics,  and 

or  coutinue  in 
larrying  on  wir 
and  fuch  mer- 
on,  Neceflity, 
liflion,  without 
rotated  by  none 
e  popular  lead- 
•rem  the  begin* 

fmallandtheirl 


advantage,  and  practicability  of  independence  were  forcibly  de- 
monftrated.  Nothing  could  be  better  timed  than  this  performance) 
it  was  addreiTed  to  freemen,  who  had  juft  received  convincing 
proof,  that  Great- Britain  had  thrown  them  but  of  her  proteClion* 
had  engaged  foreign  mercenaries  to  make  war  upon  them,  an<i 
lierioufly  defigned  to  compel  their  unconditional  fubmiflidn  to  her 
unlimited  power.     It  found  .the  Coloniils  moft  thoroughly  alarm- 
ed for  their  liberties,  and  difpofed  to  do  and  fuffer  any  ttdijtg  that 
promifed  their  eftablilhrnent.     In  union  with  the  feelte||i  afid 
fentiments  of  the  people,  it  produced  furprifing  cfFe^    liifany 
thoufands  were  convinced,  and  were  led  to  approve  and  loim  lor 
a  feparation  from  the  Mother  Country.     Though  that  meil^ure,  a 
few  months  before,  was  not  only  foreign  from  their  wilhes,  but 
the  obje^l  of  their  abhorrence,  the  current  iuddenly  became  fo 
ftrong  in  its  favour,  that  it  bore  down  all  oppofition.    The  multi. 
tude  was  hurried  down  th&  ftream,  but  foihe  worthy  men  could 
I  not  cafily  reconcile  themfclves  to  the  idea  of  an  eternal  feparation 
I  froDi  a  eountry  to  which  they  had  been  long  bound  by  the  moil 
endearing  ties.     They  faw  the  fword  drawn,  but  could  not  teU 
when  it  would  be  (heathed ;  they  feared  that  the  difperfed  indi* 
viduals  of  the  feveral  Colonies  would  not  be  brought  to  coalefce 
under  an  efficient  government,  and  that  after  much  anarchy,  fome 
future  Casfar  would  grafp  their  liberties,  and  confirm  hirafelf  on  a 
throne  of  defpotifm.    They  doubted  the  perfeverance  of  their 
countrymen  in  efFe&ing  their  independence,  and  were  alfo  appre- 
ihenfive  that  in  cafe  of  fuccefs,  their  future  condition  would  be 
left  happy  than  their  paft.     Some  refpeCt^ble  individuals  whofe 
Iprinciples  were  pure,  but  whofe  fouls  were  not  of,  that  firm  tex- 
Iture  which  revolutions  require,  flirunk  back  from  the  bold  mea. 
Ifures  propofed  by  their  more  adventurous  countrymen.    To  fub. 
Imit  without  an  appeal  to  Heaven,  though  fecretly  wifhed  for  by 
jfome,  was  not  the  avowed  fentiment  of  any;  but  to  perfeverc  in 
jpctitioning  and  refifting,  was  the  fyftem  of  fome  mifguided  honcft 
ncn.  The  favoDters  0f  this  opinion  were  generally  wanting  in  that 
iiecirioii>|which  grafps  at  great  obje£b,  and  influenced  by  that; 
timid  poUcy  which  does  its  work  by  halves.     Mofl  of  them  dread- 
kd  the  power  of  Britain.     A  few,  on  the  fcore  of  inteveft,  or  an 
xpe^ncy  of  favours  from  royal  government,  refufcd  to  concur 
vith  the  general  voice.     Some  of  the  natives  of  the  Parent  State, 
irho  having  lately  fettled  in  the  Colonics,  had  not  yet  exchanged 
Dropean  for  American  ideas,  together  with  a  few  others,  con- 
tientioufly  oppofcd  the  meafures  of  Congrefs ;  but  the  great  bulk 
Y  the  people,  and  efpccially  of  the  fpirited  and  independent  part 
ths  community,  came  with  furprifing  unanimity  into  the  pro* 
|tft  9f  independence. 


504 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


The  Americans,  <ttms  cxafperated  to  the  utmoft  by  the  proceed* 
ings  of  parliament,^  now  formally  renounced  all  connexion  with 
Britain,  and  declarect  themfelVes  independent.  This  celebrated 
declaration  was  publiflied  on  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  and  is  a» 
follows: 

**  When,  in  the  courfc  of  human  events,  it  becomes  neeeiTary 
for  (me  people  to^  diflbhre  the  political  bands  which  have  con- 
moSttA  them  with  Another,  and  to  afTume  among  the  powers  of  the 
t»ith  lijlfepirate  and  equal  ftation  to  which  thelawsof  nature  and  of 
aii|igiB||i  God  entitle  ^^c°**  ^  decent  refpcft  to  the  opinions  of  man* 
jMtf%^||utrc8  that  they  (hould  declare  the  caufes  which  impel 
i\e#|i»  the  (eparatiom 

'*  We  hold  thefe  truths  to  be  felf-evident :  That  all  men  are 
created  ec^ual ;  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  cer^ 

tain  unaliei,  AA»  rights ;  that  among  thel'e  are  life,  liberty,  and  the, 
purfuit  of  happinefs}  that  to  fecure  thefe  rights  governments  ^re 
inftituted  among  men,  deriving  their  juft  powers  from  the  con. 
fent  of  the  governed}  that  whenever  any  form  of  government 
becomes  deftruftive  of  thefe  ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to 
alter  or  to  aboliih  it,  and  to  inftitute  a  nev*  government,  laying 
its  foundation  on  fuch  principles,  and  organizing  its  powers  in 
fuch  form,  as  to  them  ihall  feem  moft  likely  to  eflFe£l  their  fafety 
and  happinefs.  Prudence,  indeed,  will  di£Ute,  that  govern- 
ments long  eftablilhed  (hould  not  be  changed  for  light  and  tran* 
Aent  caufes  $  and  accordingly  all  experience  hath  fhewn,  that 
mankind  are  more  difpofed  to  fuffer  while  evils  are  fuiferable, 
than  to  right  themfelves  by  aboliihing'  the  forms  to  which  they 
are  accuftomed.  But  when  a  long  train  of  abufes  and  ufurpations, 
purfuing  invariably  the  fame  objef);,  evinces  a  dcftgn  to  reduce 
them  under  abfolute  defpotifm,  it  is  their  right,  it  is  their  duty, 
to  throw  off  fuch  governti|pnt,  and  to  provide  new  guards  for 
their  future  fecurity.  Such  has  been  the  patient  fufFerance  of 
thefe  Colonies ;  and  fuch.  is  now  the  necefltty  which  conftrains 
them  to  alter  their  former  fyflems  of  government.  The  hiftory 
of  the  prefent  king  of  Great-Britain  is  a  hiftory  of  repeated  inju- 
ries and  ufurpations,  all  having  in  dire£i  obje£t  the  cAiablifhment 
of  an  abfolute  tyranny  over  thefe  States.  To  prove  this,  let  fafts 
be  fubmitted  to  a  candid  world. 

"  He  has  refufed  his  aflent  to  laws  the  moft  wholefome  and  nc- 
ceflary  for  the  public  good. 

*'  lie  has  forbidden  his  governors  to  pafs  laws  of  immediate  and  I 
prcffing  importance,  unlefs  fufpendcd  in  their  operation  tillhi?! 
ail'cnt  Ihould  be  obtained ;  and  when  fo  fufpend[ed,  he  has  utterly] 
neglc£led  to  attend  to  them. 


American  REvoj^t^TjON. 


fi03 


*'  He  has  rcfufed  to  pafs  other  laws  Sqx\  thjo  accommocUtion  of 
large  didrifls  of  people,  unlefs  thofe  |fcopIe  would  relmqulfh  the 
Hght  of  reprefcntation  in  the  leglflature  }  a  right  ineftimable  to 
them,  fnd  formidable  to  tyrants  only. 

"  He  has  called  together  legillativc  bodies  at  places  unufual, 
uncomfortable,  and  di^ant  from  the  depofitory  of  their  public 
records,  iqr  the  folc  purpofe  of  fatiguing  them  into  compliance 
with  his  meafures.    .    , 

"  He  has  diffolved  repfcfcntative  houfes  repeatedly^;;  for  oppof- 
ing  with  manly  Urmnefs  his  invaftpns  pti  the  rights  dflho  people. 

"  He  has   refufcd,  for  a-  loirg  time  after  fuch  diiTolutions,  to 
cawfe  others  to  be  ele£led  ;  whereby  the  legiftative  powers^  inca-. 
pable  of  annihilation,^  hav?  returned  to  the  people  at  largr  for  their 
jekercire,;  the  State. remaining  in  the  mean  time  expofcd  to  all  the 
danger  o^  in vafi on  from  without,  and  convulHons  within. 

"He  has  endeavoured  tq  prevent  the  population  of  thefe 
States  -y  for  that  purpofe  ^b{lru£l ing  the  laws  for  naturalization  of 
foreigners  ;  refuting  to  pafs  others  to  encourage  their  niigrAtioi:\s 
hither ;  and  raif^ng  the  conditions  of  new  appropriations  of  lands. 

f*  He  has  obHrufted  the  adminiftration  of  ju(lice,  by  jofufHig 
his  aflent  to  laws  for  eftablifliing  judiciary  powfjiTSj  •     ,      , 

"  He  has  made  judges  dependent  on  his  will  alupft  fort^^ 
tenure  of  their  oificea,  and  the  amount  .^nd  .paymentrO^^heir 

falaries.    ,.f3ii(f/nj  ijio  Yn  mu  ::6mm-9th uk-  ;  •  bnu^'V^r-b 

**  He  haS'  erefted  a  teultitudc  of  jScw  !  :o0i.ccs,  and  knt  f  WtHcr 

fvvarms  of  olficera.  td  h»rr«r«  our,pe<}{>l^  and  c«^t  Jou,t  ^khfiir  iu^ 

D.'fHc  has  kdpt  amongus,  in  ttmos, of. peace,  Aandin^  ifxniefif 
without  the  oonfent  df  our  legifla'tures^  , ,   v  :    -  Uv '  b  ^  i»WI«JS  noyo 

"He  has  jefFc&ci^:torlcender  the  militaty  inidependdtU'bf,  and 
fuperior  to^  the  ciwl  power.  '  -J  r  •  >  .-Atn  ii  m)  •■  « 
'■'•^  H«  ^^akcoinblnediwtth  othersto  . fubjeltcus  .to  a  jUrifdiftion 
foreign' 'tiyoar  conftttution,  and  uaacknowlledged  by.  :qus' la  ws ; 
(filing.  Ms^iiKint  to  their  a6ls  of  pretended  legiilation  :?  -'~,ui»l\.-  > 
I  t"  For  qwil^i'ii^g large  bodies  of  afmed  troqps  amoilg  us ; . 
'  V  For  piroteS^ingf  them,  by  a  mock-tria},  from  punifhmcnt  for 
any  ihurder».>Which  they  ihduld  Convmt  Q(k  thf  iiihabitat^p^  o£  t'beie 
Slates:     .:     .  :   ■  ■■  .;   -'ovMih    --J   /    •,  :  ,       si-n...v  t 

.V  **  For.  cutting  off  our  trade  with, all, pa  fits  of  ih-i.  yv^orl^jK^iv  >;;i 
—  ."  For  impHofing;taxe&on  Mi  without  otir^conferu  Jt^xl  t»vfirf'^oc.j 
r. .  T«i«  For  depviviug  uss,  ia  nuiny ;  ic8fiEia,i,0|f  )the  >hene£it!s  of  xtuVhi^ 
jwfy';   ^-w   i  »  fJvfc  &:!■  ^ImiJ  pw  tt  jnfJiij  bicri  bftn   ^nMJint'iiiys    >n'» 

"  For  tranfporting  us  beyond  i>fi?rt*H0';lB«qtwi:d:rfar.-^i»ti?P^4 
OiFences  :'  'j  i\V  :.'i?  '(o  ?9";  i.'r3l*?-n:p>;      M  ,:;■:<>:  -.^.h  ^U  •* 
■  Yoj.  -I.  :ii  oJ  prtiIii»fj<M;  ^hn[6ui'Sl'^ sEvjaoJ  Jkion-jO  iii  ,»« j-iiiA 


B^ 


tirstokY  OF  tut 


(( 


For  aboltfhing  tho  free  ryftcm  of  Englifli  laws  in  a^fgh6ou^> 
xng  province,  cftaMiflnng  therein  an  arbitrary  government^  and! 
enlarging  its  boundaries,  fo  as  to  render  it  at  once  an  example 
and  fit  indrutnent  for  introducing  the  fame  abjjblutc  rule  into 
thcfe  colonies : 

'*  For  talcing  away  our  charters,  abolifhing  our  moft  valuable 
laws,  and  altering  fundamentally  the  forms  of  out  governments  t 

"  For  fuf|»ending  our  own  legiflatures,  and  declaring  themfelves 
invefted  with  jiower  to  legiflate  for  us  in  alt  eafes  whatfoever. 

"  H«  hal  abdicated*  government  here,  by  declaring  us  out  of 
his  protcdtion^  and  waging  wat  againft  us. 

"  He  \iA*  plundered  our  feas,  ravaged  our  coafts^  burnt  our 
towns,  and  deftroyed  the  lives  of  our  people. 

**  He  is,  at  this  time^  iranfporting  lal-ge  armies  of  foreign  mer- 

•  ccnaries  to  complete  the  works  of  death,  defoktion,  and  tyranny, 

already  begun  wkh  circumftances'  of  cruelty  and  perfidy  fcarcely 

paralleted  in  the  mod  barbarous  ages,  and  totally  unworthy  the 

head  of  a  civilized  nation. 

"  He  has  conilraineii  our  fclloW'Citizens,  taken  c^tive  on  the 
high   feas,  to  bear  arms-  a^ind  their  counifry,  to  become  the 

executioners  of  their  friends  and  brethren,  or  to  fall  themfelves 
by  their  hMids.. 

'*^  He  lft£  excited  domefti<e  rnfurre£);ion»  tmongft  ut^  and  has  en- 
deavoured to  brin^  on  the  fnhabitants  of  our  frontiers^  the  mer* 
cilefs  Indiftn  favages,  whofc  known  rule  of  warfare,  is  alt  undif- 
Ctnguiflied  deftruftion  of  all  ages^  fexes,  and  conditions. 

"  In  ever)'   ftage  of  thefe  oppreffions  we  have  petitioned^fbr 
redrefs  in  the  mod  humble  terms :  our  repeated  petitions  have 
ibeen  anfwiered  only  by  repeated  injury*    A  prince  whofe  cha- 
ira&er  h  thu*  marked  by  every  aft  which  ma.y  define  a  tyranti  i» 
unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  free  people.  I* 

*■''  Nor  have  we  been  wanting  to  oxir  3riti{h  bre^Yeh.  We 
luve  warned  them  iiwa  time  to  time  of  attempts  andie  by  their 
legiflature  to  extend  an  unwarrantable  jurifdi^eniOvCF  us.  We 
have  reminded  them-of  the  circumftances  of  dot  eili^ratioa.  and 
fettlemcnt  here.  We  have  appealed  to  tk«ir  native  judice  and 
magnanimity,  tnd  we  have  conjiirtsd  them,  by  the  ties  of  our 
common  kindred,  to  difavow  thefe  ufurpations,  which  would 
inevitably  interrupt  oar  connexions  and  correfpondcnce.  They, 
too,  have  been  ifeaf  to  the  voice  of  judice  and  conCinguinky.— » 
We  mud,  therefore,  «c<|aiefce  in  the  neceflsty  which  denounce» 
om:  fepantion,  and  hold  them,  as  we  hold  the  reft  of  mankind^ 
enemiefr  in  war,  in  peace  friends.  i'  ^   • 

«  We,  therefore,  the  Reprefentatives  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  in  General  Congreis  fffbmbkd,  appealing  to  the  Supreme 


AMEMICAN  REVOLUTJOir, 


601 


Judge  of'tlie  world  for  the  ceCkitude  of  our  Intentions,  do,  in  the 
lume  and  6y  the  avthority  of  the  good  people  of  thefe  colonies* 
folqnnly  publifli  and  dcjclarr,  That  thefe  United  Colonies  arc, 
sad  of  right  Q^g^  ^<>  ^t  ^ *"  *^^  iNDiriiroiMT  Statu  ;  that 
they  are  abGol^^ed  from  all  allegiance  to  the  Britifh  crown,  and 
that  all  political  cofincftion  between  them  and  the  State  of  Gvcat- 
Britain  it,  apd  ought  to  be,  touUy  diflbived ;  and  that  as  free 
jand  Independent  States,  they  h»ye  full  power  to  levy  war,  con- 
clude peace,  contraA  alliances,  cftablifli  commerce,  wd  to  do  all 
4}ther  »6U  and  things  which  Independent  States  may  of  right  do« 
And  for  the  fupport  of  this  DecUratto^,  with  a  firm  rdiance  on 
the  prote&ion  of  Divine  Providence,  we  mutually  pledge  to  each 
other  our  lively  our  fortunes,  and  our  facred  honour*" 

Previous  to  this  a  circular  letter  had  been  fent  through  each 
colony,  ftating  the  rcafons  for  it ;  and  fuch  was  the  snimofity 
now  every  where  prevailing  againft  Grrat>Britain,  thut  it  met 
with  univeriid  approbation,  except  in  the  province  of  Maryland 
alone.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  people  of  that  co. 
lony,  finding  themfielves  left  in  a  very  dangerous  minority,  thought 
proper  to  accede  to  the  meafures  of  the  reft.  The  manifefko  it* 
ielf  was  much  in  the  ufual  ftyle,  ftating  a  long  lift  of  grievances, 
for  whijch  redrefs  had  been  often  applied  for  in  vain  s  and  for 
thefe  reafons  they  determined  on  a  final  feparation  ;  to  hold  the 
|>eople  of  Britain  ^s  the  reft  of  mankind,  "  enemies  in  wai:,  in 
'  peace  friends." 

After  thus  publicly  throwing  off  all  allegiance  and  hope  of  re- 
conciliation, the  colonifts  foon  found  t)iat  an  exertion  of  all  their 
ftrength  was  required  in  order  to  fupport  their  pretentions. 
Their  arms,  indeed,  had  not,  during  this  fcafon,  been  attended 
with  fuccefs  in  Canada.  Reinforcements  had  been  promifed  to 
Colonel  Arnold,  who  ftill  continued  the  blockade  of  Quebec  4 
but  they  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  fecond  his  operations.  Being 
fenfible,  however,  that  he  muft  eithef  defift  from  the  enterprife, 
or  finifli  it  fuccefsfuUy,  he  recomnieqced  in  form  ;  attempting  to 
bum  the  ftiipping,  and  even  to  ftorm  the  town  itfelf.  They  were 
unfuccefsful,  however,  by  reafon  of  the  fmai|lne(s  of  their  num- 
ber, though  they  fucceeded  fo  f^r  as  to  burn  a  number  of  houfes 
in  the  iuburbs  ;  and  the  garrifon  were  obliged  to  pull  4own  the 
remainder,  in  order  to  prevent  the  fir^  from  fpwading. 

As  the  provincials,  though  unable  to  reduce  the  town,  kept  the 
garriibn  in  continual  alarms,  and  in  a  very  difagreeable  fituation, 
fome  of  the  nobility  collected  themielves,  into  a  body  under  the 
command  of  one  Mr.  Beaujeau,  in  order  to  relieve  their  capital ; 
but  they  were  met  on  their  march  by  Che  provincials,  and  io  cu- 

3Ta 


508   * 


^^^^STORY  OF  THE 


'  •  •  • 

tifety 'defeated,  that  tii«y  wtfre  never  aftcrwaids  able  to  attempt 
any  thing.  The  Americans,  however,  had  but  little  reafon  to* 
pluine  thcnifclves  oti  this  fuc^cfs.  Their  waht  of  artfHe*  y  at  laft 
convinced  tlieip,  that  ii*  was  iihprafticable  in  their  fituatittn  to  re- 
duce 4  place To  ftrongly  fortified  :  the  fmall-pox  at  the  fame  time' 
rnad^  its  appearance  in  their  camp,  and  carried  off  great  numbers^ 
intitiiidatiwg  theVeft  W  fuch  a  degree,  that  they  defcrted  in  crowds. 
To  add^t^'^l^^ir  hiisfortuties,  the  Britiih  reinforcements  unexpeft- 
cdly  9p.p(eafe<f,  and  the  fliipg  made  their  way  through  the  ice  with 
fu(fh  celetir^,  tlikt  the  one  part  of  their  army  was  icparated  from' 
the  other*;  and  General  Carleton  fallying  out  as  fgon  as  the  rein* 
forcemenik-wiis  landed,  obliged  them  to  fly  with  the  i\tmofl:  prcci-^, 
pitation,  leaving  behihd  them  all  their  cannon  and  military  flores } 
af  "the  fame  time  that  their  fhipping  was  entirely  captured  by  vef* 
fell  fent  up  the  river  for  that  purpofe.  On  this  occafion  the 
provinciab  fled  with  fuch  precipitation  that  they  could  nQt  be 
overtaken  ;  fo  that  nonti  felt  into  the  hands  of  the  Britifli  except? 
ingthe  iick  and  wounded.  General  Caricton  now  gave  a  signal 
inilanoe  of  his  humanity :  Being  well  apprifed  that  ^lany  of  the 
provincials  had  not  been  able  to  accompany  the  reil  in  their  re. 
treat,  and  that  they  were  concealed  in  woods j  &Ci  in  a  very  de^ 
plorable  Tituation,  he  generoufly  iflued  a  proclamation,  ordering 
proper  perfoAs  to  feck,  them  out,  and  give  them  relief  at  the  pubr 
lie  expcnce  }  at  the  fame  time,  left,  through  fear  of  being  made 
prifonres,  they  fliouldrefufethefe  offers  of  humanity,  he  promiled, ' 
thatj  as  loon  as  their  fituation  enabled  them,  fhey  ihould  be  at 
liberty  to  depart  to  their  refpeUivcs  homes. 

The  firitifh  general,  now  freed  fropi  any  danger  of  ap  attack 
was  foon  enabled  toact  ofFenfively  pgainfl  (he  provincials,  by  th^ 
arrival  of  the  forces  dcftincd  for  that  purpofe  from  Britain.  By 
ihcfc  he  was  put  at  the  head  of  twelve  thpufund^iregular  troopst, 
jjmottg  whom  were  thole  of  Brvinfwick.  With  tl^s  fprce  he  iti- 
ilaintly  fet  out  to  the  Three  Rivers,  where  he  expeflcd  that  Arnold 
would  have  made  a  iland  ;  but  he  had  lied  to.Sorel,  a  place  one 
huadred  and  fifty  miles  diflant  from  Quebec,  where  he  was  at 
hit  met  by  the  reinforcements  ordered,  by  Congrefs.  Here 
though*  the  preceding  events  were  by  no  means  calculated  to  in- 
fpir«  much  military  ardour,  a  very  daring  entcrprife  was  under, 
taken,-  and  this  was  to  furprife  the  Britifli  troops  pofted  here  un- 
der Generals  Frai'er  and  Nt-fbit  ;of  "tvhom  the  former  commanded 
ihofe  on  land,  the  latter  fuch  as  were  on  boprd  of  tranfports,  anjl 
were  but  a  little  way  diflant.  The  efiterppf(f  was  undoubtedly 
very  hazardous,  both  on  account  of  the  ftrength  of  the  parties 
againfl  whom  they  were  to  aft,  and  as  the  main,  body  of  the  B?i- 
tifh  forces  were  advuiiced  within  fifty  miles  of  the  place  ;  belidcs 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 


•*%l 


ttiat  a  number  of  armed  veflels  and  tranfports  with  troopt  lay  bft* 
twcen  them  and  the  Three  Rivers.  Two  thoufand  chofen  inen^ 
however,  under  General  Thomfon,  engaged  in.thii  enterprife* 
Their  Tuccels  was  by  no  means  aniwcrable  to  their  fpirit  and 
valour.  Though  they  pafled  the  (hipping  without  being  obfcrv-r 
«d,  General  ("raier  had  notice  of  their  landing ;  and thu9  being 
prepared  to  receive  them,  they  were  foon  thrown  into  diforder, 
at  the  fame  time  that  General  Ncfbit,  having  landed  his  forces, 
prepared  to  attack  them  in  the  rear.  On  this  occafion  fonke  field 
pieces  did  prodigious  execution,  and  a  retreat  was  found  to  bp 
unavoidable.  General  Nefl>it,  however,  had  got  between  (them 
and  their  boats;  ib  that  they  were  obliged  to  take  a  circuit  through 
a  deep  I'wamp,  wliile  they  were  clofely  purfued  by  both  parties 
at  the  fame  time,  who  marched  for'  fomc  miles  on  e^ch  fide  of  the 
fwamp,  till  at  laft  the  miferable  provincials  were  fheltered  from 
further  danger  by  a  wood  at  the  end  of  the  fwamp*.  Their  Gene^ 
ral,  however,  was  taken/  with  two  hundred  of  his  men. 

By  this  di(afl;er  the  provincials  loft  all  hopes  of  accompli(hing 
any  thing  in  Canadii.  They  dcmolifhed  their  wor]^,  and  carried 
off  their  aiillery  with  the  utmoft  expedition.  They  were  pur- 
fued however,  by  General  Burgoyne ;  againft  whom  it  was  ex^ 
pc£led  that  they  would  colle£l:ed  all  their  force,  and  made  a  reio^ 
lute  ftand.  But  they  were  nr  w  too  much  difpirited  by  misfortune 
to  make  any  further  exertions  of  valour.  On  the  i8th  of  June 
the  Britifli  general  arrived  at  Fort  St.  John's,  which  he  fonnd  abanw 
doned  and  burnt.  Chamblee  had  fhared  the  fame  fate,  as  well  as  aU 
the  vcflcls  that  were  not  capable  of  being  dragged  up  againft  the 
current  of  the  river.  It  was  thought  that  they  would  haye  made 
fome^  refidance  at  Nut  Ifland,  the  entrance  to  Lake  Champlain* 
but  this  alfo  they  had  abandoned,  and  retreated  acrofs  the  lake  to 
Grown  Point,  whither  they  could  not  be  immediately  followed* 
Thus  was  the  province  of  Canada  entirely  evacuated  by  the  Ame- 
ncani»;  whofe  lofs  in  their  retreat  from-  Quebec  was  not  calculat' 
ed  at  Icfs  thr.n  one  thoufand  men,  of  whom  four  hundred  fell  at 
•bnce  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  at  a  place^called  the  Cedur;, 
about  fifty  miles  above  Montreal.  General  Sullivan,  however, 
who  conduced  this  retreat  after  the  affair  of  General  Thonifon, 
Was  acknowledged  to  have  had  great  merit  in  what  he  did,  ai3id 
received  the  thanks  of  Congrefs  accordingly. 

This  bad  luccefs  in  the  north,  however,  was  fomewhat  com- 
pcnfated  by  what  happeoed  in  the  I'outhern  colonies.— ^We  have 
formerly  taken  notice  that  Mr.  Martin,  governor  of  North  Caro- 
lina, had  been  obliged  to  leave  his  province  and  take  refuge  on 
board  a  man  of  war.  Notwithftanding  this,  he  did  not  dd'pair 
pf  reducing  it  again  to  obedience.     For  this  purpofc  he  applied 


itm 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


to  the  Reguhton,  •  darini;  fct  of  banditti,  who  lived  in  a  kind 
of  independent  ftatc  {  and  though  confidered  by  government  aa 
rebela,  yet  had  never  been  molefted,  on  account  of  their  num- 
bers and  known  {kill  in  the  ufe  of  firc-arma.  To  the  chiefs  of 
thefe  people  commtifiona  were  fcnt,  in  order  to  raife  fome  regi* 
menta}  and  Colonel  Mcdonald,  a  brave  and  enterprifing  officer, 
waa  appointed  to  command  them.  In  the  month  of  February  he 
ere^d  the  king's  ftandaid,  iifued  proclamations,  &c.  and  coU 
leded  (one  forces,  expcAing  to  be  foon  joined  by  a  body  of  re* 
gular  troopa,  who  were  known  to  be  (hipped  from  Britain  to  a£k 
againft  the  fouthern  colonies.  The  Americans,  fenfible  of  their 
danger,  difpatched  immediately  what  forces  they  h?d  to  a£l  againft 
the  royalifts,  at  the  (ame  time  that  they  diligently  exerted  them. 
felvea  to  fupport  thefe  with  fuitable  reinforcements,  Their 
prefent  force  was  commanded  by  a  General  Moore,  whofe  num. 
bers  were  inferior  to  Mardonald;  for  which  reafon  the  latter 
lummoned  him  to  join  the  king's  ftandard  under  pain  of  being 
treated  aa  a  rebel.  But  jMoore,  being  well  provided  with  can* 
nop,  and  confcious  that  nothing  could  be  attempted  againft  him, 
returned  the  compliment,  by  acquainting  Colonel  Macdonald, 
that  if  he  and  his  party  would  lay  down  their  arms,  and  fubfcribe 
an  oath  of  fidelity  to  Copgrefs,  they  fhould  be  treated  as  friends  \ 
but  if  they  perfifted  in  an  undertaking  for  which  it  was  evident 
they  had  npt  futficient  fVrength,  they  could  not  but  cxpeft  the 
fevereft  treatment.  In  >  few  days  General  Moore  found  himfelf 
at  the  head  of  9ight  thoufand  men,  by  reafon  of  the  continual 
fupplies  which  daily  arrived  from  all  p&rts.  The  royal  party 
amounted  only  to  two  thoufand,  and  they  were  dcftitute  of  artil- 
lery, which  prevented  them  from  attacking  the  enemy  while  they 
had  the  advantage  of  numbers.  They  were  now  therefore  obliged 
to  have  refource  to  a  defpcrate  exertion  of  pcrfonal  valour;  by 
dint  of  which  they  efFeAed  a  retreat  for  eighty  miles  to  Moore's 
Creek,  within  fixteen  miles  of  Wilmington,  Could  (hey  have 
gained  this  place,  they  expe£fced  to  have  been  joined  by  Governor 
Martin  and  General  Clinton,  who  had  lately  arrived  with  \- 
ronfiderable  detachment.  But  Moore  with  his  army  purfucd 
them  fo  clofe,  that  they  were  ob'^iged  to  attempt  the  paifage  of 
the  creek  itfelf,  though  a  confiderable  body  of  the  enemy,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Cofwell,  with  fortifications  well  planted 
with  cannon,  was  pofted  on  the  other  fide.  On  attempting  the 
creek,  however,  it  was  found  not  to  be  /ofdablc,  They  were 
obliged  therefore  to  crofs  over  a  wooden  bridge,  which  the  pro* 
vincials  had  not  time  to  deflroy  entirely.  They  had,  hpwevcr, 
by  pulling  up  part  of  the  planks,  and  greatijig  the  remainder  in 
order  to  render  them  flippery,  made  the  paffagc  fo  difficult,  tha; 


AMEklCAN  klVdtVftOlf. 


Sii 


the  royatiftt  could  not  attempt  it.  In  this  fituition  they  were, 
on  the  a 7th  of  February,  attacked  by  Moore,  with  hia  luperior 
army,  and  totally  defeated  with  the  loft  of  their  general  «nd 
fiioft  of  their  leaders,  •»  well  aa  the  heft  and  braved  of  their 
men. 

Thus  was  the  power  of  the  Provincials  clUbliihed  in' North- 
Carolina.  Nor  were  they  Icfs  fucCefaful  in  the  province  of  Vir- 
ginia :  where  Lord  Duntnore,  having  long  continuedl  in  ufelefs 
predatory  war,  wns  at  lad  driven  from  cVery  creek  and  rwd  in 
the  province.  Tiie  people  he  had  on  board  were  diftrefled  ta 
the  highcd  degree  by  confinement  in  fmall  vcflels.  The  heat  of' 
the  fealun,  and  the  numbers  crowded  together,  produced  a  pedi« 
lential  fever,  which  made  great  haVock,  efpecially  among  the 
blacks.  At  lad,  finding  theniCelves  in  the  ulmod  hazard  of  pe- 
rifhing  by  famine  as  well  as  difeafe,  they  fet  fire  to  the  lead  valu. 
able  of  their  vcflels,  referving  oiily  about  fifty  for  themfelves,  in 
vrhich  they  bid  a  final  adieu  to  Virginia,  fome  failing  to  Florida^ 
fome  to  Bermuda,  and  the  red  to  the  Wed  Indies. 

In  South  Carolina  the  Provincials  had  a  more  formidable  ene« 
fny  to  deal  with.  A  fquadron,  whofe  objeft  was  the  reduftion 
of  CharledvWn,  had  been  fitted  out  in  December  1775;  but  by 
reafon  of  unfavourable  weather  did  not  reach  Cape  Fear,  in 
North>Carolina,  till  the  month  of  May  1776;  and  here  it  met 
with  further  obfbcles  till  the  end  of  the  month.  Thus  the  Ame- 
ricans, always  noted  for  their  alertnefs  in  raifing  fortifications, 
liad  time  fo  drengthen  thoie  of  Charledown  in  fuch  a  manner  as 
rendered  it  extremely  difficult  to  be  attacked.  Thtf  Britifh  fqua- 
dron confided  of  two  fifty  gun  (hips,  four  of  thirty  guns,  two  o^ 
twenty,  an  armed  fchooncr,  and  bomb-ketch;  all  under  ttit 
command  of  Sir  Peter  Parker.  The  land  forces  were  commanded 
by  Lord  Cornwallis,  with  Generals  Clinton  and  Vaughan.  As 
they  had  yet  no  intelligence  of  the  evacuation  of  Bodon,  General 
Howe  difpatched  a  veffel  to  Cape  Fear,  wi»h  fome  indruftionsj 
but  it  was  too  late ',  and  in  the  beginning  of  June  the  fquadron 
anchored  off  Charledown  bar.  Here  they  met  with  fome  diffi- 
culty in  crofling,  being  obliged  to  take  out  the  guns  from  the 
two  large  fhips,  which  were,  notwithdanding,  feveral  times  in 
danger  of  dickihg  fad.  The  next  obdacle  wa»  a  drong  fort  on 
Sullivan's  IflantI,  fix  miles  ead  from  Charledown  ;  which  though 
not  completely  finiChed,  was  very  drong.  However,  the  Bri- 
tifh  generals'  refolved  without  hefitation  to  attack  it ;  but  though 
an  attack  was  eafy  from  the  lea,  it  was  very  difficult  to  obtain  a 
co*operation  of  the  land  forces.  This  was  attempted  by  landing 
them  on  Long-Ifland,  adjacent  to  Sullivan's  Ifland  on  the  ead, 
from  which  it  is  feparated  by  a  narrow  creek,  faid  not  to  be  above. ' 


^»« 


WSTORYPF  TliM 


two  feet  deep  at  low.; water,  Oppofite  to  this  ford  the  Provin- 
cials had  poflied  a  (irong  body  of  troops,,  >vith  cannon  and  en- 
trenchments ^  whii^  General  Lcc  was  polled  on  the  main  land, 
with  abridge  of  boats  betwixt  that  and  SulHvaq's  Iftand,  fo  that 
he  could  at  pleafure  fend  reinforcements  to  the  troops  in  the  f6)t 
oh  Sullivan's  Ifllnd.    ! 

On  the  part. of  the  firitifh,  fo  many  <lclays  occured,  that  It  was 
the  aSth  of  June  before  hnatters  wCro  in  readinefs  for  an  attack: 
and  by  this  time  the  provincials  had  abundaHtly  provided  for 
their  recisption.  On  the  mbrriing  of  that  day  the  bomb  ketch 
began  to  throw  fhells  into  Fort  Sullivah,  and  about  mid-day  tlie 
two  fifty  gun  ihips  and  thirty  gun  frigates  camd  up  and  began  a 
fevere  fire*  Three  other  frigates  were  ordered  to  take  their  fta-J 
tion  between  Charleflown  aind  the  fort,  in  order  to  enfilade  the 
batteries,  and  cut  off  the  connimunication  with  the  main  land} 
biit  through  the  ignorance  of  the  pilots  tl>ey  all  ftuck  fail;  and 
though  two  of  them  were  difentangled,  they  were  found  to  be 
totally  unfit  for  fervice:  the  third  was  burnt^  that  ft^e  might  nut 
faU  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

'  Thfe  attack  was  therefore  confined  to  the  five  armed  (hips  and 
bombrketch,  between  whom  and  the  fort  a  dreadful  ftte  enfued. 
The  Bridol  fuffered  exceflively.  The  fprings  on  her  cable  being 
fliot  away,  fhe  was  for  fome  time  entirely  expofed  to  the  fcnemy's 
fire.  As  the  enemy  poured  in  great  quantities  of  red-hot  balls) 
fhe  was  twice  in  flames.  The  captain  {Mr.  Morris),  after  receiv- 
ing five  wounds,  was  obliged  to  go  below  deck  in  order  to  have 
his  arnh  amputated.  After  undergoing  this  operation  he  returned 
to  his  place,  where  he  received  another  wound,  but  ftill  refufe4 
id  quit  his  flation^  at  lafl  he  received  a  red-hot  ball  in  liib  belly 
iswhich  inftantly  put  an  end  to  his  life.  Of  all  the  officers  and 
fcxtmqn  who  flood  on  the  quarter-deck  of  this  veffcl,  not  one 
^leaped  without  a  wound  excepting  Sir  Peter  Parker  alone;  whole 
intrepidity  and  prefence  of  mind  on  this  oceafion  was  very  re- 
markable. The  engagement  lafted  till  darknefs  put  an  end  to  if 
Little  damage  was  done  by  the  firitifh,  as  the  worxs  of  the  eiic- 
my  lay  To  low  that  many  of  the  fhot  flew  over ;  and  the  fortifica- 
tions, being  compofcd  of  palm-trees  mixed  with  earth,  were  ex- 
tremely well  calculated  to  refifl  the  imprcflTion  of  cannon.  Dur- 
ing the  height  of  the  attack,  the  proviuciaf  batteries  remained  for 
fome  time  filent,  To  that  it  was  Concluded  thai  they  had  been  | 
abandoned ;  but  this  was  found  to  proceed  only  from  want  of 
powder;  for  as  foon  as  a  fupply  of  this  neceffary  article  was  ob- 
tained, the  firing  was  rcfumcd  as  brifk  as  before.  During  the 
whole  of  this  dcfperatc  engagement  it  waS  found  impoffiblc  for 
the  land  forces   to  give  the  leaft  affiftance  to    the   fleet.     Th< 


AMMkiCAN  REVOLtJtiOit, 


313 


the  Provln- 
lon  and  en- 
t  main  land, 
and,  fo  that 
is  in  the  f6it 

1,  that  it  was 
)r  an  attack : 
provided  for 
bomb  ketch 
;  mid-day  the 
.  and  began  a 
Lake  their  fta-i 
t)  en  Blade  the 
,e  main  land} 
uck  faft;  and 
e  found  to  be 
It^c  might  not 

vned  (hips  and 
ul  fire  enfued. 
icr  cable  being 
to  the  enemy's 
red-hot  balls, 
,  after  receiv- 
order  to  have 
n  he  relumed 
aill  refure4 
all  in  hib  belly 
ic  officers  and 
elTcl,  not  one 
r  alone;  whole 
was  very  re- 
t  an  end  to  it' 
KS  of  the  ehc- 
d  the  foi  tifica- 
rth,  were  cx- 
annon.     Dur- 
s  remained  lor 
|they  had  bc<;n 
Vom  want  o» 
Irticle  was  ob- 
Diiring  the 
impoffiblc  for 
[c  fleet.    The 


<tnemy*s  wcirko  were  found  to  be  much  (Ironger  than  ttieyhad  been 
imagined,  and  the  depth  of  Water  efFoAually  prevented  them  from 
Anaking  any  attempt.  In  this  unfuccefsful  attack  the  killed  ahd 
Wounded  on  the  part  <»f  the  Britifti  amounted  to  about  two  hun- 
dred. The  Briilol  and  Experiment  were  fo  Auch  damaged,  that 
it  was  thought  they  could  not  have  been  got  oiver  the  bar; 
however,  this  was  at  laft  accompliihed  by  a  very  great  exertion 
pf  naval  ikill,  to  the  furp^ize  of  the  provincial*)  Who  had  eX-' 
pefted  to  make  them  both  prizes*  On  the  American  (tde  the  lofs 
Was  judged  to  have  bci^n  very  confiderable,  as  mod  of  theit*  guns 
were  difmountcd,  and  reinforcements  had  poured  into  the  fort 
during  the  whole  time  of  the  aflion. 

This  year  alfo,  the  Americans,  having  fo  frequently  made  trial 
of  their  valour  by  land,  became  defirous  of  trying  it  by  iti^  and 
of  forming  a  navy  that  might  in  fome  meafure  be  able  to  proteft 
their  trade,  and  do  elfcntial  hurt  to  the  enemy.  In  the  begirt- 
ning  of  Maixh  commodore  Hopkins  was  difpatched  with  five 
frigates  to  the  Bnhama  Iflands,  where  he  made  himfelf  mailer  of 
the  ordnance  and  military  fkores ;  but  the  gunpowder,  which  had 
been  the  principal  obje£t,  was  removed*  On  his  return  he  cap- 
tured feveral  veiTels ;  but  was  foiled  in  his  attempt  on  the  Glaf- 
gow  frigatCj  which  found  means  to  efcape  nothwithftanding  the 
efforts  of  his  whole  fquadron. 

The  time,  however,  was  now  come  when  the  fortitude  and 
patience  of  the  Americans  were  to  undergo  a  fcvere  trial.  Hi- 
therto they  had  been  on  the  whole  fuccefsful  in  their  operations  : 
but  now  they  were  doomed  to  experience  misfortune,  and  mi- 
Tery ;  the  enemy  overrunning  their  country,  and  their  own  tr- 
tnies  not  able  to  face  them  in  the  field.  The  province  of  New- 
York,  as  being  the  moft  central  colony,  and  moil  acceflibly  by 
fen,  was  pitched  upon  for  the  objeft  of  the  main  attack.  The 
force  fcnt  againfl  it  confided  of  fix  (hips  of  the  line,  thirty  fri- 
gates, beiides  other  armed  veiTela,  and  a  vafl  number  of  tranl- 
ports.  The  fleet  was  commanded  by  lord  Howe,  and  the  land 
forces  by  his  brother  general  Howe,  who  was  now  at  Halifax. 
The  latter,  however,  a  confiderable  time  before  his  brother  arriv- 
ed, had  let  fail  from  Halifax,  and  lay  before  New-York,  but  with- 
out attempting  to  commence  hoflilities  until  he  fhould  be  joined 
by  his  brother.  The  Americans  had,  according  to  cuflom,  forti- 
fied New-York  and  the  adjacent  iflands  in  an  extraordinary  man- 
tier.  However,  general  Howe,  was  TufTered  to  land  his  troops 
on  Staten  liland,  where  he  was  foon  joined  by  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants.  About  the  middle  of  July,  Lord  Howe  arrived  with 
the  grand  urmament;  and  being  one  of  the  commiflioners  appointed 
Vol.  I.      .        •  3  U 


\jt4  AUTQtLY  OttMt 

to  recbive  tHe  fubminioh  of  the  colonifts,  he  publiflile^  a  circu/a<' 
ktter  to  this  purpofe  to  the  feveral  gove^ort  who  h»d  lately'; 
l«en  expelled  from  their  provinces^  defirtng  them  to  make  the^ 
cxteht  of  his  eommifiipn,  arid,  the  poWers  he  was  invefted  vritb 
by  pariiaineni,  as  public  as  poflible^  Heife,  howeVer,  tongrefft 
^vted  him  the  trouble,  hf  orderitif  his  letter  8iid;decta«ation  to  bd 
piiib)i0)cd  in  1^11  the  newfpttpets,  that  ever^  onem^tt  lee  the  in« 
fidtotifneCs  of  the  BritiAt;  mthiftry,-.  and'  tint  they  haid  tMthing  to 
trullitii^biii^esthe  e:fterJbion  of  their  own  valqiHr, 
•  l4>ni^'l^'(^  next  ient  a  letter  to  General  Walhington }  but  a» 
it  wa»  direfled  ^  '^To;  George  Waihington,  Efq."  the  general  refu" 
fed  to  accept  of  it,  as  not  being  dire£bed  in  the  ftyle  fuitable  to 
H^s  ftation.  To  c^viate  this  obje^on^  Adjutant-gitneral  Paterfon 
Iva*  fent  with  another  letter^  dire&ed  •*  To  George  Walhin^oQ*^ 
&c;  &t*,Sc£j'  But  though  a  very  polite  reception  was  given  to 
the  bearer;  Gisneral  Wafliington  utterly  ftfufed  the  letter  ;^  nor 
eould  any  explanation  of  the  Adjiidant  induce  him  tOateept  ol 
it.  The  only  interefting  part  of  the  converfation  was  that  velat« 
ingto  the  powers  ^f  the  comftiiflioners^  of  which  I»oi'd  Howe 
was  ie>new  The  adjutant  told  him,  that  thefe  powers  were  very. 
extenrtve;  that  the  ooihmiffiQners  were  determined  to  exert 
themfelves  to  theviitmoft^io  order  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  > 
and  that  he  hoped  the  general  would  confider  this  vifit  a*  a  ftep 
towards  it.     General  W.afhington  replied,  that  it  did  not  apjiiear 

.  that  thdfe  powers  con  ft  fted  in  any  thing  ^eKe  than  granting  par*' 
dons ;  and  as  America  had  committed  no  offence,  (he  afited  no 
forgivenefs,  and  was  only  defending  }^t  un<|ue(iionable  rights.- 

The  decifion  of  every  thing  being  now  by  confent  of  botte 
parties  left  to  the  fwofd,  no  time  was  loftj  but  hoftiliti^s  com- 
menctd  as  foon  as  the  Britiih  troops  could  be  cbllcfled.  This^ 
hoiyevcr,  was  not  done  before  the  month  of  Auguft }  when  they 
landed  ^without  any  Oppofition  on  Long  Ifland,  oppoftte  to  the 
Ihore  of  Staten  Iflahd.  General  Putnam^  with  a  large  body  of 
troops,  lay  encamped  and  ftrongly  fortified  on  a  petiinl'ula  on  the 
oppofite  fhore,  with  a  range  of  hills  between  the  armies,  the  prinx 
cipal  pais  of  which  was  near  a  place  cM^  JFlat-hi/h,  Here  the 
centre  of  the  Britifh  army,  confiding  of  Heflians,  took  pofl ;  the 
left,  wing,    under  General  Grant,  lying  near  the  ihore  i  and  the 

•  right,  confining  of  the  greater  part  of  the  Britilh  forces,  lay  un- 
der Lord  Perey,  CornwalUs,  and  General  Clinton.  Putnam  had 
ordered  the  paiTcs  to  be  fecured  by  large  detachments,  which  was* 
executed  as  to  thofe  at  hand  i  but  one  of  the  utmod  importance, 
that  lay  at  a  diftancc,  was  entirely  negle£led.  This  gave  an  op- 
portunity to  a  large  body  of  troops  under  Lord  Percy  and  Clinton 
to  pais  the  mountains  and  attack  the  Americans  in  the  rear,  while 


AMERICAir  MEV4>IUT10N, 


5«« 


.  lOiey  w«e'«ngaged  whh  the  |Iefii>n*  in  front.  Throu^li  thift 
piece  of  ne|{U^nce  their  defeat  became' inevitable*  l^hoiit  wl^p 
•were  engaged  With  the  Heifians  firft  j^ceiVed  their  miftalen; 
And  began  a  retreat  towards  the  tartiif^  but  the-  pal(j^ge  was in-^ 
tercepted  by  the  firitiih  troo|A,  who  drpve  them  bade  into  tlU 
woodi«  Here  they  w.et«  met  by  the  Hefllan»V  anlil  Chua  wcr£ 
they  for  many  hoi^rs  ^aughter^  between  the  vtm  ^Mititei^' no  ^y 
of  «fcape  reinatning  but  by  breaking  €hrdagh  -tHe  BrltlQi  troops, 
and  thus  regaining  their  cam^.  In  this  kttcaipt  many  |i6rtibed';f 
and  the  right  wiiig,  «ngage4  with  General  Grant*  (bared  the 
lame  Cue.  The  vifiory  was  complete;  and  the  Americans  loAf 
on  this  fatal  day  {Auguft  ft7th)  between  -three  and  four  thou- 
fand  men,  of  whom  two  thoufand  were  kiUed  in  the  battle  or 
pitrfuit.  Among  thefe  a  regiment,  conj&ding  of  young  gentlemen 
of  fortune  and  family  in  Mar^'land,  wasalmoft  entirely  cut  in 
pieces,  and  of  the  furvivors  not  one  efcaped  without  a  wound. 

The  ardour  of  the  Britilh  troops  was  now  fo  great,  that  they 
^ou  ^fcarce  be  reftrained  from  attacking  the  lines  of  the  provin- 
cu  i;  fat  this  there  was  now  no  occafion,  as  it  was  certain 
the^  '  .  id  not  be  defended*  Of  the  Britilh  only  ftxty-one  were 
Icilled  in  this  engagement,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty*feveA 
wounded.  Eleven  hundred  of  the  enemy,  among  whoin  wfcre 
three  generals,  were  taken  prifonerft,  <>    " 

As  none  of  the  American  commatnlers  thought  it  prbper  to> 
riik  another  attack,  it  was  refplved  to  abandon  their  camp  as 
foon  as  pofllble.  Accordingly  on  the  night  of  the  2^'th  of 
Ai)tguft,  the  whole  of  the  continental  troops  were  ferried  over 
with  the  utirtoft  (ecrecy  and  fiience ;  fo  that  in  the  morning  thie 
Britiih  had  nothing  to  do  but  take  pofleflion  of  the  camp  and 
artillery  which  they  had  abandoned, '         ^  '> 

This  viftory,  though  complete,  was  very  far  from  beingTo  dcci- 
five  as  was  at  firfl  imagined.  Lord  Howe, ^fuppofing  thar  at  would 
be  fulBcient  to  intimidate  the  Congrefs  into  i'ome  terms,  fcnt  Ge- 
neral Sullivan,  who  had  been  taken  prifoner  in  the  late  a£iion, 
to  congress,  with  a  meflagc,  importing,  (hat  though  he  could  not 
confidently  treat  with  them  as  a  Icg-^l  airembly,  yet  he  would  be 
very  glad  to  confer  with  any  of  the  members  in  their  privntc 
capacity  j  fetting  forth  at  the  fame  time  the  nature  and  extent  of 
his  powers  as  a  commiflioner.  But  the  Congrefs  Were  not  to  he 
fintimidated  to  derogate  in  the  lea  ft  from  the  dignity  of  charader 
they  had  alTumed.  They  replied,  th^tt  tlie  congrefs  of  the  free 
and  independent  dates  of  America  could  not  confillehtly  fend  any 
till  its  members,  in  anothei^  capacity  thait  that  which  they  had 
pmblicly  affumcd  ;  but  as  they  Were  extremely  dcfirous  of  rcftor- 

3  U  » 


k^ftmn  to  their  soumtry  ttpon  eqiiitible  oondieions^  they  woulA 
Hl^int  •committer  of  their  h«Jy  to  wait  upoa  him,  tmd  learn 
what  pippofali  h9  ha4  IQ  ma)Mc/ 

Tht».pro4uccd  3i)i|ew  f:««|tfi^irence.  The  ^romymt'tee  apiK>inte4 
by  congreffv  was  compefeiC  of  Or,  Frankliii,  Mr.  Adama,  and 
Mr»  Rutledge,  They^^  were  very  politely  received  by  his  Lord^ 
0uf  s  hm^«  «oi»fereiPQe  .proy«d  a$  fruitlefs  a|  before  indepency 
had  been  ieehired*  and  the  ftaal  anfwer  ctf  the  deputies  wai,  thit 
they  «ii»efp  cxtnmely  willing  to  lenter  into  any  treaty  wit^  Qreat* 
Britus.tlttI  mii^t  ccmduce  to  the  good  of  both  mttion^  but  tlni 
0iey  would  n»t  treat  in  any  other  chaia^r  than  that  of  indepen^ 
dent  ftates.  Thi|  pofitiv^  declaratioa  inftantly  put  an  end  ta 
•U  hopel^f  reconcxiiation*,  and  it  waa  refolved  to  profecute  the 
war  y^ith  'the  uttnoKi  vigour.  Lord  (lowe,  after  publiOiing  a 
aianifefto,  in  which  he  declared  the  ref^ifal  of  congrefs,  and  that 
he  himfelf  wa«  willing  to  confer  with  all  well  diipofed  perfona 
about  the  roeana  of  reftoring  public  tranquillity,  fet  about  the  mod 
proper  methods  for  reducing  the  city  of  New- York .  Here  the 
prov^ial  troops  were,  polled,  and  from  a  great  number  of  bat- 
tpriea  kqpt  continually  annoying  the  Britifli  (hipping.  The 
£aft  River  lay  between  them,  of  about  twelve  hundred  yards  in 
breadth}  which  i,he  Eritiih  troops  were  extremely  defuous  of 
palling.  At  laft  the  {hips  having,  after  an;  inc'effant  cannonade 
9f  feveral  days,  filenced  the  moA  troublefome  batteries,  a  body 
of  troops  was  fent  up  the  river  to  a  bay,  about  three  miles  diftant, 
where  the  fortifications  were  lefa  .ftrong  than  ih  other  places, 
^iere  having  driven  off  the  provincials  by  the  cannon  of  the  fleet, 
ilkey marched  dire^^ly  towards  the  city }  but  the  enemy  finding 
that  they  fhould  now  be  attacked  on  all  fides,  abandoned  the 
city,  and  retired  to  the  north  of  the  iQand,  where  their  princi- 
pal force  was  coUefted.  In  their  paifage  thither  they  (kirmiftjed 
with  the  _,Britilh,  but  carefully  avoided  a  general  engagement  i 
and  it  was  obferved  that  they  did  not  behave  with  that  ardour 
and  impetuous  valour  which  had  hitherto  marked  their  charaftcr, 

The  Britiih  and  provincial  armies  were  not  now  above  two 
miles  diftant  from  each  other.  The  former  lay  encamped  from 
fhore  to  ihore  for  an  extent  of  two  miles,  being  the  breadth  of 
the  idand,  which  though  fifteen  miles  long,  exceeds  not  two  in 
any  part  in  breadth.  The  provincials,  who  lay  dircftly  oppofite, 
had  ftrengthcned  their  camp  with  many,  fortifications  j  at  the 
fame  time,  being  maftcis  of  all  the  paffes  and  defiles  betwixt  the 
two  camps,  they  were  enabled  to  defend  themlelves  againftan. 
army,  njuch  more  numerous  thap  their  own  ;  and  they  had  alfo 
ftrongly  fortified  a  pafs  called  King's  Bridge^  whence  they  coul4 
Iccure  a  paifage  to  the  contipefit  in  ^afe  of  any  misfortune,    Hc?^? 


AMERICAN  REVOtUTION, 


««7 


tim,  and 
is  Lordt 
ideponcy 

l^QT6at« 
.buttUat 
indepen^ 
m  end  ta 
[ecute  thd 
bliihing  »  ' 

;d  p.erfont 
t  the  moft 
Here  t^he 
jcr  of  bat- 
tig.      The 
;d  yards  in 
dcCitpus  of 
I  cannonade 
cs,  a  body 
lei  didanti 
her  places, 
the  fleet, 
ny  finding 
Ldoned  the    ^ 
leir  princi- 
(kirmifhed 
gagcmeut  \ 
hat  ardour 
charaftcr, 
above  two 
mped  from 
ircadth  of 
lOt  two  in 
ly  oppofite, 
|n&}at  the 
tetwixt  the 
againil  an 
|ey  had  alfo 
they  coul4 


Gtipenl '  Wtlhingtoti,  in  Order  to  inure  the  provincials  to:  aftual 
fbivicOi  and  at  the  fiime  time  to  annoy  the  cinemy  as  muchaapoflit 
blie*  employed  hia  troopa  in  continual  ikirmiihea;  by  Which  it, 
4yaa  obfcrved  that  they  foon  recovered  their  fpirita,  and  behaved 
With  their  ufual  boldnefa. 

Aa  the  fituation  of  the  two  armies  was  now  highly  inconvenient 
for  the  Britilh  generaU,  it  waa  refolved  to  make  fuch  movemenl^ 
W  might  OUige  General  Wafhiitgton  to  relinquifli  hia  ftft>ng  fitu" 
4^tiOn«  Th«  poflefllon  of  New- York  had  b«ien  lefi  benefidal  than 
Was  ^9tpefted,  It  had  been  concerted  among  the  Provincials,  that 
the  <  city  ihould  be  burnt  at  the  time  of  evacuation ;  but  as  they 
Wero  forced  to  depart  with  precipitation,  thej^were  prevented 
from  putting  this  fchemle  in  cxectition.  In  a  few  days,  bowever, 
it  Was  attempted  by  fome  who  had  been  left  behind  for  that  pur- 
pofe.  Taking  advantage  of  a  high  wind  and  dry  weather,  the 
■  town  Was  fet  on  fire  in  feveral  places  at  once^  by  means  of  com. 
buftibles  properly  placed  (or  that  purpofc;  and  notwithflianding 
tht  mod  allive  exertions  of  theioldiery'and  failo.rs,  a  fourth  paii( 
of  the  city  was  confumed.  v 

On  this  occafion  the  Britilh  were  irritated  to  the  higheft  degree 

and  many  perfons,  faid  to  be  incendiaries,  were  without  mercy 

'  thrown  into  the  flames.     It  vn.s  determined  to  force  the  provin-r 

fial  army  to  a  greater  diftance,  that  they  might  have  it  lefs  in 

their  power,  by  any  emiflaries,  to  engage  others  in  a  fimilar  at'* 

tempt.     For  this  piirpofe,  Gen.  Howe  having  left  Lord  Percy 

with  fuffictent  force  to  garrifon  New-YorHi  he  embarked  his  army 

in  flat-bottom  boats,  by  which  they  were  conveyed  through  the 

dangerous  paflage  called  HeU  Gate^  and  landed  near  the  town  of 

^  Weft  Chefl;er,  lying  on  the  continent  towards  Conne£licut.  Here 

having  received  a  fupply  of  men  and  provifions,  they  moved  to 

^ew-Rochelle,  fituated  on  the  found  which  feparates  Long  Ifland 

from  the  continent.     After  this,  receiving  flill  frcfh  reinforce, 

fiients,  they  made  fuch  movements  as  threatened  tp  difl:rei's  tho 

provincials  very  much,  by  cutting  off  their  cbhvoys  of  provifions 

from  Connefticut,  and  thus  force  them  to  an  engagement.     This, 

however,  General  Wafhington  determined  at  all  events  to  avoid* 

He  therefore  extended  his  forces  into  a  long  line  oppofite  to  the 

way  in  which  the  enemy  marched,  keeping  the  Bmna,  a  river  of 

confiderable  magnitude,  between  the  two  armies,  with  the  North 

River  on  his  rear.     Here  again  the  provincials  continued  for  lome 

time  to  annoy  and  fliirmifli  with  the  Royal  army,  until  at  laft,  by 

fome  other  manoeuvres,  the  Britifli  general  found  means  to  attack 

them  adVantageoufly  at  a  place  called  the  IVhite  Plains,  and  drove 

them  from  fomc  of  their  pofts.     The  viftory  on  this  occafion  was 

much  lefs  fomplete  than  the  former  :  hpyevcv  it  oblig::d  the  prc*^ 


\ 


5i» 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


viiicidt  once  more  to  fhtft  their  ground,  and  to  rdribit  farthief  <«{» 
the  country.  General  Howe  purfued  for  fome  time }  hut  ■  tt  hiflU 
finding  all  his  endeavours  vain  to  bring  the  Americans  to  a  pitch* 
ed  battle,,  he  determined  to  give  over  fuch  an  Meters  chtce,  and 
employ  himfelf  in  reducing  the  forts  which  the  provincials  ilill 
retained  in  the  neighbourhood  of  New* York.  |n  this  he  met 
with  the  moft  complete  fuccefs.  The  Americanly  on  thf  ippreach 
of  the  Britifti  forces,  rptreated  from  King's  Bridge  into  forfe 
Wafliingtoni  and  this,  as  well  an  Fort  Lee,  which  lay  it|  fhft 
neighbourhood,  wa«  quickly  reduced,  though  the  garrifon  made 
their  efcape.  Thus  the  Jcrfeyu'  were  laid  entirely  open  to  j^he 
incurfions  of  the  Britiih  troops;  and  fo  fully  were  thefe  province! 
taken  ppflcflion  of  by  the  Royal  army,  that  its  wiiitcf-quarterf 
extended  from  New-Brunfwick  to  the  river  Delaware*  JIad  any 
number  of  boats  been  at  hand,  it  is  probable  that  Philfdelph^ 
would  now  have  fallen  into  their  hands,  All  thefc,  however, 
had  been  carefully  removed  by  the  Americans.  In  Uev|  of  thi^ 
cntcrprifc,  Sir  Henry  CUrjton  undertook  an  expedition  to  Rhode- 
Ifla^d,  and  became  mafler  of  it  without  lofmg  a  man.  His  cxpe, 
ditioti  was  alfo  attended  with  this  further  advantage,  that  the  A*PCt 
rican  fleet  under  Commodore  Hopkins  was  obliged  to  fail  as  far  a^ 
poflflble  up  the  river  Providence,  and  thus  remained  entirely  uf^-f 

jefs. 

The  fame  ill  fuccefs  continued  to  attend  the  Americans  in  other 
mrts.  After  their  cxpulfion  from  Canada,  they  had  croffed  the 
lake  Champlain,  and  taken  up  their  quarters  at  Crown  Pbint,  a5 
we  have  already  mentioned,  Here  they  remained  for  fome, tim(? 
in  fafcty,  as  the  Britilh  had  no  vcffels  on  the  lake,  and  confe- 
quently  General  Burgoyne  could  not  purltic  them,  "i  o  remedy 
this  deficiency,  there  was  no  polfible  method,  but  either  to  con- 
ftruft  velTcls  on  the  fpot,  oj:  to  lalce  to  pieces  fome  veffcls  already 
conftrufted,  and  drag  tlicm  up  the  river  into  the  lake.  This, 
however,  wajs  effcfted  in  no  longer  a  fpacc  than  three  months; 
and  the  Britifli  general,  after  incredible  toil  and  difficulty,  faw 
himfelf  in  poffellion  of  a  great  number  of  veffcls,  by  which  means 
he  was  enabled  to  purfue  his  enemies,  and  invade  them  in  his 
turn,  The  labour  undergone  at  this  time  by  the  fea  and  land  for-f 
ccs  muft  indeed  have  been  prodigious;  fmcc  there  were  convey 
cd  over  land,  and  dragged  up  the  rapids*  of  St.  Laurence,  no  few, 
cr  than  thirty  large  long  boats,  four  hundred  batteaux,  befidesf 
vaft  number  pf  flat  bottomed  boats,  and  a  gondola  of  thirty  tons, 
The  intent  of  the  expedition  was  to  pu{h  forward  before  winter 
to  Albany,  where  the  army  would  take  up  its  winter-quartcrs, 
and  next  fpring  effecl  a  junC^ion  with  that  under  General  Howe 
Tvhcn  it'  was  not  doubted  that  the  united  force  and  Ikill  of  thcfc 
two  comnxandcrs  would  fpecdily  put  a  termination  to  the  war. 


American  REVotVTtoff, 


Bin 


■ '  fiyretfbn  of  the  difficulties  with  which  the  ec(utphietrt  of  ihii 
jteet  hAdi  been  attended,  it  was  the  beginning  df  Ofiober  before 
iNe  tfK|»edition  4buld  be  undertakc!n.  It  Mrds  now,  however,  by 
Wer^  jud^  allowed  to  be  completely  able  to  anfwer  the  purpofe 
Ibr  which  it  was  intended.  It  confifted  of  one  large  vefTcl  with 
three  kifts,' carry  ling  eighteefn  twelve  pounders;  tWip  fchooner*} 
the  «ne  carrying  fourteen,  the  oth«r  twelve  fix-pounders ;  a  large 
fla^botttmned  radeau  with  iiJc  tWenty- four, and  fix  twclve-poun' 
deif  I'^lind'  a  gondola  with  eight  ninc-pounders.  >  Befides  thef# 
th^  Velr«  twent<' «  iTi;^.  •^  finaller  fize,  call  '  ,  vuoats,  cat* 
iyinl  each  a  pieou  s.^  brat,  ordance  from  nine  *,o  twenty^four 
pounders  or  howitsers*  Severa)  long-boat:;  were  fitted  out  in  the 
fiine  xtiannetTj  and  befides  all  thefc^  there  were  a  vaft  number  of 
boats  and  tenders  of  Various  fi^es,  to  be  ufed  as  tranfports  for  the 
troops  and  baggage.  It  was  manned  by  a  number  of  feleft  feameni 
and  the  guns  were  td  be  ferved  by  a  detachment  from  the  corps  of 
artillery;  the  .officer!  and  foldiers  appointed  for  this  expedition 
Were  alfo  chofen  out  of  the>  whole  army* 

To  oppofe  this  formidable  armament  the  Americans  had  only  a 
Very  ihconfiderable  force,  commanded  by  Cenefal  Ai;noId;  who. 
After  ^gaging  part  of  the  JBrittfh  fleet  for  a  whole  day,  todk  ad* 
Vantage  of  the  darknefs  of  the  night  to  fet  fail  without  being  per- 
eeived,  and  next  morning  was  out  of  fight;  but  he  was  fo  clofely 
Jkurfued  by  the  Brittlh,  that  on  the  fecond  day  after  he  was  over« 
taken,  and  forced  jpo  •  fecond  engagement.  In  this  he  behaved 
with  great  gallantry;  but  hit  force  being  inferior  to  that  of  ^e 
enemy,  he  was  obliged  to  run  his  ffaips  aihore  and  fet  them  on  fire< 
A  few  only  efcaped  to  Lake  George;  and  the  garrifon  of  Cirown 
Point  having  deilroyed  or  carried  off  every  thing  of  value^  retired 
to  TiConderago.  Tliifher  General  Carletoti  intended  to  have  pur. 
(ued  them ;  but  the  difficulties  he  had  to  encounter  appeared  fo 
many  and  fo  great,  that  it  was  thought  proper  to  march  b4ck  into 
Canada,  and  defifl  from  any  further  operations  till  next  fpring. 

Thus  the  aflbirs  of  the  Americans  feemed  every  where  going 
fo  wreck :  even  thofe  wno  had  been  mofl  fanguine  in  their  caufc 
began  to  waVer.  The  time,  alfo,  for  which  the  fo^dicn  had  en- 
lifted  themfelves  was  now  expired ;  and  the  bad  fucccfs  of  ther 
preceding  campaign  had  been  fo  very  difcouraging,  that  no  per- 
ibn  Was  willing  to  engage  himielf  during  the  continuance  of  a 
war,  of  which  the  event  fcemcd  to  be  fo  doubtful.  In  confc. 
^oence  of  this,  therefore,  General  Waihington  found  his  army 
decreafing  in  flrcngth ;  fo  that  from  thirty-thou(and  men,  of  whom 
it'Confifted,  when  General  Howe  landed  x}n  Staten  Ifland,  fcarce 
a  tenth  part  could.now  be  mudercil.  I'd  aflift  the  chief  comman^ 
der  as  much  as  pofilblcj  General  Lee  had  colle^d  a  body  of  forces 


5«d 


MtSTORYOtTHt 


In  the  north  iW  on  hit  wjiy  fouthwitd,  hivtnf  laibMitliy 
taken  up  his  lodging  at  lome  diftance  from  hit  tioof^  infbnmiiM 
Was.given  to  Colonel  Harcourl,  whb  happerwd  •!  thit  |im»0lii 
in  the  neighbourhood,  and  Lee  was  nude  prilbpen  The  lol^  ^ 
this  general  was  much  regi^tted,  the  more  erpecioUy  n  }i^  wat  p ! 
Atperior  quality  to  any  prifoner  in  the  pofliefliefn  flthe  colOi^Ali 
and  could  not  therefore  be  exch  jngcd.  St*  ^eUM^I&cers  UTifep 
offered  in  exchange;  for  him  and  refuM^Mt^^  the€oii|||4k|yi 
highly  irritated  as  its  beifig  reported  that  Ke  lyaa  «Dr,bett«alt#iNlC» 
defrrltfr^  having  been  a  half  .pay  officer  ilk  the  BltUlH  Itrm^ 
the  commencement  of  the  war^  In  confequenee  of  thtnlhey  jpl^ 
ft  proclamation,  threatening  to  retaliate 'on  the  prifoners  ill  ih«ft 
pofllttflion  whatevr-  punifliment  fhould  be  in0i^d  oi;i^any  of  tkolb 
taken  by  the  Britt(h,  and  efpecially  that  thtiir  condu^  fhouU  b« 
regulated  by  the  treatment  of  General  Lce« ' 

In  the  mean  time  they  proceeded  with  tlpe  moft  indefatJgd^ 
diligei^e  fo  recruit  their  army,  and  bound  their  foldters  to  fiirvo 
fur  a  term  of  three  years,  or  during  the  continuaAceof  the  war^ 
Th(p  army  defigned  for  the  enfuing  campaign  w^i  to  confift  o^ 

•  eighty-eight  battalions*,  of  Which  each  province. l«ras  to  Contribute 
its  ^oCa-,  and  twenty  dollars  Were  offered  us  n  bounty  to  each 
foldicr,  beftdes  an  allotmmt  of  lands  at  the  end  of  the  War»  In 
this  ajlotment  was  ftipulated,  that  eacirfoldier  (faould  haVeonci 
hundred  acres;  an  enfign  one  hundred  and.  fifty*,  a  lieutenanf 
two  hundred;  a  captain  three  hundred;  a  major  fOur  hundred) 
a^^utenant-colonel  four  hundred  and  fifty;  and  a  colonel  five 
h^iredl  No  lands  were  promifed  to  thofe  who  inlifted  only  for 
three  years*  All  officers  or  (bidiers  difabled  thntugh  wounds 
receive^  ilithe  fervi'ce  to  enjoy  half-pay  during  life.  To  defray 
the  expihce,  congrefs  borrowed  five  millions  of  dollars  at  five 
per  cent ;  for  payment  of  which  the  United  States  became  furety< 
At  the  fiMn*  tinl«t  ih  order  to  animate  the  people  to  vigorous  ex- 
ertiiMiis,  ri  dellairation  was  publifhed,  in  which  they  (et  forth  tlte 
necejfnty  there  was  for  taking  proper  methods  to  infure  fuccefs  in 
their  caufe :  they  endeavoured  to  palliate  as  much  as  poflible  the 
misfortunes  which  had. already  happened;  and  reprefented  the 
true  cauie  of  the  prcfent  dliftref&  to  be  the  fliort  term  of  enlift- 
ment. 

This  declaration,  together  with  the  imminent  danger  of  Phila- 
dclphta,  determined  the  Americans  to  exert  theml'clves  to  the  ut- 

'moft  in  orc^er  to  reinforce  General  Waftiington's  army.  They 
foon  received  farther  encouragement,  .however,  by  an  exploit  of 
that  general  againft  the  Heflians.  As  the  Royal  army  extended 
in  different  cantonments  for  a  great  way,  Geni  Wafhington, 
perceiving    the    imminent    danger  to   which    Philadelphia  wa> 


AiaEktCAk  Rkvoivfitiif,  ^u 

kmti  to  miilce  (bme  Mmpt  on  Uiti^  ^ifiorii  of  tlk 
ly  which  l«y  tt«^treft  <hat  city;    Thcftj  hip^^ed  to  be  tKd 
r  iiiA  ^  ^^^^i  ^n  th#cesdlvihowi,the  lift  only  twenty  milci' 
M  SrS-i"**"   Philadelphia.    On  the   85th  of  December,  haVirig 
^*aed  w  |f3nfldertblc  a  force  alhC  couldj  he  fet  out  with  an 
Jitcnt  to  %:^%t|«  body  oftM.  enemy  who  by  af  Trenton.^ 
W  r.W^X^  ^*  m»MUtto  tht^  bodie* ;  «;n«  of  which  he  ord<ir«d 
^i  S^  ihtJlJfUi^are  it  Ti«»ton  F<irry<  .  little  bete>*  the  town  ; 

>^  J2?^'*¥J''^<*»<^<*W^  While  Ht^a^. 

WlWith  the  thitdi  di*eftlrtg  his  cobf fe  to  «  ferry  fym  raiies ' 
««Vft  fijeiftort,  ihtiiridert^^  at  midnight,  anil  at. 

«Ck  the  JHeOiaht  a<  bkak  of  day.    Btiihy  rd^fotj  of  varidui' ith- 
fcdi«ent«,  Jrwai  cigfit  of thd  morning  Itefort  he  ^ould  feadi  thd 
|Ufceof  hisdeftination;    Thi  enemy,  KoWevcl-.dia  not  pertMire 
hU  approach  till  iHcy  Were  fuddqhly  attaclcd.    Colonel  Ralle 
Vho  tonittkftdcd^herti,  drd  an  thrt  c^^^  from  a 

hfayi  ^riil  ii^pCJr^eticc^  b«cer  j  hut  cirtsi^  thin^  wis  inAich  con- 
fofJon,  thai  rio  «ffoftt  of  t^iloiir  of  fkill  coiild  noW  r^lrWe  mjttters. 
The  colonel  hlmlellP  was  mortalty  woutided/his  troops  w^fij  eh- * 
iffiny  brolten,  iMf  artHiery  feiicdj  m  about  One  thoufapd  laien 

^  TC»  a^ioH,  th^fu^  ili^rti^^^^  of  liO  very  dCcifiVe  nature,'  wAi 
fupcicnt  a|  thav  liWe  to  tiirti  the  fortune  of  war  in  favoii^  of 
America*  It  tcntfc4  gi-Citly '  to  leffen  the  fcir  which  the  ^^In-  ' 
Cials  had  of  the  HeHians,  at  the  ISune  time  it  eduany  «lMtt^  the 
confiderjcft  which  the  Britift'  had  tilt  noW  put  iH'them.r^  ketn- 
/orcemcrits  Came  into  General  Wailiiiigliin^ 

foth'at  he  Was  fooii  in  a  condition  to  leaVe  Pli^dfelphia,  and  take' 
up  liU  quarters  at  Trenton.     Emboldened  by  &  fi^ccefk,  he  do- 
termined  to  make  an  attempt  on  a  divifion  Olthi' J^ritiih  forces 
ftationcd  at  Maidenhead,  a  thwn  fituated  half  wary^HtHeen  Tren- 
ton, and  Princeton.     This  ctmfiftcd  of  three  regiments  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Mawhood,  an  oiBccr  of  gV^at  merif.     The 
tropps  were   furpi  [fed  on  their  march ;  but  th<!Mjgh  they  were 
fcparately   furrounded  and  attacked  by  a'forCe  fo  Vaftly  fupcrior    ' 
they  charged  the   enemy  ib  rcfolutely  with  their  bayonets,  that 
thcycffc6leda   rcireat.     Thefc  attempts  of  the  Americans  how. 
ever,   with  the  hoflile  dlfpofition  of  the    people,    fhowed  the 
impofTibility   of  maintaining  pofts  fo   far  advanced  in  the  ene- 
my^ country  ;  fo   that  it  was',rcfolvcd  to  retrc.it  towards  Brunf- 
wick,  in  order  to   prevent  it,  with  the  troops  and  magazines  it' 
contained,  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  provincials.     Gene- 
ral Wa(hiiigton  loft  lio  opportunity  of  ifeCoveritig  what  had  been 
Vol.  J.  3* 


*.. 


54* 


'^tST0RYOrffiE 


'».A' 


loft ;  and  by  dividing  h^  army  into  fmall  parties,  which  coidifi**^ 
reunited  on  a  few  hour*  wiiming,  he  in  a  manner  entirely  cov«r«il  -^ 
the  country  with  it,  anU  repaffeffed  himfelf  of  all  the  important 
{Uacca. 

Thus  ended  the  campaign  of  17^6,  with  fcafce  any  veal  advan* 
tage  other  than  the  ac<juifMion  of  the  «ity  of  Kffw-York,  «nd» 
few  fortrcfica  in  its  neighbourhood  ;  where  the  irottpt  were  obliged 
t«?a^  with  a»  much  circumfpeaion  as  if  Ihey  had  been  befieged  hf 
a.viaorioo*  army,  inftcad  of  bei*ig  themfclVea  the  con'i|ueron. 

The  army  at  New- York  began  in  %jjf  to  e^i«rciff  a  ktQ4.|»f 
predatory  war,  by  fending  out  parties  to  deftr«^y  magp^inea,  vak^, 
incurfions,  and  take  or  deilifoy  fuch  fort»  af  lay  on  the  bank*  of 
riyera,  to  which  their  great  command  of  (hipping  gjive  them  acccfa. 
In  this  they  were  generally  fuccefsfu!  J  the  provincial  magazines 
at  Pcck's-Hill,  a  place,  of  about  fifty  mUcs  dif^ant  from  New.York» 
were  ^cftroycd,  the  town  of  Dunbury  in  Connefticut  burnt,  and 
that  of  Ridgeficld  in  the  fame  province  was  taken  pofleflion  of. 
In  returning  from  the  laft  expedition,  howfver,  the  Britifh  were 
gieail^y  harraiTed  by  the  enemy  under  Generals  Arnkd,  Woofter, 
and  SuUivan  j  but  they  made  good  their  retreat  in  fpite  of  alt  op- 
pofitioh,  with  the  lofo  of  only  one  hundred  and  feventy  killed 
and  wounded.  On  the  American  fide  the  lofs  was  much  greater ; 
Gci^eral  Woofter  was  killed^  and  Arnold  in  the  moft  imminent 
danj^r.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Americans  deilroyed  the  ftore* 
at  Saggrharbour,  on  Long-Ifloiidy  and  made  prifoners  of  all  who 
defended  the  place. 

As  this  method  of  making  war,  however,  could  anfwer  but 
little  purpolei,  and  favoured  more  of  the  barbarous  incurfions  of 
la,vagfi5  than  of  a  jWar  carried  on  by  a  civilized  people,  it  was  re- 
vived to  make  an  ittcmpt  on  Philadelphia.  At  firft  it  was  thought 
that  this  could  be  dime  through  the  Jerfcys  ;  but  General  Wafli- 
ington  had^i^fji^d  fuch  large  reinforcements,  and  pofted  himfelf 
lb  ftrongly,  tljat  it  was  found  to  he  im'prafticaWe.  Many  ftrata- 
gemf  wcreufed  to  draw  him  from  this  (Irong  fituation,  but  with- 
out luccefs)  fo  that  it  was  found  neceffary  to  make  the  attempt 
on  Philadelphia  by  fea.  While  the  preparations  neceffary  for  this 
expedition  %vere  going  forward,  the  Americans  found  means  lo 
make  amends  for  the  capture  of  General  Lee  by  that  of  General 
Prefect,  who  was  leized  in  his  quarters  with  his  aid*de-camp,  in 
much  the  iamc  manner  as  General  Lee  had  been,  "l^his  was  ex- 
ceedingly mortifying  to  the  General  himfelf,  as  he  had  not  long 
before  iet  a  prrce  upon  General  Arnold,  by  offering  a  fum  of 
money  to  any  one  that  apprehended  him  ;  which  the  latter  an- 
iwcrcd  by  fctiing  a  lower  price  upon  General  Prefcpt. 

The  month  of  July  was  far  advanced  before  the  preparations 
fur  the  expedition  againil  Phitadelphis^  were  completed ;  and  it 
wa«  the  23d  before  the  fleet  was  able  to  fail  from   Sandy-Hook. 


Jl    AUER!C AM  REVOLUTION, 


*;■  » 


5»S 


fi: 


'^. 


lllke  foice  employed  in  th>»  expedition' con AA«ct  .of  iMrly4ix  ^i- 
of  BridRi  and  Hefliant,  •  regivcnt  of  light  horfc,  tind  a 

^iMdy  «f  Ipyii^^^ '^*^<^  *^  New- York,  ,  The  remainder  of  there*; 

%i|k  firvcnteem  battalion^  and  another  ^body  of  light  horfle,  wer« 

'  ,||»lilMiid  at  New- York  under  $ir  mtiify,  Clinton.    Seven  hftta^ 

J^g^  weroJUM^ned  at  Rhode-Iflind*  After  a  iiKfkfe  failiagih^ 
•arrived  aijrK  s  |»mitiy»f  the  Delaware  \  but  thcrff  received  cfltlin 
i^||ell||rn^  tlbft  im  navigation  of  the  river  wa»  fo  effoCkially 
^i^uAedt  tkH  fno  pombiJUy  of  forcing  a  pafTage' remained,  t^on 
1^  k  vtu  Miblved  to  proceed  farther  fouthward  lo  Cheftpcak 
B^  in  Biaryiandt  from  whence  the  diftancc  to  Philadetphlt^aa 
not  very  greati  and  where  the  provincial  army  vrould  find  Icfe 
advantage  from  the  nature  of  the  country  then  in  the  Jerleya. 

The  navigation  from  Delaware  to  Chefapeak  took  up  the  beft 
part  of  the  month  of  Augu^.and  that  up  thrbay  itfclf  Wa»  cx^ 
tremely  difficult  «nd  tedioua.  At  hft,  having  failed  up  the  river 
"iXk  as  far  aawu  praftjcable,  the  t)-0((»pa  were  |anded  without  op* 
pofition,  and  fet  forward  on  their  inteilded  ijrpedition.  On  the 
news  of  thei^  arrival  in  Chefapeak,  <}en«ral  Waftiington  left  the 
Jerfeya,  and  haftened  to  the  relief  of  Philadelphia  %  and  in  the 
beginning  of  Septembier  met  the  Royal  army  at  Brandy-wine 
Creek  about  mid-day,  between  the  head  of  the  Elk  and  Philadcl. 
phia.  Here  he  adhered  to  hia  former  method  of  {kihniihing  and 
haralfing  the  Royal  army  on  itn  march  j  but  aa  this  proved  infuf' 

^  ficient  to  ftop  ita  progrefs,  he  retired  to  that  fide  of  the  Otieknex' 
to  Philadelphia  with  an  intent  to  difpute  the  paflitge.  Thi* 
brought  on  a  general  engagement  on  the  i  t«th  of  September,'  in 
which  the  Americans  were  worfted  thro|U|^  the  fuperior  difci' 
pline  of  the  Britifh  troops  {  and  it  was  only  through  the  appro6ch 
of  night  that  they  were  faved  from  being  entirely  deftroj'ed.  On 
(his  occafion  the  provincials  loft  aboqt  one  thoufand  in  killed  an^ 
wounded,  befidcs  four  hundred  taken  prifoners, 

The  lofs  of  this  battle  proved  alfo  the  lofs  of  Philadelphia. — 
General  Wafhington  retired  towards  Lancafter,  an  inland  town  at 
a  Confiderable  diftance  from  Philadelphia.  Here,  however,  the 
Britifli  general  took  i'uch  meafures  as  mu  ft  have  forced  the  pro- 
vincials to  a  fecohd  engagement  {  but  a  violent  rain  which  laftcd 
a  day  and  a  night  prevented  his  deflgn.  General  Waihington^ 
though  he  could  not  prevent  the  lofs  of  Philadelphia,  ftill  adhered 
to  his  original  "plan  of  diftreffing  the  Royal  party,  by  laying 
■mbulhes  and  cutting  off  detached  parties  :  but  in  this  he  was  lei's 
fuccefsful  than  fortherly  ;  and  one  of  his  own  detachments,  which 
lay  in  ambufti  in  a  wood,  were  themfelves  iiirpriicd   and  entirely 

'  defeated,  with  the  lofs  of  three  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  br^ 
fides  a  great  number  taken,  and  all  their  arms  and  baggage, 

3  X  a 


m 


.*. 


ir/«r^jrr«rrw 


'0tnM  HoiMc  now  perceiving  that  the  Amerieiiit  mmn|<|  ]i4| 
vdlture  another  battle  even  for  the  fake  of  thiH"  ^^m^  tmlfmm 
piacedWe  poffe  fTmn  of  it  on  the  j6th  of  September.    Hia  firft  ^m  'f] 
JWW  then  to  cut  olT,  by  me|Mof  ftrong  br  tteriea,  th^  «oinmim^aiivk| 

ruttd  notwtthftaiidiiig  the  oppofition  of  ihme  American  armtl 


veflbjat  one  of  Which,  carrying  ihtrty4x  gMUy  ;M^lftt«|mV    Hi# 
nejff  tiik  wai  to  open  a  communication  witlTit  by  I'm  }  an^ 


w* 


_.  .  _.  _,  „,, tM| 

wal t'  work  of  no  fmall  difficulty.  A  vaft  nMmbcl'if  teti«#ifi  «n4 / 
tort%  had  been  erefied,  and  immciife  hMfi|i|nel  f6vmA  likf  cAlf^'*' 
^efriie^  from  whence  tl^cy  took  thttrname,  fuuk  in  di«  riwr^l^ 
preN^cnt  ita  nagivation.  Aaithe  flee^  ^.vaa  fcnt  jound^to  |h«  tnou^ 
of  the  river,  in  order  to  co-operate  with  the  army,  thta  work,  howt 
ever  dilfiru|t,  was  accoppliflied ;  nordid  theprovinciaU  give  much 
oppo£tion,  aa  well  knowing  that  all  pUcei  of  this  kind  were  now 
pntenable.  Consral  Walhington,  however^  took  the  advantage 
of  the  royal  army  b^ing  divided;  to  attack  the  camp  of  the  princi- 
cal  divifion  of  i^^h||;layiet  German-town,  in  the  neighbourhood 
pr  Philadelpliia,  In  this  |ie  me^  with  very  liule  fuccefa ;  for 
tHoug<i  j!»t  reaiched  the  place  of  de^ination  by  three  o'clock  in  th« 
morningi  the  patrolea  ha4  time  to  call  the  trodj)*  to  arms.  Thq 
Ameri^^a,  notwithftanding,  ma4e  a  very  refolute  attack :  bu^ 
they  were  received  with  fuch  bravery,  that  they  were  compcUc4 
to  abantlpp  the  atten^,  and  retreat  in  great  dilordcr ;  with  the 
■*^*'!n>^»  however,  pf  f  arryiiig  off  their  cannon,  though  purruc4 
for  a  confi^rablc  way,  after Jiaving  three  hundred  killed,  fix 
hundred  wojinded,  ^ind  upwards  of  four  hundred  taken  prifoncrsi 
among  whom  were  fifty-four  officers.  On  the  Briiilh  fide,  tbo 
Jofs  amounted  to  jfouj:  hundred  and  thirty  wounded  and  prUoMeis 
and  feventy  kijlcd  J  but  among  the  laft  were  Geneial  Agnew  and 
polonel  Bird,  yiritHfomc  other  excellent  offif:crs, 

There  ftijl  remained  twp  ftiong  fort?  on  the  Delaware  to  be  Ycr 
<3uccd.  Theit  were  Mud  Ifiand  and  Red  Ban);.  The  variouj 
pbHruflioni^^^hich  t^c  < Amqriicans  had  throvyn  in  the  way  render, 
cd  it  neceflary  to  bring  up  the  Augufta,  a  flup  of  the  line,  and  the 
Merlin  frigate,  to  the  attack  of  Mud  Ifland  ;  but  during  the  heat 
pf  the  a£lion  both  were  grounded.  Upon  this,  the  Americans  lent 
jdown  four-  fire-lhips,  and  direded  the  whole  fire  from  their 
galleys  againll  them.  The  former  were  rendered  ineffec- 
tual by  the  (tfourage  anU  (kill  of  the  Britilk  feamen  ;  but 
during  the  engagement  both  the  Augufta  and  Merlin  look 
fire  and  were  burnt  to  afties,  and  the  other  fliips  obliged  to  with- 
draw. The  Americans  encouraged  by  this  unluccelsful  pttempt 
proceeded  to  throw  new  obfttuftions  in  the  way  ;  but  the  Britiih 
jpcncral  having^foMJid  means  to  convey  a  ni|mbcr  of  cannon,  an4 


4'' 


m 


■0ii^^fut»tmt . 


f^\n  gun(l|o|  of  Utf  {ejrt  by  Ufui^  lad 

line  which  mouiit«4)kCivy  onnun,  tU«  ga|]qi 
•  vi|prc»u«  defiBfK^;^r  one  day,  pcrcdving^ 
^Kg^,  ipaking  f9r  a  f|if|lr4  nflkult  on  !)«  next, 
K  the,  night*    Thofc  Vho  d^<|||4fd  IUd» 
[^iuitn|p4%itnd  ahiDdoiied  tl  on  tht.  pppfpfcK 
i»&A*|iplt  nwnbcr  of  thf)  Anwricafi  &t|»p«, 
pif  .i|ii|Bn|i|kl||^^  eoliraly  dcilitute  of  »ny  proU^Uon,  |iUe4 
uy  :||i  Cl¥or  in  l%night.tiine.     Seventeen, :  hoi(i;«Yer,  r«i|^«ine^ 

«iif|i«hllh9tA9Mllin»  r»«  them  «|Wfs  apid  burnt  th^  tpiyrfi; 
venltlietr  falling  Into  the  eneiny'i  h«ndt#  '  .u  . 

Thus  the  campaign  of  1777  in  Penfy^fj^a  conditdadt/ttccfii^* 
fully  on  the  pattoftht  Britiih^     In  thO |!hP^39^^*>'>  ^ViHi^^ 
wore  •  different  afpe^.    Thi  fxpedjt^pyip' 1^    4^irtf^  '  4 
been  projedcd1>y  the-firitilh  niiniftiy  Uv^^  i|i|^ 
thod  that  could  be  taken  to  cm(k.thif^^f^B^IJ^}^  Tht 

four  provipceaof  New-Engla^  J^  :Q^jii)l%ii^^^ 
deracy  againft  Briuin,  and  w^  i^f^i{id«i!cd  ^  tJii%  ni^fc 
five  in  the  continuation  of  i^;  iji^it'  WRI  though^  th«t(,»li: 
impreflton  made  upon  them  would  OQPlnbutQ  in  an  9Sfi^4a|||anf 
per  to  the  reduf^ton  of  all  tho  reft^     f^,  thia  purpoiCa,  Vf^^np 
pf  four  thoui'and  thofen  firitifli  troop^andihr^  thoufand  G<irma: 
were  put  nndcr  the  r.ommand  of  General  Buigoyne ;  General  |pi»4i 
^on  waa  dire£led  toufe  hit  intcretl  with  thf  Indians  to  pf  rfnadi  the 
to  join  in  thia  expedition ',  and  the  province  of  QMffbMi  vaa  t 
furnifh  large  parties  to  join  in  the  fame.     The  oftcers  who  com* 
manded  under  General  Burgoyoe  were  General  Philipa  of  th^; 
artillery,  Geperals  Frafer,  Powell,  and  HamjUpr    with  the  Gerr 
man   officers  Generals  Reidefel  and  Speecht.      '.!.u  foldiers, 
has  already  been  obfcrved,  were  all  excellently  difciplined,  an( 
had  been  kept  in  their  winter-quarters  wHh  all  imaginable  caroJ 
in  order  to  prepare  them  for  the  expedition  on  which  they  werei 
going.     To  aid  the  principal  expeditic/n^  another  waa  proje£le(l| 
on  the  Mohawk  River  under  Colonel  St.  Leger,  who  was  to  bo| 
aflided  by  Sir  John  Johnfon,  Ton  to  the  famous  Sir  William 
Johnfon,  who  had  lb  greatly  diilinguilhcd  himfelf  in  the  war 

On  the  sift  of  June  X777,  the  army  encamped  ort  the  weftcrn 
fide  of  the  Lake  Champlain;  where  being  joined  by  a  confidcra- 
blebody  of  Indians,  General  Burgoyne  made  a  fpeech,  in  which 
^e  cxorted  thefe  new  allies  to  ky  aftde  their  ferocious  and  barba- 
rous manner  of  making  war;  to  kill  only  fuch  as  oppofed  them 
In  arms ;  and  to  iparc  priloners,  with  fuch  women  and  children 
jft  ^ould  fail  into  their  hands.     After  tlfuing  a  proclamation,  in 


\    ! 

'4 


wlath  the  force  of  Britain  and  that  which  he  conilunc 
Kt  forth  in  very  oftentatious  terms,  the  campaign 
|the  fiege  of  Tico^deroga.     The  place  w,a.«  very:ftrpl^1|ilM  fl»|J» 
foned  by  lix  thoufand  nlbti  kinder  General  Sractani^;^^ 
jthemrorkliwere  fo  extenfive  that  even  thia  tiuniil>idf  >Nrt«  fc«ree.,fuf. 
|iicientto  defend  them  properly.     They  had  ffidl^ttre  omitted' to 
fortify  a  rugged  eminen^ce  called  St0irMilii  die  top  of  which 
pverlobktd  and.eifefluaUy  commanded  the  1«rjbi^worJt$ ;  vaitily 
Innagitiing' that  the  difliculty  of  the  aftiefit  w^d  1»e  ibfficltiit  to 
|>reveht  Ihe  enemy  from  takht|  ppfieflioh  of  iiv    Oh  the  appnoacj^ 
pf  the  fiirfl;  divifion  or  the  army,  the  provihciala  abandoned  and 
"^et  fire  to  their  outworks;  and  fo  expeditious  were  the  Britifh 
iroops,  that  by  the  5th  of  July  every  pod  Was  fecured  that  was 
judged  necefi'ary  for  invefting  it  completely.     A  road  vas  fuon 
after  made  td  the  very  Summit  of  that  eminence  ^hich  the  Ame- 
ricans had  with  fuch  confidence  fuppofed  could  not  be  afcendcd, 
•nd  fo  much  \i^ere  they  now  difheartened,  that  they  inftantly 
fAnn^iKMl  the  ktt  enttodly,  taking  the  road  to  Skenefborough,  a 
|dac<itothe  South  of 'JLtke  George  t 'while  their  baggage,  with 
what;  artiUeiry  and  military  (imti  they  could  carry  off,  were  fcnt 
to  the  fame  place  by  water.     But  the  Britifli  generals  were  de- 
termined not  to  let  then)  pafs  fo  eafily.     Both  w  ere  purfued  and 
4>oth  Overtaken.  Their  armed  yeffels  confided  only  of  five  galleys; 
two  of  which  Were  taken,  and  three  blown  up ;  on  which  they 
fet  fire  to  their  boats  and  fortification  at  Skenefborough.     On 
this  occafion  the  provincials  loft  two  hundred  bouts,  one  hundred 
and  thirty  pieces  of  cannon,  with  all  their  isrovifions  and  bagr 
^agc.    Their  land-forces  under  Colonel   Francis  made  a  bi-avo 
defence  againft  General   Fraler:  and  being  greatly  fuperior  in 
number,  had  almoll  overpowered  him,  when  General  Reidefel 
^th  a  large  body  of  Germans  came  to  his  aflidance.     The  Ame^ 
ricans  were  now  overpowered  in  their  turn ;  and  their  cominar.r 
del  being  killed,  they  fled  on  all   fides  with  great  precipitation. 
In  this  a£iion  two  hundred  Americans  were  killed  as  many  taken 
prifuners,  and  above  fix  hundred  wounded,  many  of  whom  pe- 
rifhed  in  the  woods  fur  want  of  aflidance, 

Ikiring  the  engagement  General  Sinclair  was  at  Cafilcton, 
about  fix  miles  from  the  place;  but  indead  of  going  forward  to 
Fort  Anne,  the  next  place  of  drength,  he  repaired  to  the  woods 
which  lie  between  that  fortrcfs  and  New-England.  General 
Burgoync,  however,  detached  Colonel  Kill  with  the  ninth  regi- 
ment, in  order  to  intercept  (uch  as  (hould  attempt  to  retrei? 
towards  Fort  Anne.  On  his  way  he  met  with  a  body  of  tbeenf 
my,  faid  to  be  fix  times  as  numerous  as  his  own;  but  after  an. 
cncagcmcnt;  of  thrpQ  hourS;   they   were  obliged  to  retire  will}  I 


,  f,.ir 


B  omitted  t<> 
p  of  MirWcH 
,rkij  vainly 
fttfficlentto 

«ivfloned  an4 
e  the  Britifh 
iTtiV  that  was 
oad  vas  foon 
ich  the  Ame- 
t  be  afccndcd, 
they  inftantly 
sncfborough,  a 
baggage,  with 
off,  were  fcnt 
icrals  wcvc  de- 
re  purfued  antl 
of  five  galleys  I 
on  which  they 
jorough.     On 
;»,  one  hundred 
ifions  and  bagr 
made  a  bniva 
ily  fuperior  in 
:neral  Reidefel 
c.     The  Amc. 
their  cominar.r 
it  precipitation, 
as  many  taken 
of  whom  pe- 
ls at  Caaicton, 
ling  forward  to 
cd  to  the  woods 
lland.      General 
the  ninth  reg»- 
[cmpt  to  retreat 
body  of  the  ene' 
In ;  but  aticr  an 
to  retire  viiJ^ 


f^fiMt  tim^ 


Merican  REvq£^ti0if.  i^f 

many  di^^ers,  4^f{(>airin|i  of  being  aUeto 
ton  Anne,  xhe^ Jti  ^fe  IQ  it  and  rettrel  to 
\\  thc<«  eng«igctii^;|JLthe  lofs  of  kiUed  and 
,  ^  il  army  did  not  ^i^tk  Ivo  hundred  melb^ 
Bl?rg6|9«  .wa»  ppt^  M^tia  fufpcnd  hjii  operations 
a^  %x^  ^^^9k^^ft^^ov^^  for  the  arrivaf  ^il  hi* 
teliti;  provif^li^S(  4te^  out'eniploycd  t^  intervai  in  makini  if9vU 
i  *9U|h  the  cotiQtry  about  j$]t^  ^Anii^,,  aftd  in  0elring^  a  ^^flTag* 
for^^U  troop*  to  proiseed  againli<<li^  entn^y.  lliis  waa  attended 
wi^  incredible  toiH  but  aUoh(UHWW«Ri'fi>linounte4>fith equal, 
f^ttfnce  and  re£q|uti0n  by  the  army.  Xnjfc^it,  aftetr  unftcrjSping 
tbe  utmoU  difficulty  that  could  be  tindergoviei  sindQjkaking  eiVery, 
exertion  that  man  eould  make,  he  arrived  Wit|^  His  army  befo.r<^| 
Fort  Edward  about  the  end  of  July.  Hire  0^^ 
had  been  for  fome  time  endeavouring  to  r^^crutt  the  ihatteficfd  Amc^ 
rican  forces,  and  had  been  joined  by  General  i^incjair  with  tho 
remains  of  his  army ;  the  garrifon  of  Fort  George  tlfo,  fituatedl 
on  the  lake  of  that  name,  had  evacuated  the  place  and  retireidto 
Fort  Edward. 

But  on  tl>e  approach  of  the  royal  army,  they  retired  from 
thence  alfo,  and  formed  their  head  quarters  at  Saratoga.  Not- 
withftanding  the  great  fucCcfles  of  the  Britiih  Generitl,  they 
Ihowed  not  the  leaft  difpofttion  to  fubmit,  but  feemed/dnly  to 
confider  how  they  might  make  the  moil  efSeftual  refi  (lance.  For 
this  pwrpofe,  the  militia  was  every  where  raifed  and  draughted  to 
join  the  army  at  Saratoga ;  and  fuch  numbers  of  volunteers  wero 
daily  added,  that  they  foon  began  to  recover  from  the  terror  into 
which  they  had  been  thrown.  That  they  might  have  a  comman- 
der whole  abilities  could  be  relied  on,  General  Arnold  was  ap- 
pointed, who  repaired  to  Saratoga  with  a  confiderable  train  of  ar- 
tillery; but  receiving  intelligence  that  Colonel  St.  Leger  was 
proceeding  with  great  rapidity  in  his  expedition  on  the  Mohawk 
River,  he  removed  to  Still-water,  a  piace  about  half-way  between 
Saratoga  and  the  junftion  of  the  Mohawk  and  Iludfon's  River, 
The  Colonel,  in  the  mean  time,  had  advanced  as  far  aa  Fort  Stan, 
the  fiege  of  which  he  preffcd  with  great  vigour.  On  the 
6th  of  Auguft,  underdanding  that  a  iupply  of  provilions,  elcort- 
[  «d  by  eight  or  nine  hundred  men,  was  on  the  way  to  the  fort, 
he  difpatched  Sir  John  Johnfon  with  a  (Irong  detachment  to  in- 
tercept it.  This  he  didlbeffeftually,  that  befidcs  intercepting  the 
provifions,  four  hundred  of  its  guards  were  (lain,  two  hundred 
[taken,  and  the  reft  efcaped  with  great  difficulty.  The  garrifon, 
however^  were  not  to  be  intimidated  by  this  dii'aftcr,  nor  by  the 
threats  or  reprcfentations  of  the  Colonel:  on  the  contrary,  they 
|inj,de  leveral  fucccfsful  fallies  uijder  Colonel  Willct,  the  fecond 


i 


,» 


hi 

^ttituttd  out  of  the  'ii^j 
ttiy,  Jiflfcd  throiU)(i  r'  '"*" 
Ar#4!lQ  their  affl 

faV(jiar*bl6  fituafton  tic|^ 
wer^fil6ai. 


^i^V^^rM: 


^«yj 


foH  yy^i'Xp^i^'^^^Mttii  Bttrgoyne  haid  Immt  d*f!ttit«l  with 
gre?t  fljWf^ftpi',  |nk"i^*>W  flying  before  the  pPoviftckU.    On 


{ f  hiir  he  w»s  <^iti 
It^d  iiot  bc^ 

Gefl$il:||^;__ 

Siutt^'fe'S 
ter'lWMtti,' 
pains  v)f«pp^^ 
the  enemy  {  fo 


ddiii  th^y  thought  |>n)^er;  and  the  retreat 
ithout  the  lo&  of  the  tents  and  Tome  of 


>ret^ 


|he  mean  time,  notwiftanding  all  thd 
Titftiined)  found  that  he  muft  ftill  en- 
he  had  made  with  fo  much  labour  and 
etlOpi^iipPe  Wetneis  of  the  Asaibn,  or  by 
:ffiofmdfAhe  brought  from  Fort  George 
could  not  airriveai  hit'  camp  without  the  rao{{  prodigious  toih 
On  hetj^ng  of  the  fle|e  <t)f  Fort  Stanwix,  by  Colonel  Sti  Lcgcr^ 
he  dieteiioined.^Q  move  forward  in  hopes  of  inclofing  the  enemy 
hefwiHthis  QWnlarikty  and  thai  of  St.  Leger,  or  of  obtaining  the 
command  ii|  all,  the  country  between  Fort  Stanwix  and  Albany; 
at  at  any  rate,  a  Junftion  with  Colonel  St.  Leger  would  be  cffcft- 
ed,  which  could  not  but  be  attehded  with  the  moil  h»ppy  confe- 
quences«     The  only  dilHculty  Was  the  want  of  provifiions;  and 
this  it  was  propofed  to  remedy  by  reducing  the  provincial  maga- 
zines at  Bennington.     For  this  purpofe,  Colonel  Baum,  a  Ger- 
taan  '  fHcer  of  great  bravery,  was  chofen  with  a  body  of  five  hun- 
dred men^     The  place   was  about  twenty  miles  from  Hudfon's 
River;  and  to  fupport  Colonel  Baum's  party,  the  whole  army 
marched  up  the  river's  Lank,  and  encamped  alraoft  oppofite  to 
Saratoga,  with  the  river  betwixt  it  and  that  places     An  advan- 
ced party  was  poded  at  Batten  Kill,  between  the  camp  and  Ben. 
nington,  in  order  to  fupport  Colonel  Baum.     In  their  way  the 
Britifh  (eizeda  large  fupply  of  cattle  and  provifions,  which  were 
immediately  fent  to  the  camp;  but  the  badncfs  of  the  roads  retard- 
ed their  march  fo  much,  that  intelligence  of  their  defign  was  font 
to  Bennington.     Underftanding   now  that  the   American  force 
was  greatly  fupcrior  to  his  own,   the   Colonel  acquainted  the 
General,  who  immediately  difpatched  Colonel  Breyman  with  a 
party  to  his  afliftancc;  but  through  the  fame  caufes  that  had  re- 1 
tardcd  the  march  of  Colonel  Baum,  this  afliftancc  could  not  anivej 


mort 
Hen 
lettei 
teritlt 
This 
fwer 
ftatin 
provi 
hold 
In 


5^ 


Wltl 


etn  timfi^uwho  ctfakaumdedM 

^^kttft  fepacatiety }  fln4 

in%  whbm.  hrf  iur- 

aj|  intrepidity. 
>ttt  were  to  » 

cngaymenlr-^iMliliailiy ^pjipiiip  ■■ii»iipi!ii^jtigi;yfaifc) t|l%fiigh .the 
d«rlinef»ol&t)ic  ipghtt  i#W«iK»rw^^^  igjt.  k«y«  done* 

aivliis  m«o  b«^iicp«iiitii^il|dt^  rounds 

'  t#'iHieh.'  /-  .  •^^'■hi  ••*#.^  ^-  - ^^ ^n" ^lis^m  W 
^  Cennral  Burgdijpnej  tkt»^  di(ap|>tfirili^irr4(ilNtl(|iii|»t  on  Bcn^ 
iiingtoh^  aptplied  himfelf  with  mdehtiffSblt  diligence  to. 
procure  provifions^  from  Fort  Gtorgef  Imd  having  at  length 
amaifed  a  lufficienfc  quantky  to  lad  ,  fof  ^ -iltttmfa,,  he  threw 
a  bridge  of  boats  over,  the  river   Hudfon^  whiijih  h<^  oroflied  about 

•  the  middle  of  Scpcember^  encampihj^  on  the  hilb  and  plains  n^ar 
Saratoga.  As  loon  as  he  approached  fche  provincial  army,  at  this 
fcime  encamped  a^  Stillwater  under  General  Gatea|)ie  determined 
to  make  an  attack  }  for  which  purpofe  hi^apil^iin&U;  at  the  head 
of  the  central  divifion  of  his  army,  luM^p^^afeneial  Fra&r  and 
Colonel  Breyman  on  the  rights  with' €^C|iM||l3l,^)^^ 
lips  on  the  left.  In  this  pofitton  he  adwitacira  towards  the  ene- 
tny  on  the  igth  of  Septemben  But  the  Amctitans  did  not  now 
Wait    to    be  attacked  :  on  the  contrary^  they  attacked  the  central 

'  divifion  with  the  utmoft  braVery ;  and;  it  was  not  until  Generalj 
Philips  widi  the  artillery  came  up  that  they;  could  be  repuUcd. 
On  this  o<!cafion,  though  the  Britith  troops  loft  only  three  bun^n 
dred  and  thirty  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  enemy  no  fewer 
than  fifteen  hundred^  the  former  were  very  much  alarmed  at  tho 
ebftinate  refolution  fhuwn  by  the  Americans*  This  did  not, 
however,  prevent  them  from  advancing  towards  the  enemy,  and 
polling  thcmfclvcs  the  next  day  within  cannon^lhot  of  their 
lines.     But  their  allies  the  Indians  began  to  defert  in  great  num-..., 

'  bcrs ;  and  at  the  fame  time  the  general  was  in  the  highcH  degrea-t' 
mortified  by  having  no  intelligence  of  any  afilftancc  from  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  as  had  been  ftipulated.  He  now  received  a 
letter  from  him,  by  which  he  was  informed  that  Sir  Henry  in-< 
tenitled  to  make  a  diver fion  on  the  North  River  in  his  favour. 
This  afforded  but  little  comfort:  however,  he  returned  an  an> 
Iwer  by  levcral  trufty  perfons  whom  he  dil'patched  different  ways^ 
ftating  his  prefent  difkrefTed  fituation,  and  mentioning  that  the  .. 
provilions  and  other  nccelTaries  he  had  would  only  enable  him  to 
hold  out  till  the  i  uth  of  0<ilober. 

In  the  mean    time  the  Americans,  in  order  t5  cut  o^  the  rc- 

Voi.  I.  .      3  r  ^ 


treat  of  the  Btitifli 
ani  tfxpe^idH  j 
the  ente^priflii 
a  great  Mxni^; 
of  prifonert. 
c<!>ntiiyQiQ4<  to 

diers  ■tVlamnm  "^tihii^^-  #«iifg||iti|^  H^immua^t^ 
move  tonarM^  etllnf^f'f-aiiMani'p^ 

fifteen   hundriJiilliM   toiiibnn  mt«n(iM^, 

if  poflible,  tOf  )|iin|ai!|;  #iroii^  it  in  ord«#  f^efFcArrif^efrett.  '!Bb* 
detaclnnent,  -  howev«r^  had  hot  pFoceeded  far  ivhpn  a  dreadful 
attack  was  madier  upC^^liUilcft  wiiig.  of  thtrfiritifh  army^  which  wa» 
v^ith  great  difficiOT)F'^il&rer\redfr6m  being,  entirely  broken  by  a 
reinforcetiient>liVot»ght  up'  by  GeneraV  Fraler,  who  was  killed  iiv; 
the  attacks  After  the  froopa  had  with  the  moft  defperate  efforts^ 
regainied  their  camp,  ii  was  moft  fu^rioufly  aflaulred  by  General 
Arnold;;  who^'hotwithftanding  all  oppofition,  would  have  forced 
the  ehtrenchmenti^lml^h^not  received  a  dangerous  wound,  which 
obliged  him  to  l«^r|R«  /^^P'hus  the  attack  failed  on  the  teft^  but  on 
the  right  tihfe-»felt^^^foj|i>/<Sc]rmaa  referve  wa»  foreedv  Colonel 
Breyman  kif  le^i^l^^SlXountry men  defeated  with  great  flaughter 
and  the  lofiidfal^fllnp  artillery  and  baggage, 
■  This  wds  by  far  the  heavieft  lof»  the  Britilh  army  had  fuftained  * 
iince  the  a£lion  at  <BMnker''i  Hill.  The  li(l  vi  killed  and  wound- 
ed amounted  to  n<9ar  >%yelve  hundred,  exelufwe  of  the  Germans  i 
but  the  grcateft  miitfortune  was^  that  tne  dnemy  had  now  anopen-< 
ing  'on  the  right  and  rear  of  the  Britifli  forces,  fo  that  the  army 
was  threatened  with  entire  deftru&ioh.  This  obliged  General 
Burgoyne  once  more  to  fliift  his  pufiiion,  that  the  enemy  might 
alfo  be  obliged  tb  alter  theirs.  Tiiis  was  accemplifhed-  on  the 
night  of  the  7th,  without  any  lofs,  and  all  the  next  day  he  con- 
tinued to  olVcr  the  cacmy  battle  ;  but  they  were  now  too  well 
afl'urcd  of  obtaining  a  complete  viftuty,  hy  cutting  off  all  fup" 
plies  from  the  Britifh,  to  rif)s.  a  pitched  battle.  Wherefore  they 
advanced  on  the  right  ftde,  in  oi'der  to  inclofe  him  entirely; 
which  obliged  the  General  to  direct  a  retreat  towards  Saratoga. 
But  the  enemy  had  now  ftationed  a  great  force  on  the  ford  at 
Hudfon's  River,  fo  that  the  only  poUibility  of  retreat  was  by 
i'ecuring  a  palTige  to  Lake  George  ;  and  to  effefl  this,  a  body  of 
workmen  were  detached,  with  a  ftrong  guard,  to  repair  the  roade 
and'bridges  thut  led  to  Fort  Edward.  As  foon  as  they  were  gone, 
however,  the  enemy. fcemcd  ao  prepare  for  an  attack  ;  which  ren- 
de)o<l  it.'nccert'.ify  to  recal  the  guard,  and  the  workmen  being  of 
coiiile  UA  cxpolcdcoLihl  not  prorced. 


AMERT^AV'^Rm^OLUWOIl 


iSaf 


In  the  mean  time,  thfrjtiioats  ;i»hich  cotw«|ttfd  ^rotr4l|i^|D«t4oMf.n 
"fiudron's  River  were  expoledUp  boHcofHihBli^  fyv^CiKe  tAmeri" 
<can  markfmen,  who  took  mmy  of  4Ji«nit;f>ifo.t4i%i|:i,'^iC«me  nf- 
iceffary  to  convey  the  praviiions  over  Imdt^  5bi -tlfts  e^J^M^tnc  dan- 
iger,  it  wu  rerolve«l^6,  inarch  by  night  4ilJp(%J|i|dwar4,.  forcing 
4he  paflages  at  the  lords  either  above <0MiJb»t(iil{  Jth#  pl|CKl^>,j|ic]  ift 
order  to  cfFefl:  this  the  vnai^  eiAly,  it 'W9&  ff^^tmd'it^t  the  foU 
■diers  ihpuld  carry  their  provifions  <)n, their  hack>s,  X^iV^i^g  be- 
hind their  baggage  aiod  ©very  other  irf^vafihrangc,  But  .bcfoi;e 
this  could  be  executed,  inteiligcnce  was  received  tha^t  the  cncm<^'^ 
had  raifsd  ftrongentrcnchments  oppofite  tq  t^e  ^ds,  well  pro- 
vided with  cannon,  and  that  they  had  UJkewire  taken  poiTcfllon  of 
ihe  rifing  i^round  between  Fort  George  a|id.i''or.t  ^w^d,  w}iic)i 
in  like  manner  was  provided  with  cannon, 

AH  thifi  time  the  American  army  was  incicafing  by  the  conti- 
nual arrival  of  militia  and  volunteers  from  all  parts.     Their  par- 
ties extended  all   aiong  the   oppolite  hank   of  Hudfon's  River, 
and  fome  had  even  paQied  it  in  order  to  obfcrve  the  leail  jnovemcnt 
4of  the  Britiili  army.     The  whole  force  uqjder  Qfi^eral  Gates  was 
computed  at  ftxteenihoufand  men,  whilethe  a^giy  under  Geucrsl 
Burgoyne  fcarce  amounted  to  fix  thoufand  iMi^^Hpty^^rt  of  tl^c 
camp  was  reached  by  the  grape  and  rifle  fliot  ^f fjl^e  cncm^y,  bc- 
Udes  a  difcharge  from  their  artillery^  which  W8S  almod  inceflant. 
In  this  ftate  of  extreme  diflrefs  and  danger,  thte  army  continued 
•with  the  greateflfonftancy  and  perfeverance  till  the  evening  of  the 
f.  3th  of  Oftober,  whtin  an  •  inventory  of  provisions  he^ng  taken, 
it  was  found  that  no  more  retrained  than  what  were  rulHcient  to 
ferve  for  three  days ;  and  a  council  of  war  being  called,  it   w3s 
wnanimoufly  determined  that  there  was  no  method  now  re;naity' 
ing  but  to  treat  with  the  enemy.     In  confequcncc  of  this,  a  nc^ 
gociation   was  opened  next  day^  which  Ipcedily  terminated  in  a 
capitulation  of  the  whole  Britifh  arni^y ;  the  principal  article  of 
which  was,  that  the  troops  were  to  have  a  free  paffage  to  Britair, 
on  condition  of  not  ferving  againft  America  during  the  war.     On 
this  occafion,  General  Gates  ordered  his  army  to  keep  vilhin 
their  camp  while  the  Britiih  foldiers  went  to  a  place  appointed 
for  them   to  lay  down  their  arms,  that  the  latter  rhight  not  have 
the  additional  mortification  of  being  made  fpc^cles  of  fo  mclani- 
choly  an    event.     The  number  of  thofe  who  furrendcred   Sara- 
toga amounted  to  five  thouland  feven  hundred  and  fifty,  accori^- 
ing  to  the  American  accounts;  the  lid  of  fick  and  wounded  left 
in  the  camp  when  the  army  retreated  to  Saratoga,  to  five  hundred 
and  twenty-eight ;   and  the  number  of  thole  loft  by    other  acci^- 
d^ntiS  fince  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga,  to  near  thjee  thouland, 

•3  V   9 


:m 


1R^ 


MisrowrorTMM 


Thirt^-tiNi>bnfs  ficM^iecet,  f«<i|Bn  thoufand  Hand  of  trm«,  doth* 
ing  for  iH^ifiiMl  miljlii  of  fc^j^ert,  with  their  t«ttts,  miiitary 
cheftv  Ac|!jllniftitut«4^he4#oty  Wthis  oct^aftoii, 

Sir  l^MNryi^nfl0nr#&  ^  n>e«n  time,  had  failed  up  the  North 
River,  and  4li|nlyii4|il|wo  forts  called  Montgomery  and  Clirn  , 
ton, Mly^ftf^f^^ Cptt(Mt|i|iwi,  anfl  another  plaee  cabled  Continental 
Vil)ag^,lf^lrh<ere~illiiire  Wnckt'for  two  thoufand  men,  Seventy 
Urge  #^op -wert tarried  away,  bcfi<}es  a  number  of  fmaller  ar? 
tillery,  tttd  a  great  (|uankity  0f  ftorck  and  amiAunition;  a  large 
boom  atid  chain  reaching  acrbft  tjie  river  from  Fort  Montgomery 
to  a  point  c*fii»nd  callc4  IJt,  Anthony's  Nofe,  and  vsjjiich  coft 
notlcfs  than  fsvertty  ihoiiftnd  pounds  ftcrllngu  were  partly 
deftroyed  and  part^r  carried  a^vay,  as  >yas  alio  another  b9om  of 
little  Icfs  value  at  Fort  Gonftitution,  The  lofs  of  the  Britifh 
army  was  but  fmall  in  number,  though  fotne  j|&ccrs  of  great 
merit  were  killed  in  the  diffci^ent  attacks, 

Another  attack  was  made  by  Sir  James   Wallace  with  fomc 

'frigates,  and  a  body  of  land  forces  under  General  Vau^han.   The 

placb  which  iii9«Mr  fllffeired  was  named  Efopus :  the  fortifications 

were  deftroyed,  and  the  town  itfelf  vas  reduced  t»  a^ies,  as  tha( 

palled  Gontimnatli  V  illarge  had  been  before, 

But  thefe  '^ftiHt^tllfei,  of  whatever  importance  they  might  be, 
were  now  difi^rdcd  by  both  parties.  They  fervcd  only  to 
irritate  the  AmOripanSi  fluihed  with  tlieir  fucceis  ;  and  they  wero 
utterly  infufficicnt  to  raife  the  fpirits  of  the  Briti^,  who  were 
now  thrown  into  the  utmoft  difmay, 

On  the  1 6th  pf  March  i-^-jS,  Lord  Noith  intimated  to  the 
houf«  of  commons,  that  a  paper  had  been  laid  before  the  king  by 
•$he  French  ambaffador,  intimating  the  conclufion  of  a^d  alliance 
between  the  dlpurt  of  France  and  the  United  States  of  America, 
The  preliminaries  of  this  treaty  had  been  concluded  in  the  end 
of  the  year  1777,  and  a  copy  of  them  ferit  to  congrcfs,  in  order 
to  counteraft  any  propofals  that  might  be  made  in  the  mean  time 
by  the  Britilh  miniftry.  On  the  6th  of  February  1778,  the 
articles  were  fortpally  figned,  to  the  g«*rat  fatisfajElion  of  the 
French  i\ation, . 

They  were  in  fubftancc  as  follows  ; 

1.  If  Great  Britain  fbould,  in  confe<!|uence  of  this  treaty, 
proceed  to  hoftilities  againft  France,  the  tMVo  nations  ftiould  mu- 
tually alTift  oiie  another, 

2.  The  main  epd  of  the  treaty  was  in  an  effcftual  manner  tq 
maintain  the  independency  of  America, 

3.  Should  thofe  places  of  North  America  ftillfubjeft  to  Bri- 
tain be  reduced  by  the  colonies,  they  ihould  be  confederatc4 
^i^h  them,  or  fubjeftcd  lo  their  juriidlftion, 


P 


AMERICAN  REVrOlVTlON, 


6a9 


,  ct6thv 

:  North 

id  ClitH  ^ 
tinental 
Seventy 
aller  sr- 
a  large 
tgomery 
jiich  eoft 
c   partly 
b9om  of 
Brittfh 
of  great 

■^ith  (bm6 
lan.  The 
tification^ 
cs,  as  that 

might  be, 
d  only  to 
they  wero 
Iwho  wcro 

ted  to  the 
le  king  by 
ilfi  alliance 

America, 
in  the  end 

in  order 
Imean  titnc 
I1778,    the 
ion  of  the 


kis  treaty, 
lould  mu- 

I  manner  tp 

Ua  to  Bri- 
>nfederate4 


4,  Should  liny  of  the,  Weft  India  iflands  be  reduced  by  ft»nc«^ 
ihcy  fhould  be  ^emed  its  property.  «#  , , 

5.  No  formal  treaty  with  GreattBritain  Qiould  be  conoladed  ei^ 
thenby  France  or  America  without  the  confcnt  of  eacbctther;  and 
it  was  mutually  engaged 'that  they  (hould  not  jay  dowi^rtheir  armd 
-till  the  independence  of  ithe  SiUtcs  had  been  furmaUy  a<;l(now- 
Jedgcd.  .    • 

6.  The  contraAing  parties  mutually  agreed  to  invite  thofe  pow* 
era  that  had  received  injuries  from  Creat-j^citain  to  join  the  com- 
mon caui'e^ 

7,  The  United  States  guaranteed  to  *  .apce  all  the  pofleflionc 
in  the  Weft  Indies  which  (he  (hould  conquer;  and  France  in  her 
|urn  guaranteed  the  abfolute  independency  of  the  States,  and 
their  fupremc  authority  over  cvcuy  .^ouQtry  they  poiTetTed,  or 
inight  acquire  during  the  war^ 

The  notification  of  fuph  a  treaty  as  thip  could  not  be  looked 
upon  as  a  declaration  of  war.    On  its  being  apnounced  to  the 
<hou(e.  every  on?  agreed  ip  ii\.  addrefs  to  his  Majefty,  promifing 
(o  fbtKNiy  him  to  the  utmoft  in  the  prefent  emergency:  but  it 
was  warmly  contended  by  the  members' iq  dppofition,  that  the 
prefent  miniftry  ought  to  he  removed  on  account  t>f  Ihtir  numr 
berlefs  blunders  apd-mifcarriages  in  evety  inftanpc.    Many  were 
of  opinion,  that  the  only  way  to  extricate  the  nation  from  its  trou- 
ble was  to  acHnowlodgc  the  independency  of  Ame^^a  at  once  t 
and  thus  we  might  ftill  do  with  a  good  grace  what  muft  inevitably 
be  done  at  laft,  after  expending  much  more  blood  and  treafure 
than  had  yet  been  lavifhcd  in  this  unhappy  conteft.    The  minif- 
terial  party,'  however,  entertained  different  ideas.     Inftigatedby 
ambition  and  folly,  it  was  determined  at  once  to  refent  the  inter- 
ference of  :France,  and  profecute  hoftilities  againft  America  with 
more  vigour  than  ever,   (hould  the  terms  now  offered  be  re- 
jeftcd.  ^ 

The  Americans,  in  the  mean  time,  afliduoufly  employed  their 
agents  at  the  courts  of  Spain,  Vienna,  Prultia,  and  Tufcany,  in 
order,  if  po(Tible,  to  conclude  alliances  with  them,  or  at  Icaft  to 
procure  an  acknowledgment  of  their  indepcncy.  As  it  had  been 
reported  that  Britain  intended  to  apply  for  afllftancc  to  RuiCa,  the 
American  commiflGoners  were  enjoined  to  vfe  their  utnjoft  influx 
ence  with  the  German  princes  to  prevent  fu^h  auxiliaries  from 
marching  through  their  territories,  and  to  endeavour  to  procure 
the  recal  of  tlie  German  troops  already  fent  to  America.  To 
France  they  offered  a  ccflion  of  fuch  Weft  India  iflands  as  (hould 
be  taken  by  the  united  ftrcngth  of  France  ^and  America  ;  and 
^ould  Britain  by  their  joint  endeavours.be  difpolTeffed  of  New- 
fpundland,  Cape  Breton,  and  (jova  Scptia,  the(ip  territories  (houH 


534 


HISTORY  Of  THE 


'  'He  (SiikitA  betwixt  the  tW'riationt,  and  Great-Britain  be  totally 
■  exclciibil  from  tMI  fifhery.  >  The  propofaU  to  the  Spanifli  court 
Ivctv^^^'liMfih  care  they  fhould  think  proper  to  efpoufe  their  qoar. 
rd,  the  Alllerican  State*  ihould  aflift  in  reducing-Penfacola  under 
the  dominie^  ^£)f  Spain,  provided  their  fubjefta  were  allowed  the 
free  navigation  of  the  Mtfllflippi,  and  the  ufe  of  the  harbour  of 
Pcnfacola ;  and  they  further  offered,  that  if  agreeable  to  Spain, 
they  would  declare  war  againd  Portugal,  fliould  that  power  expel 
the  American  (hipa  from  ita  ports. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  troops  under  General  Burgoyne  were 
prepsiring  to  embark  for  Britain  accord'  "  to  the  convention  at 
Saratoga;  but  in  the  interim,  congrefs  pofttively .refufcd  them 
permilFion  fo  to  do,  having  difcovered  that  fome  finifter  dcfigns 
were  hairboured  on  the  part  #f  Britain,  and  that  they  only  wanted 
an  opportunity  to  join  the  other  troops  at  Philadelphia  or  New<> 
York. 

The  Teafon  for  a^ion  was  now  approaching  $  and  congrefs  was 
indefatigable  in  its  preparations  for  a  new  campaign  which  it  was 
confidently  faid  wovfid  be  the  lail.     Among  other  methods  taken 
for  this  purpofe,  it  viras  recommended  to  all  the  young  gentlemen 
of  the  'colonies  to  form  themfelvcs  into  bodies  of  cavalry  to  ferve 
at  their  own  expence  during  the  war.    General  Wafliington  at 
the  fame  time,  in  order  to  remove  all  incumbrances  from  hiSkar- 
my,  lightened  the  baggage  as  much  as  poiTible,  by  fub(iituting 
farks  and  portmanteaus  in  place  of  chefls,  and  boxes,  and  uHog 
pack-horfes  inftcad  of  waggons.     On  the  other  hand,  the  Britifh 
army,'cxpefting  to  be  fpeedily  reinforced  by  twenty  thoufand 
men,  thought  of  nothing  but  concluding  tKe  war  according  to 
their  wiflics  before  the  end  of  the  campaign.     It  was  with  the  ut> 
mod  concern,  as  well  as  ,  indignation  therefore,  that  they  receiv* 
ed  the  news  of  Lord  North's  conciliatory  bill.   It  was  univerially 
looked  upon  as  a  national  difgracc  ;  and  iome  even  tore  tha  cock- 
ades from  their  hats,  and  trampled  them  under  their  feet  as  a  tc« 
}(en  of  their  indignation.     By  the  colonifts  it  was  received  with 
'Indifference.     The  Britifli  commiiTioners  endeavoured  to  make  it 
fi  public  as  poflTible  •  and  congrefs,  as  formerly,  ordered  it  to  be 
printed  in  all  the  ncwfpapers.     On  this  occaflon  Governor  Tryon 
jnClofed  feveral  topics  of  the  bill  to  General  Wafhington  in  a  let- 
ter intreatirig  that  he  would  allow  them  to  he  circulated ;  to  which 
that  general  returned  for  anlwcr  a  copy  <;»f  a  ncwl'paper  in  which 
jhe  bill  was  printed,  with  the  rcfolutions  of  congrefs  upon  it, 
Thiefe  were,  that  whoever  prefumcd  to  make  a  feparate  agreement 
with  Britain  fhov^i  be  deemed  a  public  enemy ;  that  the  United 
(States  couW  not  with  any  proprit'ty  keep  corrcfpondence  with 
tjie  fpmmiflioncrs  ur4il  .their  incWpendcnce  was  acknowledged, 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


sm 


tibetottUy 
tanifli  court 
I  their  qHor» 
acoU  under 
allowed  the 
harbour  of 
e  to  Spain, 
power  expel 

rgoyne  were 
unvcntion  at 
efurcd  them 
lifter  dcfigns 
only  wanted 
>hia  or  Ncw^ 

congrcfs  wa» 
which  it  wa» 
lethods  taken 
ng  gentlemen 
valry  to  fcrvc 
iVaihington  at 
^s  from  hiswar- 
fubftituting 
[es,  and  ufing 
i,  the  Britifti 
;nty  thoufand 
according  to 
|s  with  the  ut- 
it  they  receive 
as  univerlally 
ore  tha  cock- 
ir  feet  as  a  tc- 
jreccived  with 
rd  to  make  it 
Idered  it  to  be 
ivcrnor  Tryon 

jgton  i'^  *'  **^' 
|ted ;  to  which 
iper  in  which 
■refs  upon  it, 
,'ate  agreement 
at  the  United 
jondencc  with 
icknowledgcd, 


&nd  the  Brttifli  fleets  and  armfes  removed  from  America.  At  the 
fame  time,  the  colonies  w^re  warned  not  to  fufFer  themfelvoi  to 
be  deceived  into  fecurity  by  any  oflFers  that  might  be  made;  but 
to  ufe  their  utmofl  endeav^urf  to  fend  their  quotas  with  all  dili- 
gence into  the  field.  The  individuals  with  whom  thp  commif- 
ftohcrs  converfad  on  the  fubjc^  of  the  conciliatory  bill,  generally 
returned  for  anfwcr  that  the  day,  of  reconciliation,  was  paft}  and 
that  the  haughtinefs  of  Britain  had  eXtinguilhed  all  filial  regard  in 
the  breafts  of  Americans. 

About  this  time  alfo  Mr.  Silas  Deanp  arrived  from  France  with 
two  copies  of  the  treaty  of  commerce  and  alliance  to  be  figned  by 
Congrefs.  Advices  of  the  mod  agreeable  nature  were  alfo  receiv-. 
ed  from  various  parts,  reprefenting  in  the  moft  favourable  light 
the  difpofitionsof  the  European  powers ;  all  of  whom,  it  was  faid, 
wiflied  to  fee  the  independence  of  America  fettled  upon  the  moil 
firm  and  permanent  bafis.  Confidering  the  fuuation  of  matters 
with  the  colonifts  at  this  time,  therefore,  it  is  no  wonder  that 
the  commiflioners  found  themfelvcs  unable  to  accomplifli  the 
errand  on  which  they  came.  Their  propofals  were  uttdrly  rejefl- 
ed,  thcmfelves  treated  as  fpies,  and  all  intercourfe  with  them 
interdi£led« 

But  before  any  final  anfwcr  could  be  obtained  from  congrefs, 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  taken  the  rcfolution  of  evacuating  Phi- 
hdelpbia.  Accordingly,  on  the  loth  of  June^  after  having  made 
all  neceflary  preparations,  the  army  marched  out  of  the  city  and 
crofledthe  Delaware  before  noon  with  all  its  baggage  and  other 
incumbrances.  General  Wafliington,  apprifed  of  this  defign, 
had  difpatched  exprelTcs  into  the  Jerfeys  with  orders  to  eolleft  all 
the  force  that  could  be  afliembled  in  order  to  obftru£l  the  march 
of  the  enemy.  After  various  movements  on  both  fides,  Sir  Hen- 
ry Clinton,  with  the  royal  army,  arrived  on  the  27th  of  June  at 
a  place  called  Freehold ;  where,  judging  that  the  enemy  would 
attack  him,  he  encamped  in  a  very  ftrong  fituation.  Here  Gfr- 
I  neral  Wafhington  determined  to  make  an  attack  as  foon  as  the 
I  army  had  begun  its  march.  The  night  was  fpent  in  making  the 
jneccffary  preparations,  and  General  Lee  with  his  divifion  was 
ordered  to  be  ready  by  day-break.  But,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  juftly 
[apprehending  that  the  chief  objcfl:  of  the  enemy  was  the  bsggage, 
[committed  it  to  the  care  of  General  Kn/phaufen,  whom  he  order- 
led  to  fet  out  early  in  the  morning,  while  he  followed  with  the 
[reft  of  the  army.  The  ^attack  was  accordingly  made;  but  th,. 
Britifh  general  had  taken  fuch  care  to  arrange  his  troops  pro* 
[pvly,  and  fo  effeftually  fupported  his  forces  when  engaged  with 
[the  Americans,  that  the  latter  not  only  made  no-  impreflion,  but 
[were  with  dif&culty  prclerved  from  a  total  defeat  by  the  advance 


# 


0f  Genent  Wafliington  with  the  w))ol#trmy.  The  ftritiA  ^rodpi 
effected  their  retreat  with  the  loft  of  three  hundred  men,  of  whom 
many  died  through  mete  fatigue  without  any  wound.  In  thif 
rftion  General  Lee  j^ni  charged  by'^Gtineral  Wafhington  with 
diibbrdienceand  mifconduft  in  retreating  before  thtBritifh  arniy^ 
He  WdS  tri<|d  by  a  tourt-martial,  ghd  fentcnccd  to  a  temporary 
fufpeniton  from  his  command.  After  they  had  arrived  at  Sandy 
Rook,  a  bridge  of  boa;s  was  by  Lord- Howe^  direftions  thrown 
from  thence  over  the  channel  WhiC^  feparattfd  the  ifland  from  the 
iniin  land,  and  the  tro<>p«  were  conveyed  aboard  the  fleet :  »fter 
tvhich  they  failed  to  New-YorlTj  After  fending  forte  light  de- 
^chmcnts  to  x^tch  the  enemy's  motions,  General  Wafliington 
marcel;  J  to\vard&  the  NF^djk  River,  where  a  great  forcd  had  beeir 
eolleftcd  to  join  him,  ana  u^erc  it  was  n<nv  expeCit'd  that  fome 
very  capital  operatiom  would  take  place/ 

In  the  mean  timc^  France  had  fet  about  her  prepirations  for 
the  aflifiance  of  the  Americans.  Cm  the  14th  of  April  Count 
<^'£{laing  had  failed  from  Toulon  with  a  flrong  fquadron  of  (hip* 
of  the  line  and  frigates  ,  and  arrived  on  the  coafl  of  Virginia  in 
the  beginning  of  July,  while  the  Britifh  fleet  was  employed  in 
conveying  the  forces  from  Sandy  Hook  t«>  New  Yorfc.  It  con- 
lifted  of  one  fhip  of  ninety  guns,  one  of  eighty,  fxk  of  feventy- 
four,  and  four  of  fiAty-four,  beftdes  feveral  large  frigates;  and, 
cxclufiVe  of  its  compliment  of  failors^  had  fix  thoufand  marines 
■nd  foldiers  on  board.  To  oppofe  this  the  Britiih  had  only  fix 
fhips  of  lixty-four  guns,  three  of  fifty,  and  two  of  forty,  with 
ibme  frigates  and  floops^  Notwithftanding  this  inferiority,  how- 
tvcr,  the  Britiih  admiral  pofled  himfelf  fo  advantageoufly,  and 
fhowed  fuch  fuperior  fbill,  that  d'Eftaing  did  not  think  proper 
to  attack  him.  He  therefore  remained  at  anchor  four  miles  oS 
Sandy  Hook  till  the  22d  of  July*  without  effefting  any  thing 
more  than  the  capture  of  fome  veffels,  which,  through  ignorance 
Df  his  arrival,  fell  into  his  hands. 

The  next  attempt  of  the  French  admiral  was,  in  conjunftioit 
with  the   Americans,  on  Rhode  Ifland.     It  was   propoled  that 
d'Eltaing,  with  the  fix  thoufand  troops  he  had  with   him,  fhould 
make  a  defcent  on  the  fouthern  part  of  the  idand,  while  a  body  of  I 
the  Americans  fhould  take  and  dellroy  all  ihq  Britiih  (liipping. 
On  the  8th  of  Auguft  the  French  admiral  entered  the  harbour  as  I 
was  propoicd,  but  found  himfelf  unable  to  do  any  material  danng?, 
Lord  Howe,  however,  inftantly  fet  fail  for  Rhode-Ifland  ;  and! 
d'Ellaing,  confiding  in  his  fuperiority,  immediately  came  out  of  I 
the  harbour  to  attack  him.     A  violent  ftorm  parted  the  two  ileetsJ 
and  did  fo  much  damage  that  they  were  rendered  totally  unfix  fori 
aftion.     The  French   however,    fufFered   moft ;    and   feveral  <'f I 


n,  of  whom 
d.    In  this 
ngton  with 
kitilh  army  J 
B  temporary 
cd  at  Sandy 
ions  thrown 
md  from  the 
B  fleet :  «fter 
>n*c  light  de- 
Wafliington 
red  had  bee» 
cd  that  fom* 

;p»ratk>n»  for 

April  Count 

idron  of  fhip» 

>f  Virginia  in 

I  employed  in 

'oitt.     It  con- 

fiji  of  feventy- 

1  frigates ;  and^ 

)ufand  marines 

had  only  fi* 

:>f  forty,  with 

eriority,  how- 

itageoufly,  an<* 

>t  think  proper 

four  miles  off 

ing  any  thing 

ugh  ignoiance 

in  conjiinftiort 
propoled  that 
fh  him,  ftould 
/hileabodyof| 

Iritifh  {hipping- 
the  harbour  as  I 
laterial  dam^igf, 
ide-Ifland;  and 
cly  came  out  m 
the  two  ue'^ts> 
[totally  unfi^  ^n 
and   levcrul  of] 


Aii£^ii^if  iiEt^blt/fioiir.  Bit 

ilMr  (hips  being  aft^|iyn^  •ttacked  fingly  by  the  Briiilh,  very 
•arrowly  efieaped  lleMif*uktnf  On  |he  tcttli  of  AuguA  he  rc'« 
tiimed  to  KefTpQvt  mut^ynr^  fliacttcedcondifion;  and,  not  think-* 
Ing  kioircif  bfcL  tker^  ifrlled  two  days  Kfttfr  for  fiofton .  Cenerat 
SuUiviui  hid  Uri<!M  xH  the  mean  tia||on  tUe  northern  part  o( 
IUibde.Illind  Witlrteii  dioufand  Hieaf^  *  On  tVc  Ifth  of  Augult 
they  begin  thdir  operttitmi  by  creAiqg  bitteriei,  ind  making  iheif 
•pproichct  to  the  Aritifli  linec.  But  Qcnenl  Pigot,  who  com- 
mended  in  Newpoti^  -hid^tikm  fuch  eArftual  care  to  feture  him-i 
(elf  on  the  lind-rtde,  thatSrithout  the  affiftance  of  a  marine  fofca 
it  wai  altogether  indpoiSble^  attack  hiiii  with  any  probability  oC 
fuccefi.  Hie  conduft  of  d'Eftaiag,  iherefo're,  in  abandoning 
them  when  mafter  bf  tho  hirbounnVe  the  greateft  difguft  to  th# 
|wdple  of^  New-Eagland,  and(3||(|^i<l  SuHiVan  began  io  think  o^ 
a  retreat.  On  perceiving  his  intentions,  the  garrifon  fallied  out 
upon  him  with  fo  much  vigourj  that  it  was  not  without  difficulty* 
that  he  efFciRed  his  tetfeat^  He  had  not  been  long  gone  when 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  arrived  with  I'body  of  four  thoufand  meir| 
Ifwhich^  had  it  arrived  fooner,  would  have  enabled  the  Britifli 
tommander  to  have  gained  a  deidlfive  advantage  oVer  him,-  ii  weU 
aa  to  have  deftrbyed  the  lown  of  Providence,  which,  by'  its  vici- 
nity to  Rhode-10artd,-  and  the  enterprifes  which  were  continually 
^ojefted  and  carried; on  in  that  place^  kept  the  inhaMtanls  o' 
Rhode-Ifland  in  continual  alarms^ 

The  firfl  Britifti  expedition  was  to  Butxard's  Bay,  bn  the  coail 
tof  New- England  and  neighbourhood  of  Rhode<Illand^  Herd 
they  deftroycd  a  great  number  of  priVateers  and  merchantmen^ 
inagasines,  with  florehoufes,  &c.  \  whence  proceeding  to  a  fero 
tile  and  populous  ifland  called  Martha's  Vineyard,  they  carried 
off  ten  thoufand  iheep  and  three  hundred  black  cattle.  Another 
expedition  took  place  up  the  North  River^  under  Lord  Cornj 
wallis  and  General  Knyphaufen  *,  the  principal  event  of  which 
Iv&s  the  deftruftion  of  a  regiment  of  American  cavalry,  known 
by  the  name  of  Waihington's  Light  Horfe.  A  third  expedition 
was  dire£led  to  Little  Egg  Harbour  in  New-Jerfey,  a  place  noted 
for  privateers,  the  deflruftion  of  which  was  its  principal  inten- 
tions It  was  conduced  by  Captains  Ferguion  and  Collins,  and 
6nded  in  the  deftruftion  of  the  enemy's  veifcls,  as  well  as  of  the 
place  itfelf^  At  the  fame  time  part  of  another  body  of  American 
troops,  called  Pulaiki's  Legion,  was  furprised,  and  a  great  numbf:r 
of  them  put  to  the  fword. 

The  Atiiericans  had,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year,  projeftcd  the 
conqueft  of  Weft-Florida  ;  and  Captain  Willing,  with  a  party  of 
refoluto  men,  had  made  a  fuccefsful  incurfion  into  the  country. 

Vol.  I.  3  Z 


58^ 


History  oi  th 


^^, 


ThU  at»aken«d  the  attbntioii  of  th«  Britifli  tb  t$«  uuTftff^n  cd^ 
Ionics,  andean  expecli  lion  again  (I  them  wa«  refolved  on.  Georgia 
waathephce  of  deftinaiion }  and  the  more  cfFcAually  tocnfur* 
fijeeera^^  Colohel  Campbeh,  with  a  fufitcient  force,  under  convojr 
of  Tome  (hips  of  wai«,  conlmanded  by  Commodore  Hyde  Parker, 
embarked  at  New- York,  while  General  Frevoft,  who  commanded! 
hi  £aft  Florida,  was  direfted  to  fet  out  with  all  the  force  he  could 
fpare.  The  armament  from  New>York  arrived  off  the  coaft  of 
Georgia  in  the  month  of  December ;  and  though  the  enemy  wer« 
very  ftrongly  polled  in  an  advanugeoua  fituation  on  the  fhore, 
the  Britifti  troops  made  good  their  landing,  and  advanced  towarde 
Savannah  the  capital  of  the  province.  That  very  day  tbey  de* 
featcd  the  force  of  the  provinciala  which  oppofed  them  ;  and  took 
poiTeflion  of  the  town  with  ful^  celerity,  that  the  Americana  had 
not  lime  to  execute  a  rei'olution  they  had  taken  of  fetting  it  on 
ftre.  In  ten  days  the  whole  province  of  Georgia  waa  reducedi 
Sunbury  alone  excepted ;  and  this  waa  alfo  brought  under  fub« 
je^on  by  General  Prevoft  in  his  march  north  wards.  Every 
method  was  taken  to  fecure  the  tranquillity  of  the  country ;  and 
rewards  were  offered  for  apprehending  committee  or  aifembly 
men  or  fuch  as  they  judged  mod  inimical  to  the  Britifli  interefts. 
On  the  arrival  of  General  Prevoil,  the  command  of  the  troops 
naturally  devolved  09  him  as  the  fenior  officer  }  aind  the  conquefl 
of  Carolina  was  next  projc£tcd. 

In  this  attempt  there  was  no  fmall  probability  of  fuccefs.  The 
tountry  contained  a  great  number  of  friends  to  the  Britifh  go- 
vernment, who  now  eagerly  embraced  the  opportunity  of  dcclar-* 
ing  thcml'elvcs ;  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Georgia  had  joined 
tlie  royal  ftandard ;  and  there  was  not  in  the  province  any  conft- 
derable  body  of  provincial  forces  capable  of  oppofing  the  efforts 
of  regular  and  well  disciplined  troops.  On  the  firft  news  of  Ge- 
neral Prevoft's  approach,  the  loyalifls  aiTembled  in  a  body,  ima- 
gining themfelvcs  able  to  (land  their  ground  until  their  allies 
ihould  arrive  ;  but  in  this  they  were  dil'appointcd.  The  Ameri- 
cans attacked  and  defeated  them  with  the  lois  of  half  their  num- 
ber. The  remainder  retreated  into  Georgia  ;  and  after  under- 
going many  difHculties,  at  laft  elFciled  a  junCtion  with  the  Britifh 
forces. 

In  the  mean  time,  General  Lincoln,  with  a  confiderable  body 
of  American  troops,  had  encamped  within  twenty  miles  of 
the  town  of  Savannah  ;  and  another  (Irong  party  had  pofted 
themlelves  at  a  place  called  Briar's  Creek,  farther  up  the  river  of 
the  lame  name.  Thus  the  extent  of  the  Bfitt(h  government  was 
likely  to  be  circumfcribed  within  very  narrow  bounds.  General 
Prevoft  therefore  determined  to  dillodge  the  party   at  Briar'* 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


%m 


Creek :  and  tha  Utter,  trtiftifig  to  their  ftrong  fituatioiii  inrl  l)eing 
•■emilii  in  their  guard,  fuffercd  themfelvea  to  be  furprifed  on  the 
30th  of  March  1779  {  when  they  were  utterly  routed,  with  the 
lo(a  of  four  hundred  killed ,  and  taken,  befidea  a  great  number 
■drowned  in  the  river  or  the  (wampi.  .  The  whole  Artillery,  ftorea 
Itoggage,  and  almoft  atl  the  arma,of  this  unfortunate  party  were 
taken,  fo  that  they  could  no  more  make  any  (land  ;  and  thui  the 
province  of  Georgia  waa  once  more  freed  from  the  enemy,  and  a 
communication  opened  with  thofe  placea  in  Carolina  where  the 
royalifta  chiefly  reiided. 

The  vi&ory  at  Briar'a  Creek  proved  of  confiderable  fervice  to 
the  BritiAi  caufe.  Great  numbers  of  the  loyalifts  joined  the  army, 
and  confiderably  increafed  its  force.  Hei^  General  Prevoll  was 
enabled  to  ftretch  his  pods  farther  up  the  river,  and  to  guard  all 
the  principal  paflea  ;  fo  that  General  Lincoln  was  reduced  to  a 
ftate  of  inaftion  \  and  at  )aft  moved  off  towards  Augufta,  in  order 
to  proteft  the  provincial  aflembly,  which  waa  obliged  to  fit  in  that 
place,  the  capital  being  now  in  the  hands  of  the  firitiftt. 

Lincoln  had  no  fooner  quitted  hia  poft,  than  it  was  judged  a 
proper  time  by  the  Britifli  general  to  put  in  execution  the  grand 
fcheme  which  had  been  meditated  againft  Carolina.  Many  di{H- 
cultiea  indeed  lay  in  his  way^  Hie  river  Savannah  waa  fo  fwelled 
by  the  exceflive  rains  of  the  feaibn,  that  it  feemed  impaflable  ;  the 
oppofite  (hore,  for  a  great  way,  waa  fo  full  of  fwamps  and  marfhcs, 
that  no  army  could  march  over  it  without  the  greateft  difficulty ; 
and,  to  render  the  paflage  ftill  more  difficult,  General  Moultrie 
vn.%  left  with  a  confiderable  body  of  treopa  in  order  to  oppore 
the  enemy's  attempts.  But  in  fpite  of  every  oppoT^tion,  the  eon« 
ftancy  and  perfeverance  of  the  Britifli  forces  at  laft  prevailed. 
General  Moultrie  waa  defeated,  and  obliged  to  retire  towards 
Charleftown  ;  and  the  viAoriousarmy,  after  having  waded througli 
the  marOiea  for  fome  time,^  at  laft  arrived  in  an  open  country, 
through  which  they  purfued  their  march  with  great  rapidity  to- 
wards the  capital  {  wb*!e  General  Lincoln  remained  in  a  ftate  of 
fecurity  at  Augufta,  imagining  that  the  obftacles  he  had  left  in  the 
way  could  not  be  furmounted, 

Certain  intelligence  of  the  danger  to  which  Charleftown  was 
expofed,  however,  aroufed  the  American  general  from  his  lethargy. 
A  choien  body  of  infantry,  mounted  on  horfeback  for  the  greater 
expedition,  wasdifpatched  before  him ;  while  Lincoln  himf'elf  fol- 
lowed with  all  the  forces  he  could  colle£l.  General  Moultrie  too, 
with  the  troops  he  had  brought  from  the  Savannah,  and  fome 
others  he  had  colle£lcd  fince  his  retreat  from  thence,  had  taken 
]>o9el{ion  of  all  the  avenues  leading  to  Charleftown,  and  prcpare4 

3  Z  » 


^w 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


fur  a  vigorous  defence.  But  all  oppofttion  ]n-oved  tnelSeAual. 
The  Americans  were  defeated  in  every  eilcduntef ;  aad  retreattB^ 
continually,  al}pw<Q4  kh«.Briti(h  army  to  come  withip  cannon  (hot 
of  Charlellown  o|t  th<  lath  pf  May, 

The  towp  wan  i^ow  fummoned  to  furrendefi  and  the  inhabi- 
tanU  would  gladly  have  ifj/cctd  to  obferve  a  neutrality  durin|^  the 
reft  of  the  war,  and  would  have  engaged  alfo  for  the  reft  of  ikm 
province, ,  But  thefc  terms  not  being  accepted,  they  made  prepa«- 
rations  for  a  vigorous  4efence.     Jt  was  not,  however,  in  the 
power  of  the  Britifh  comijiander  at  this  time  to  make  an  attack 
with  any  profpeffc  of  fuccefs.    His  attillery  wss  not  of  fufficient 
weight ;  there  were  no  ihi^s  to  fupport  his  attack  by  land ;  and 
General  Lincoln  advancing  rapidly  with  a  fuperior  army,  threaten^ 
ed  to  inclofe  him  between  his  own  force  and  the  town  ;  fo  that 
ihould  he  fail  iu  his  firft^Perppt,  pertain  deftfuftion  would  he  the 
f:onfequence.     For  thef^^ieafons  he  withdrew  his  forces  ftom  be- 
fore the  town,  andiiopk  pofleQlon  of  two  iflands  called  St.  James^ 
4ind  St.  John's,  lying  to  tlnk  fouthward  ;  where  having  waited  fome 
time,  *!iis  force  was  augmi^nted  by  the  arrival  of  two  frigates.—* 
With  thefe  he  determine(f>  to  make  himfelf  mafter  of,  Port  Royal, 
another  ifland  poffefied  of  an  excellent  harbour  and  many  othc;r 
natural  advantages,  frpi;n  its  iltuation  alfo  commanding  all  the  fea- 
(coaft  from  Charleftown  to  Savannah  River,    The  American  gene- 
ral, however,  did  not  allow  this  to  be  apcomplilhed  without  op- 
pofition.     Perceiving  that  his  opponent  had  occupie4  an  advan- 
tageous poft  on  St. , Jqhnis  ifland  preparatory   to  his  enterprife 
againft  Port  Royal,  he  atleiopted,  on  the  aoth  of  June  to  diflodge 
him  from  it ;  but  after  an  obilinate  attack,  the  provincials  were  ob- 
liged to  retire  with  confiderable  lofs.     Qn  this  occafion  the  fuc- 
pefs  of  the  Bdti(h  arnis  was  in  a  great  meafure  owing  to  an  armed 
^oat ;  which  galled  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy  lo  eiFe£lually, 
that  they  could  dire&  their  efforts  only  againft  the  ftrongeft  paM 
of  the  lines,  which  proved  impregnable  to  their  attacks.    This 
difappointment  was  inftantly  followed  by  the  lofs  of  Port  Royal, 
which  General  Prevoft  took  pofleflion  of,  and  put  his  troops  into 
proper  ftations,  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  fuch  reinforcements  as 
were  necelTary  for  the  intended  attack  on  Charlel^own. 

In  the  mean  time,  Count  d'Eftaing,  who,  as  we  have  already 
obferved,  had  put  into  Bofton  harbour  to  fcftt,  had  ufed  hi&utmoft 
eilorts  to  ingratiate  himlelf  with  the  inhabitants  of  that  city. 
Zealous  alio  in  the  caUfe  of  his  mafter,  he  had  published  a  procla- 
mation to  be  dilperfed  through  Canada,  inviting  the  people  to 
return  to  their  original  frjcndftiip  with  France,  and  declaring  that 
all  who  renounced  their  allegiance  to  Great-Britain  fhould  cer- 
jt^inly  fii^d  &  protc£lor  in  the  I>ing  of  France.     All  bis  endeavours, 


JMERJCAN  REVOIVTJON. 


54f 


«ftual. 
reatia^ 
?n  ihok 

L  of  th^ 
:  prepi*- 

in  the 
n  attack, 
ufi&cient 
id;  and 

fo  that 
id  be  the 
ftom  be- 
.  jamea'i^ 
itcd  fome 
rigates. — ; 
lit  Royal, 
my  oth«;r 
1  the  fea- 
cah  gena- 
thout  op- 
in  advan- 
jnterprife 
diflodge 
were  ob- 
i  the  fuc- 
an  armed 
Fcftually, 
igeft  paM; 
s.    This 
»rt  Royal, 
oops  into 
jcments  as 

[c  already 
his  utm/oft 
Ihat   city. 

a  procla>- 
Ipeople  to 

■iring  that 
lould  ccr- 
Ideavpurs, 


liowevef,  proved  infufiicient  at  this  time  to  produce  any  revb. 
liition,  or  even  tp  |brm  a  party  o^  any  icdnfequence  among  the 
Canadiaris^ 

As  foon  as  the  French  adnoiral  had  reiiited' his  fleet,  he  tool^ 
the  opportunity^  while  that  of  admird  Byron  had  bee^  (hattered 
by  a  ftprm,  of  iailing  to  the  Weft  Indies.  <  During  his  operJrtionf 
there,  the  >^mertcans  having  reprefet\ted  his  ca^du£fc  as  totally 
unferviceable  to  them,  he  received  or4en^  i^rom  Europe  to  aflift 
the  colonies  with  all  poflible  I'pced.  |  j 

In  compliance  with  thefe  orders,  he  ^re^bed    his  couife  to- 
wards  Georgia,  wi^h  a  defign  to  recover  ttiat  province  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  and  to  pur.  it,  as  well  as  South  Carolina, 
in  fuch  a  pofture  of  defence  as  woyld  efFcftually  fecUre  theit^ 
front  any  future  attack.     This  feettied  to  be^  an  eafy  matter,  from 
the  little  force  with  which  he  knew  he  fhcJiild  be  oppofed:  and 
the  next  objefb  in  contemplation  was  no  le(p>  than  the  deftru£iion 
fof  the  Britilh  fleet  and  army  at  New- York,  ^d  their  total  expulr 
fion  from  the  continent  of  America.     Full  of  thefe  hopes,  the 
French  commander  arrived  off  the  coaft  of  Georgia  with  a  fleet 
of  twenty-two  fail  of  the  line  and  ten  large  frigiites,     His  arriv.^! 
was  to  little  expelled,  that  feveral  veflels  laden  with  provifions 
and  military  ftores  fell  into  his  hands:  the  Experiment  alfo,  a 
veffel  of  fifty  guns,  commanded  by  Sir  James  Wallace,  was  taken 
after  a  (lout  relillance.     On  the  continent,  the  Britiih  troops 
were  divided.     General  Prevoft,   with  an  inconiiderable  part, 
remained  at  Savannah ;  but  the  main  fordK  was  under  Colonel 
Maitland  at  Port  Royal.     On  the  (ir(l  appi^rance  of  the  French 
fleet,  an  exprefs  was  difpatched  to  C61onel  Maitland :  but  it  was 
intercepted  by  the  enemy ;  fo  that  before  he  could  fet  out  in  or- 
der to  join  the  commander  in  chief,  the  Americans  had  fccured 
mod  of  the  paflfes  by  land,  while  the  French  fleet  efFe^ually 
blocked  up  the  paiTage  by  fea.    But  by  taking  advantage  of  creeks 
and  inlets,  and  marching  over  land,  he  arrived  juft  in  time  to 
relive  Savannah. 

D'Eftaing,  after  making  a  gafconade  of  what  had  happened  at 
St.  Vincent's  and  Grenada,  had  allowed  General  Prevoft  twenty- 
four  hours  to  deliberate  whether  he  fliould  capitulate  or  not.  This 
time  th?  general  employed  in  making  the  beft  preparations  he 
could  for  a  defence;  iind  during  this  time  it  was  that  Colonel 
Maitland  arrived.  D'i:<ftaing's  (ummons  was  now  reje£led ;  and 
as  on  this  occafion  the  fuperiority  of  the  enemy  was  by  no  means 
fo  much  out  of  proportion  as  it  had  been  at  Grenada,  there  wss 
every  probability  of  fuccei's  on  the  part  of  the  Britifli.  The 
g^rrifon  now  confided  of  three  thoufand  men,  all  of  approved 
valour  and  experience,  while  the  united  force  of  the  French  and 


"•M8 


;/,  vj l-^HJSTORYOF  TKK 


.Americans  did  not  ainoutife  to  ten  thoufand.  The  event  wn  tntP 
i^vrerable  to  the  expe&ations  of  the  Britifh  general.  Having  the 
advantage  of  a  ftrong  fortification  and  excellent  engineers^  the 
fire  of  the  alliea  made  fo  little  iropfeifiont  that  D'£ftaing  refolv- 
ed  to  bc)mbard,the  town,  and  a<  battery  of  nine  mortars  was  ere^ 
oed  for  the  purpofe.  This  produced  a  requeft  from  General  Pre* 
voft,  that  the  women  and  children  might  be  allowed  to  retire  to 
a.  place  of  fafety*  But.  the  allied  commanders  refufid  to  comply ; 
and  they  refolved  to  give  a  general  aflault.  Thitt  was  accordingly 
•attempted  on  the  9th  of  October:  but  the  aflailants  were  every 
where^  repulfed  with  ftich  flaughter,  that  twelve  hundred  were 
killed  and  wounded;  among  the  former  were  Cpunt  Polafki,  and 
among  the  latter  was  D'Eflaing  himfelf. 

pxThis  dtfafler  entirely  overthrew  thefanguine  hopes  of  the 
.Americans  and  Frtnch  ;  mutual  reproaches  and  animoGties  took 
,  place  in  ihe  moft  violent  degree ;  and'^after  waiting  eight  days 
longer,  both  parties  prepared  for  a  retreat  i  the  French  to  their 
•  {hiipping,  and  the  Americans  into  Carolina. 

While  the  allies  were  thus  unfuccefsfuUy  employed  in  the 
fouthern  {:olonies,  their  antagoniils  were  no  lefs  afliduous  in  dii'. 
trefling  them  in  the  nothern  parts.  Sir  George  Collier  was 
fent  with  a  fleet,  carrying  on  board  General  Matthews,  with  a 
body  of  land  forces,  into  the  province  of  Virginia,  Their  fii  ft 
attempt  was  on  the  town  of  Portrmouth ;  where,  though  the  ene> 
my  had  deftroyed  fome  (liips  of  great  value,  the  Britilh  troops 
arrived  in  time  to  fave  a  great  number  of  others.  On  this  occa- 
fion  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  veflels  of  different  fizes  were 
.burnt,  and  twenty  carried  off;  and  an  immenle  quantity  of  pro- 
vifions  defigned  for  the  ufe  of  General  Wafhington's  army  was 
either  deftroyed  or  carried  off,  together  with  a  great  variety  of 
naval  and  military  ftores.  The  ^i^et  and  army  returned  with  lit- 
tle or  no  lofs  to  New-York, 

The  fuccefs  with  which  this  expedition  was  attended,  foon 
gave  encouragement  to  attempt  another.  The  Americans  had  for 
fome  time  been  employed  in  the  ereftion  of  two  ftrong  forts  on 
the  river;  the  on?  at  Verplanks  Neck  on  the  eaft,  and  the  other 
at  Stoney  Point  on  the  weft  fide.  Thefe  when  completed  would 
have  been  of  the  utmoft  fefviee  to  the  Americans,  as  command' 
ing  the  principal  pafs,  called  the  King's  Ferry,  betweon  the  nor- 
thern  and  fouthern  colonies.  At  jprefent  however,  they  were 
not  in  a  condition  to  make  any  effeftual  defence  ;  and  it  was  j 
therefore  determided  to  attack  them  before  the  work  fhould.bc 
completed.  The  force  employed  on  this  occafion  was  divided! 
into  two  bodies;  one  of  which  direftcd  its  courfe  againft  Ver-j 
planks,  and  the  pther  againft    Stoney  Pojm,     TIjc  former  vasl 


AM£Ri<:,AN  itZmiUTlON. 


548 


rent  wM  rnUrn 
Having  U»e 
gmeer»t  tht 
bing  refolv-  , 
irswascrc^ 
[general  Pre- 
i  to  retire  to 
d  to  comply ; 
$  accordingly 
s  were  every 
undred  were 
i  Polaiki,  and 

hopes  of  the 
iraofitie*  took 
ng  eight  days 
rench  to  their 

ployed  in  the 
hduous  in  dif- 
e  Collier  was 
ithcws,  with  a 
a.     Their  fira 
lough  the  ene. 
Bri'tiCh  troops 
On  this  occa- 
ent  fizes  were 
lantity  of  pro- 
)n*5  army  was 
reat  variety  of 
irncd  with  Ut- 


CcfflM(M^ded  Vy  G«neiral  Vaughan,  the  latter  by  General  Pattifon, 
Vf^ile  the  (hipping  wa»under  the.  4iirefti9in.t>f  Sir  George  Collier. 
GtfRonl  Vaughaa  met  with  np.refiftuuae,, the  enemy  abandoning 
their  works,  and  fetting  fire  to  ev^^ry  thing  cambuiUble  that  they 
coMld  njpt  carry  ofFk     At^oqey  Ppiat,  how^ever,  a  vigorous  de-: 
fence  was  nHde,  though  the  garrifo|v Avas  at  laid  obliged  to  C9pi-t 
tttlate  Uj^n  honourable  conditions.  ,  To  fecure  the  poiTeffion  of  r 
this  laft,  which  was  the  more  important  of  the  two^  General; 
Giintoa  removed  from  his  former  fituation,  and  encamped  in 
fiich  a  manner  that  General  Wafliingtoa  could  not  give  any  affif- 
tance.       The    Americans,    however,    revenged   themfelves   by 
diftrefltng,  with  their  numerous  privateers,  tiie  trade  to  New- 
York. 

This  occafioned  a  third  expedition  tp  Cpnne&icut,  where  thefe 
privateers  were  chiefly  built  and  harbouivd.  The  command  was 
given  to  Governor  Tryon  and  to  General  Garth,  an.  ofEcer  of 
know  valour  and  experience.  Under  convoy  of  a  confiderable 
number  of  armed  veflels  they  landed  at  Newhaven,  where, 
they  .'demoliihed  the  batteries  that  had  been  ere£):ed  to  op- 
pofc  fhem,  and  deftroyed  the  {hipping  and  naval  (lores ;  but  they 
fpared  the  town  itfelfj  as  the  inhabitants  had  abftained  from  firing 
out  of  <  their  houfes  upon  the  troops.  From  Newhaven  they 
marched  to-^Fairfield,  where  they  proceeded  as  before,  reducing 
the  town  alfo  to  afhes.  Norwalk  was  next  attacked,  which  in 
like  manner  was  reduced  to  afhes ;  as  was  alio  Greenfield,  a  fmall 
feaport  in  the  neighbourhood. 

Thefe  fuccefifes  proved  very  alariping  as  well  as  i  /irKCwtal  to 
i  the  Americans;  fo  that  General ^/"alhington  d^Li^rmmei  at  all 
events  to  drive  the  enemy  from  Stoney  Point.  I  or  this  pfrpole 
he  fent  General  Wayne  with  a  detachmert  ci"  cho'en  men,  di- 
refting  them  to  attempt  the  recovery  of  it  1  y  furprile.  On  this 
occafion  the  Americans  (hewed  a  fpirit  and  rcfolution  exceeding 
any  thing  they  had  performed  during  the  courfe  of  the  war. 
Though  after  the  capture  of  it  by  the  Britifh  the  fortifications 
of  this  place  had  been  completed,  and  were  very  (Irong,  they 
attacked  the  enemy  with  bayonets,  after  pafling  through  a  heavy 
fire  of  mufquetry  and  giape-(hot ;  and  in  fpitc  of  all  oppofition, 
obliged  the  furviving  part  of  the  garrifon,  amounting  to  five  hv."..- 
dred  men,  to  furrender  themfelves  prifoners  of  war. 

Thougli  the  Americans  did  not  at  prefent  attempt  to  retain 
poffeflion  of  Stoney  Point,  the  fuccefs  they  had  met  with  in  the 
[Cnterprife  emboldened  them  to  make  a  fimilar  attempt  on  Paulus 
Hook,  a  fortified  poft  on  the  Jerfey  fide  oppofite  to  New-York  ; 
I  but  in  this  they  were  not  attended  with  equal  fuccefs,  being  oblig- 
ed to  retire  with  precipitation  after  they  had  mr.Jc  themfelvas 
mafters  of  one  or  two  pofls. 


'1.4 


^4- 


HiSifmrotlPiit 


J'. 

ler  ejcpeditiort  of '^gy^ter  unportaince  Was  flonir  pr»je^«f 
ed  on  the  part  of  the  AA^^rieiUik.  This  wai  agdftft  •  pod  on  th«^ 
rivlct'  Pendhfeotf  on>'<he'liohlWft  of  WoW  #cotitf,  of  vfhith  the* 
firiti^  had  iMety  t(ik«n'^ffef&dh^  and  Were  they  had  begim  to 
ereft  a  Tort  which  ihteaii«nfd  to'be  »  very  great  in^ilvenietict  tO' 
th<e  colohiftk  The  ar^atrifent  deftined  affjtfnft  it  was  To  fooit  got 
in  readiners,  that  Cdlonel  Maclane,  the  comnranding  oiBcer  at 
Penobfcot,  found  himfelf'dhligid  to  drop  the  execution  of  part 
of  his  feheme;  and  fnftead  of  a  regular 'fort,  to  content  himre(f 
Ivith  putting  the  work^  ah^ady  conftru£{ed  in  as  good  a  poftare 
of  defence  as  poiTibltf^  The  Americans  cOiild  not  effeft  a  land^ 
ing  without  a  great  deid-of  difficulty^  and'brin^ng^  (he  guni  of 
their  largeft  Veffels  to  bear  upon  the  fhore.  As  foon  aS  this  way 
done,  however,  they  ere6kcd  feveral  batteViss,  and  kept  u^  a 
briflc  fire  for  the'fpace  of  a  fortnight ;  after  which  they  propoic<$ 
to  give  a  general  aflault:  but  before  this  «:ould  be  efFcAed,  they 
perceived  Sir  George  Collier  with  a  firitifh  fleet  failing  up  the 
river  to  attack  ihetti.  On  this  they  inftantly  embarked  their  ar- 
tillery and  militsry  flores^  failing  up  the  river  as  far  as  pofllble  in 
order  to  avoid  him.  They  were  fo  elofely  purfued,  however^f 
that  not  a  lingle  vcffcl  could  efcape ;  fo  that  the  whole  flfcet,  con- 
ftfling  of  nineteen  armed  veflels  and  twenty-four  tranfports,  way 
deftroyed ;  rtioft  of  them  indeed  being  blown  up  hy  themfelvcs,' 
The  foldiers  and  Tailors  were  obliged  to  wander  through  immenfe 
deferts,  where  they  fuffered  much  for  want  of  proviftons ;  and 
to  add  to  their  calamities,  a  quarrel  broke  otit  between  the  fol- 
diers and  feamen  concerning  t^  caufe  of  their  difaf¥er,  which 
ended  in  a  violent  fray,  wbercin  a  great  number  were  killed. 

Thus  the  Arms  of  America  and  France  being  ahnofl  every 
where  unfucccfsful,  the  independency  of  the  former  feemed  yet 
to  be  in  danger  notwithftanding  the  alTi fiance  of  fo  powerful  an 
ally,  ■v*hen  further  encouragement  was  given  by  the  accefljon  of 
Spain  to  the  confederacy  againft  Britain. in  the  month  of  June 
1779.  The  firft  effeft  of  this  appeared  in  an  invafron  of  Well 
Florida  by  the  Spaniards  in  September  1779.  As  the  country 
was  in  no  ftate  of  defence,  the  enemy  eafily  made  themfelvcs 
mafters  of  the  whole  almoft  without  oppofition.  Their  next  en- 
terprife  was  againft  the  Bay  of  Hunduras,  where  the  Britifli  log- 
wood-cutters were  fettled.  Thcfe  finding  themlcives  too  weak 
to  reftft,  applied  to  the  governor  of  Jamaica  for  relief;  who  fent 
them  a  fupply  of  men,  ammunition,  and  military  flores,  under 
Captain  Dairy mplc.  Before  the  arrival  of  this  detachment,  the 
pricipal  fottlemcnt  in  thofe  parts,  called  St.  George's  Key,  had 
been  taken  by  the  Spaniards  and  retaken  by  the  Britifli.  In  his 
way  Captain   Dalryr^ple   fell  in  with  a   l(juadrcn  from  Admirul 


ut^'^^.i'.'f' 


AH^ERICAN  REVOLVTtOtf. 


M 


onth  of  Tune 


jParker  in  fearch  of  Tome  regider  (hips  richly  laden  ;  but  ivhich 
Retreating  in  the  harhour  of  Omoa,  were  too  ftrongly  proteftcd 
by  the  fort  to  be  attacked  with  fafety.  A  projeft  was  then 
formed,  in  conju£tion  with  the  people  of  Honduras,  to  i-educe  his 
fort.  The  deftgn  was  to  furprife  it ;  but  the  Spaniards  having 
difcovered  them,  they  were  obliged  to  fight.  Viftory  quickly 
declared  for  the  Britiih  ;  but  the  fortifications  were  fo  ftrong, 
that  the  artillery  they  had  brought  along  with  them  were  found' 
too  light  to  make  any  impfeflion.  It  was  then  determined  td 
try  the  fuccefs  of  an  efcalade  ;  and  this  was  executed  with  fo 
much  fpirit,  that  the  Spaniards  ftood  aftoniflied  without  making 
any  rcfidance,  and,  in  fpite  of  all  the  efforts  of  the  officers,  threw 
down  their  arms  and  furrcndered.  The  fpoil  was  imraenfc,  be* 
ing  valued  at  three  millions  of  dollars.  I'he  Spaniards  chiefly 
lamented  the  lofs  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  quintals  of  quick 
filver;  a  fcommodity  indifpenfably  neceflary  in  the  working  of, 
their  gold  and  filver  mines,  fo  that  they  offered  to  ranfoiti  it  at 
any  price ;  but  this  was  refufed,  as  well  as  the  ranfom  of  the 
fort,  though-,the  governor  offered  three  hundred  thoufand  dol- 
lars for  it*  rA  fmall  garrifon  was  left  for  the  defence  of  thfl 
place  ;  but  it  was  quickly  attacked  by  a  fuperior  force,  and  obliged 
to  evacuate  it,  though  not  without  deftroying  every  thing  that 
could  be  of  ufe  to  the  enemy  ;  fpiking  the  guns,  and  even  locking 
the  gates  of  the  fort  and  carrying  off  the  keys.  All  this  was 
done  in  the  fight  of  the  befiegers  ;  after  which  the  garrifon  em- 
barked without  the  lofs  of  a  man. 

As  no  operations  of  any  confequcnct  took  place  this  year  in 
the  po  vince  of  New- York,  the  Cijagrcfs  made  ufe  of  the  op- 
portunity to  difpatch  General  SuHivan  with  a  confiderable  force, 
in  order  to  take  vengeance  on  the  Intliaiis  for  their  ravages  and 
depredations  :  and  the  objeft  of  the  expedition  was,  not  merely 
the  rcduftion  of  them,  but  if  poffible  their  utter  extirpation. 
Of  this  the  Indians  were  apprifed  ;  andcoUefting  all  their  ftrength, 
refolved  to  come  to  a  dccifive  engagements  Accordingly  they 
took  a  flrong  port:  in  the  moft  woody  and  mountainous  part  of 
the  country  ;  erefting  a  breaft-work  in  their  front  of  large  logs 
of  wood  extending  half  a  mile  in  length,  while  their  right  flank 
was  covered  by  a  river,  and  the  left  by  a  hill  of  difficult  acce's. 
This  advantageous  pofition  they  had  taken  by  the  advice  of  the 
refuges  who  were  among  them,  and  of  whom  two  or  three  hun- 
dred were  prcfeni  in  the  battle. 

Thus  poftetl,  the  Indians  waited  the  approach  of  the  American 

army  :  but  the   latter  having  brought    Come   artillery  along  witlx 

them,  played  it  againfl  the  bread  work  of  the  enemy  with   fuch 

luccols,  that  in  two    hours    it  was  almofl   deftroydd ;  and  at  the 

Vol.  I.  4  A 


54^ 


HISTORY  oms 


':M  '■ 


fame  |ime   i  pariy  having   reacheil  thq  top  of  the  hill,  thicy  be-' 
came  apprchcnfive  of  being  furrounded,  on  which  they  inftantly 
fled  with  precipitation,  leaving  a  great   number  of  kitled  ^n^ 
wounded  behind  them.      The  Americans  after  this  battle  met 
with  no  further  rcfi  (lance  of  any  confccfuence.     They  were  fuf- 
fered^or  proceed    without  irtterruption,  and  to  execute   in  thef 
moft  ampk  manner  the  vengeance  they  had  projefted.     On  enter- 
ing the  country  of  the  Indians,    it  appeared   that  they  h^d  been 
acquainted  with   agriculture  and  the   arts  of  pcface  far   beyond 
what  had  been   fuppoicd.     From   General  Sullivan';>  account  it 
was  learned,   that  the  Indian  houfes  were'Iargc,  convenient,  and 
even  elegant ;  their  grounds  were  excellently  cultivated,  %nd  their 
gardens  abounded  in  fruit-trees  and  vcgetablcvS  of  all  kinds  fit  for 
food.     The  whole  of  this  fine  country  was  now  by  the  Ameri- 
can general  converted  into  a  dcfart.     Forty  towns  and  fcttlemcnts, 
bofidcs  fcattcred  habitations,  were  demolilhed  ;  the  fields  of  corny 
the  orchards,   the  plantations,  were  utterly  laid  waftc  ;   all  the 
fruit-trees  were  cut  down  ,  and  fo  great  had  been  the  induftry  of 
the   Inldians,  that  in  o(ic  orchard  cue  thouiand  five  hundred  of 
thefe  were  deftioyed.     The  quantity  of  corn  wafted  on  this  occa- 
fion  was  fuppcfed  to  amount  to  one  hundred  and  fixty  thoufand 
bufhels.    In  fhort,  luch  was  the  dcfolafcion,  that  on  the  American 
army's  leaving  the  country,  not  a  houfe,  not  a  field  of  corn,  nor 
a   fruit-tree,  was  left  upon  the  ground,   nor  was  an  Indian  to  be 
feen  throughout  the  whole  track. 

Wc  muft  now  take  a  view  of  the  tranfaftions  in  the  fouthern; 
colonies  ;  to  which  the  war  was,  in  the  year  1780,  fo  cffcftually 
transferred,  that  the  operations  there  became  at  laft  decifive.— ■ 
The  fuccefs  of  General  Prevoft  in  advancing  to  the  very  capital 
of  South-'Carolina  has  been  already  related,  together  with  the  ob- 
ftaclcs  which  prcventc  i  him  from  becoming  maftcr  of  it  at  that 
time.  Towai  J  thr  .id  of  the  year  1779,  however,  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  fct  fail  irom  New- York  vith  aconliderable  body  of  troops, 
intended  for  ci'.i:;  attack  of  Cnarleflown,  South-Carolina,  in  a 
fleet  of  fhips  of  war  and  traniports  under  the  command  of  Vice- 
Admiral  Aibuthnot.  They  had  a  very  tedious  voyage  *,  the 
weather  was  uncommonly  bad  ;  feveral  of  the  traniports  were 
loft,  as  were  alfo  the  gteateft  part  of  the  horfcs  which  they  car- 
ried with  them,  intcndc<jl  for  cavalry  or  other  public  ufcs  ;  and 
an  orduance-fliip  likcwife  foundered  at  fca.  Having  arrived  at 
Savannah,  where  they  endeavoured  to  repair  the  damages  fuft,iin- 
ed  on  their  voyage,  they  proceeded  from  thence  on  the  10th  vi 
February  1780  to  North  Edifto,  the  place  of  debarkation  which 
had  been  previuully  appointed.  They  had  a  favourable  and 
ipcedy  palTagc  tlathcr :  and  though  it,  required  time  to  have  the 


httX  explored  and  the  channel  marked,  the  tranfports  all  entered 

'the  harbour  the  next  day  ;  and  the  army  took  poiCefluin  of  John"* 

}(Und  ^without  oppofttion.     Preparations  were  then  made  for  pat 

Ang   the   (quadron  over  Charlefton  bar,  where  tUb  high-water 

opportunity 

|ch,  when  it 

con  galleys 

!r6m  Ibund- 

:y  removed 

e  fame  month 

On  the  tft 

yards  of  the 


fpring'tides  were  only<^nineteen  feet  deep  :  but 

offered  of  going  into  the  harbour  till  the  aothorl 

was  effeftcd  without  any  accident,  though  th^f 

contlnfblly  attempted  to  prevent  the  E2^^UD|j' 

ing  tbie  channel.     The  Britifli  troops  h»|^^t 

from  John's  to  Jnnie's  i%nd  ;  «nd  on  the  >§tlriaf 

they  effe£lc<l  their  lan^og  on  Charlefiiown  ^leck. 

of  April  they  broke  ground  within  eight  hundtec 

American  works  ;  and  by  the  8th  thebcficgcrsguns  were  mounted 

in  battery.  * 

As  foon  as  tbg  army  began  to  ere£l  their  batteries  again  ft  the 
town,  Admiral  Arbuthnot  embraced  the  firft  fa^oj^able  oppor- 
tunity of  pafling  Sullivan's  Ifland,  upon  which  there  was  a  ftrong 
fort  of  batteries,  the  -chief  defence  of  the  harbour.  He  weighed 
on  the  9th,  with  the  Roebuck,  Richmond,  and  Romulus,  Blonde, 
Virginia,  Raleigh,  and  Sandwich  armed  (hips,  th^  Retidij^n  bring- 
•ing  up  the  rear  ;  and,  pafling  through  a  fevertf/ifc^  anchored  in 
about  two  hours  under  James's  Ifland,  with  the  lofs  of  twenty- 
d'even  feamcn  killed  and  wounded.  The  Richmond's  fore-top- 
maft  was  fliot  away,  and  the  fliips  in  general  fuft:ained  damage  in 
Jtheir  mafts  and  rigging,  though  not  materially  in  their  hulls. — 
But  the  Acetus  tranfport,  having  on  board  fome  naval  ftorcs, 
grounded  within  fjun-fliot  of  Sullivan'^  I  {land,  and  received  lo 
much  (damage  that  fiie  was  obliged  to  be  abandoned  and  burnt. 

On  the  loth.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot  fum- 
anoned  the  town  to  furrendcr  to  his  Majcfty's  arms:  but  Major. 
General  Lincoln,  who  commanded  in  Charleftown,  returned 
them  an  aniwer,  declaring  it  to  be  his  intention  to  defend  the 
place.  .Tlie  batteries  were  now  opened  agninft  the  tonn  ;  and 
from  their  eiTcd  the  Bre  of  the,  American  advanced  works  confi- 
derably  abated.  It  appears  that  the  number  of  troops  under  the 
command  of  Lincoln  were  by  far  too  few  for  dcfend^.ng  works  of 
fiich  extent  asthoieof  Charlcftown  ;  and  that  many  of  thole  were 
men  little  accuftomed  to  military  fervicc,  and  very  ill  provided 
with  cloaths  and  other  necefHincs.  General  Lint.nn  had  bcea 
for  fome  time  cxpcfting  reinforcements  and  fupplics  from  Vir- 
ginia and  other  places:  but  they  came  in  verv  lluwly.  E>fi 
Cornwall  is  and  Licutcnant-Colonal  Taslcti  n  under  hi:a,  were  alio 
extremely  aftive  in  intercepting  fuch  reinforcenwwrs  and  fup- 
j>livs  as  were  feiit  to  the  American  gf^neral.     Thry  totally  defeated 

^   A   Z 


M 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


t  coniiderable  body  of  cavalry  and  militia  which  was  proceeding 
to  the  relief  of  the  town  ;  zxxd^  alfo  made  themfelvea  maftert  c^ 
fome  pods,  which  gave  them  in  a  great  degree  the  command  of 
the  country^  by  which  means  great  fupplic^  of  provifiont  feU 
Into  their  ^^/^ 

Such  WM  the  fta^e  of  things,  and  Fort  Sullivan  had  alfo  been 
taken  by  tAe  king's  troops,  when  on  the  i8th  of  May  General 
Clinton  agatf^^jftHnmoned  the  town  to  furiynder ;  an  offer  being 
made,  as  had  bisen  done  before,  that  if  they  furrendered,  the  lives 
and  property  of  the  inhabitanta  fliould  be  preferved  to  them.— <> 
Articles  of  capitulltion  were  then  propoi'ed  by  General  Lincoln ; 
))ut  the  terms  were  not  agreed  to  by  General  Clinton.  At  length, 
however,  the  town  being  clofely  invcfled  on  all  fides,  and  the 
preparations  to  Rorm  it  in  every  part  being  in  great  forwardnefs, 
pnd  the  ihips  ready  to  move  to  the  aflault,  General  Lincoln,  who 
'  had  been  applied  to  for  that  purpole  by  the  inhabitants,  fur-r 
rendered  it  on  fuch  articles  of  capitulation  as  General  Clinton 
had  before  agreed  to.  This  was  on  the  4th  of  May,  which  was 
one  month  and  two  days  after  the  town  had  been  firll  fummoned 
to  Surrender. 

A  large  quantity  of  ordnance,  arms,  and  ammunition,  were 
found  in  Charleftown ;  and,  according  tp  Sir  Henry  Clinton's 
account,  the  number  of  priibners  taken  in  Charleilown  amounted 
to  five  thoufand  fix  hundred  and  eighteen  men,  exclufive  of  near 
a  thoiffand  Tailors  in  arips  ;  hut  according  to  General  Lincoln's 
account  tranfmitted  to  the  Congrefs,  the  whole  number  of  conti- 
nental  troops  taken  prifoners  amounted  to  no  more  than  two 
thoufand  four  hundred  and  eighty  leven.  The  remainder,  there- 
fore, included  in  General  Clinton's  account,  mufl  have  confifled 
of  militia  and  inhabitants  of  the  town.  Several  American  frigates 
were  alfo  taken  or  deftroyed  in  the  harbour  of  Charleftown. 

The  lofs  of  Charleftown  evidently  excited  a  confiderable  alarm 
in  America  :  and  their  popular  writers,  particularly  the  author  of 
the  celebrated  performance  intitled  Common  Senfe,  in  fome  other 
pieces  made  ufe  of  it  as  a  powerful  argument  to  lead  them  to  more 
vigorous  exertions  againft  Great-Britain,  that  they  might  the 
more  efFeftually  and  certainly  lecure  their  independence. 

While  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  employed  in  his  voyage  to 
Charleftown,  and  in  the  fiege  of  that  place,  the  garrifon  at  New- 
York  feem  not  to  have  been  wholly  free  from  apprehenfions  for 
their  own  fafety.  An  iatcnfe  froft,  accompanied  with  great  falls 
of  fnow,  began  about  the  middle  of  December  1 -7-79,  and  fhut 
up  the  nagivation  of  the  port  of  New-York  from  the  lea,  within 
a  feW  days  after  the  departure  of  Admiral  Arbuthnot  and  Gene- 
pi  Clinton,     The  Icvciiiy  of  the  wcaiher  intrcafcd  to  fo  grea| 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


549 


ceding 
«rt  of 
ian4  of 
ins  fell 

o  been 
renertl 
r  being 
M  lives 
tieni.— » 
ncoln ; 
length, 
and  the 
irdnefs, 
,n,  who 
Its,  fur-T 
Clinton 
ich  was 
nmoned 


in,  were 

Clinton's 

[ounted 


■  degree,  that  towards  the  middle  of  Januaiy  all  communication* 
%vith  New- York  by  waur  were  entirely  cut  off,  and  as  many  tew 
ones  opeiied  by  the  ice.  The  inhahitants  could  fcarcely  be  faid 
(o  be  in  an  infular  (late.  Horfcs  with  heavy  carriages  could  go 
over  the  ice  into  the  Jerfeys  from  one  iil^nd  to  another.  The 
paflage  in  the  North  River,  even  in  th6  '.trideft  part  fhpin  New- 
York  to  psulus  Hook,  whicV^^was  two  thouCind  yaffjs,  was 
about  the  19th  of  January  pra£licable  foi  the  hesvieft  fi^ipipii :  an 
event  which  had  been  unknown  in  the  memory ^pf  map.  Pro? 
vifions  were  loon  after  tranfported  uppp  fledges,  and  a  datach- 
ment  of  cavalry  marched  upon  the  ice  from  New<rX<».  h,,  f:fl>.^taten 
Ifland,  which  was  a  diftance  of  eleven  miles. 

The  city  of  Ncw>York  being  thus  circumHanced,  was  «:onfider-> 
ed  as  much  expofed  to  the  attacks  from  the  continental  troops ; 
and  it  was  ftrongly  reported  that  General  Washington  was  medi- 
tating a  great  ftroke  upon  New-York  with  his  whole  fjfHxe,  by 
different  attacks.  Some  time  before  this.  Major  General  Pattifbn, 
commandant  at  New- York,  having  received  an  addrefs  from 
many  of  the  inhabitants,  offering  to  put  themfelves  in  military 
array,  he  thought  |he  prefent  a  favourable  opportimity  of  trying 
the  fincerity  of  their  profeflions.  Accordingly  he  iffued  a  pro- 
clamation, calling  upop  all  the  male  inhabitants  from  (jxtcen  to 
iixty  to  take  up  arms.  The  requifition  was  fo  readily  complied 
with,  that  in  a  few  days,  forty  companies  from  the  fix  wards  of 
the  city  were  inrolled,  officered,  and  under  arms,  to  the  number 
of  two  thoufand  Ax  hundred,  many  fubflantial  citizens  .I'crving  in 
the  ranks  of  each  company.  Other  volunteer  companies  were 
formed  ;  and  the  city  was  put  into  a  very  flrong  pofture  of  dc-> 
fence. 

No  attack,  however,  was  made  upon  New- York,  whatever  dc- 
fign  might  originally  have  been  meditated :  but  an  attempt  was 
made  upon  Staten  Ifland,  where  there  were  about  eighteen  hun- 
dred men,  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-general  Sterling, 
who  were  well  intrenched.  General  Waftiington,  whofe  army 
was  hutted  at  Morris-Town,  fent  a  detachment  of  two  thoufand 
feven  hundred  men,  with  fix  pieces  of  cannon,  two  mortars,  aiid 
feme  horfes,  commanded  by  Lord  Sterling,  who  arrived  at  Staten 
liland  early  in  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  January.  The  advan- 
ced pofts  of  the  Britifli  troops  retired  upon  the  approach  of  the 
Americans,  who  fornicd  the  line,  and  made  fome  movements  iu 
the  courfe  of  the  day;  but  they  withdrew  in  the  night,  after 
having  burnt  one  houfe,  pillaged  fome  others,  and  carried  ott' 
with  them  about  two  hundred  head  of  cattle.  Immediately  on 
the  arrival  of  the  Americans  on  Staten  Ifland,  Lieutenant-general 
Jtnyphaufen  had  embarked  iix  hundred  men  to  attempt  a  paffage. 


630 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  to  fupport  General  Sterling :  but  the  floating  ice  compelled! 
them  to  return.  It  i»,  however,  imagined,  that  the  appearance 
of  thefe  tranfports,  with  the  British  troops  on  board,  which  the 
Ancricans  could  fee  towards  the  clofe  of  the  day,  induced  the 
latter  to  make  fo  precipitate  a  retreat. 

Aftwr  Charleftown  had  furrendered  to  the  kinf 's  troops,  Genc- 
vA  ClintoQ  UTued  two  proclamations,  and  alfo  circulated  a  hand- 
bill aofCfngft  the  inhabitants  of  South  Carolina,  in  order  to  induce 
thcin  to  return  to  their  allegiance,  and  to  br  ready  to  join  the 
kingV'^  tr^ps.  It  was  faid,  that  the  helping  hand  of  every  man 
was  wanted  tO<x'e-en.nbli(h  peace  and  good  government :  and  that 
as  the  commander  in  cliief  wiflied  not  to  draw  the  king's  friends 
inU>  danger,  while  any  do'ibt  could  remain  of  their  fuccefsj  fo 
jiow  that  this  was  certain,  he  trufled  that  one  and  all  would  hear- 
•tily  join,  and, by  a  general  concurrence  give  effeft  to  fuch  ncccf- 
fary  meafurcs  for  that  purpofe  as  from  time  to  time  might  be 
poir^pd  out.  Thofe  who  had  families  were  to  form  a  militia  to 
remain  at  home,  andoccafionally  to  aflcmble  in  their  own  di(lri£^s, 
whfen  required,  under  officers  of  their  own  choofing,  for  the 
maintenance  cf  peace  and  good  order.  Thole  who  had  no  fami^ 
lies,  and  who  could  conveniently  be  fparcd  for  a  time,  it  was 
prclunscd,  w  ould  rhecrfully  aflift  his  Majefty's  troops  in  driving 
their  oppreliors,  adling  under  the  authority  of  congrcfs,  and  all 
the  rrjiicfies  of  war,  far  trom  that  colony.  For  this  purpofe  it 
was  faid  to  be  neccTary  that  the  young  men  fhould  be  ready  to 
alTcmble  when  required,  and  to  fervc  wlt)i  the  king's  troops  for 
any  f»x  months  of  the  enfuing  twelve  that  might  be  found  re, 
.quifite,  under  proper  regulations.  Tl'^'y  might  choofe  o^icers  to 
each  company  to  command  them ;  and  were  to  be  allowed,  when 
on  fcrvice,  pay,  ammunition,  and  provifions,  in  the  fame  man- 
ner a^  t,h.e  king's  troops.  When  they  joined  the  army,  each  man 
was  to  be  furniflied  witli  a  certificate,  declaring  that  he  was  only 
engaged  to  ferve  as  a  militia-man  for  the  time  fpecified  j  that  he 
was  riot  to  be  marched  beyond  North  Carolina  and  Georgia  ;  and 
that,  when  the  time  was  out,  he  was  freed  from  all  claims  what- 
ever of  military  fervice,  excepting  the  pommon  and  ufual  militia- 
jduty  where  he  lived.  He  would  then,  it  >v'S  fs^d,  have  paid 
Jiis  debt  to  his  country,  and  be  intijled  to  enjoy  undifturbed  that 
peace,  liberty  and  property,  at  home,  which  h,e  had  contributed 
to  fecure,  'J'hc  prochimations  and  publications  of  General  Clin- 
)Lon  appear  to  have  produced  feme  effcft  in  South  Carolina; 
though  they  probal)]y  operated  chiefly  upon  thpfc  who  were  be- 
fore not  niucli  inclined  to  the  caufe  of  American  independence. 
7"wo  hundred  and  ten  of  the  inhabitants  of  Charlcflown  fignecj  I 
P^  addrcl's  to  Gcncvul  Clintor  '  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  Ibliciting 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


65^ 


compelled 
ippcarancc 
which  the 
iduccd  the 

jps,  Gene- 
ed  a  hand- 
r  to  induce 
to  join  the 
every  man 
t ;  and  that 
ng's  friends 
fucceft*.  fo 
would  hear- 
fuch  nccef- 
ne  might  be 
a  militia  to 
wn  diftrifts, 
"ing,  for  the 
lad  no  fajni- 
timc,  it  was 
ps  in  driving 
ircfs,  and  all 
is  purpofe  it 
I  be  ready  to 
's  troops  for 
be  found  re, 
ife  officers  to 
[owed,  when 
le  fame  man- 
ly,  each  man 
he  was  only 
|fied ;  that  he 
reorgia ;  and 
claims  what- 
ufual  militia- 
Id,  have  paid 
lifturbed  that 
contributed 
cneral  Clin- 
|th   Carolina; 
'ho  were  bc- 
idepcndcncc, 

;ftown  fignefJ 
lot,  loliciting 


to  be  readmitted  to  the  charafler  and  condition  of  Britifh  fubje£iSf 
the  inhabitants  of  that  city  having  been  hitherto  conftdered  i» 
prifoncrs  oil  parole  i  declaring  their  difapprobation  of  the  dc 
of  American  independence ;  and  exprcfllng  their  regret,  tha 
ter  the  repeal  of  thofe  flatutes  which  gave  rife  to  the  „tr4; 
in  America,  the  overtures  mandc  by  hr»  Majefly's  commidijl 
had  not  been  regarded  by  the  congrcfs.  Sir  Henry  Clint< 
one  of  the  proclamations  iflued' at  this  J^e,  declared,  that 
perfons  ihould  thenceforward  appear  In  arms  ia  order  to 
the  eftabliOiment  of  his  Majcfty's  govemmc  tn'^lliat  (^hi| 
(hould  under  any  pretence  or  authority  ver  att( 

compel  any  other  perfon  or  perfons  to  do  To  ho 

der  or  intimidate  the  king's  faithful  and  loy... 
ing  his  forces  or  otherwife  performing  thofe  di 
ance  required,  fuch  perfons  (hould  be  treated  wit 
fevcrity,  and  their  eflates  be  immediately  fcizcd  in  order 
confifcated. 

Mean  time  the  ravages  of  war  did  not  prevent  tlfii,  ^AJuisticdl^^' 
from  paying  fomc  attention  to  the  arts  of  peaces     On  the  4th  '$t' 
May  an  a£l  pafled  by  the  council  and  houfe  of  reprefentatives  of 
Maflachufett's  Bay  for  incorporating  and  eftablifhihg  a  fociety  for 
the  cultivation  and  promotion  of  the  arts  and  fciences.     ' 

Some  doubts  having  arifen  in  the  Congrefs,  towards  the  dole 
of  the  preceding  year,  about  the  propriety  of  their  aflembling  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  it  was  now  refolvcd  that  they  {hould 
continue  to  meet  there :  and  a  committee  of  three  members  was 
appointed,  to  report  a  proper  place  where  buildings  might  be 
provided  for  the  reception  of  the  Congrcfs,  together  with  an  cfti- 
itiate  of  the  cxpence  of  providing  fuch  buildings  and  the  neceflary 
offices  for  the  feveral  boards.     It  was  alfo  refolved  by  the  con- 
grcfs, that  a  mohument  ihould  be  ere£led  to  the  memory  of  their 
late  general  Richard  Montgomery,  who  fell  at  Quebec,  in  tefli- 
mony  of  his  flgnal  and  important  fervices  to  the  United  States  of 
America^  with  an  infcription  exprcfTive  of  his  amiable  charafter 
and   heroic    atchievements ;   and  that  the  continental  trcafurci-s 
ihould  be  direfted  to  advance  a  fum  not  exceeding  three  hundred 
pounds  to  Dr.  Franklin  to  defray  the  cxpence ;  that  gentleman 
being  delired  to  caufe  the  monuncient  to  be  executed  at  Paris,  ox 
in  fome  part  of  France.     It  was  likewifc  refolvcd  by  the  congrefs, 
that  a  court  (hould  be  eftablifhed  for  the  trial  of  all  appeals  from 
the  court  of  admiralty  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  cafes 
of  capture:  to  confift  of  three  judges,  appointed  and  commilTion- 
ed  by  congrefs,  and  who  were  to  take  an  oath  of  office;  and 
that  the  trials  in  this  court  (hould  be  determined  by  the  ufage  of 
nations. 


b^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT'3) 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


UilM    125 

u 


us 

lU 

111 


14.0 


Hi 

U    11.6 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WBT  MAIN  STRKT 

WeBSTIR,N.Y.  I4SM 

(716)«72-4S03 


'>^>^^    ^ 

^.V' 


'^ 


V 


.  Tfie  dii&culti«s  of  the  Congrefs  and  of  the  people  of  Amtiricii 
^lii^^Beeii  greatly  increafed  by  the  d^pNciation  of  ibeir  paper-curJ 
At  the  timtf  when  th<i  colonies  engaged  in  a  war  with 
Jritain,  pjl^y  h^  no  regular  civil  govdrriuigB|B  eit^ifliedi 
lHhttn  of  fulacient  energy  to  enjforccf  (ht  coti^mim  of  taxes, 
provide  funds  ior  the  retieicption  of  fueh  btUs  oi  credit  as 
siSifiek  otb^iged  l^fn  to  itfue.  In  tonftquefncc  of  this 
t^figS)  thdr  billt  in«reafed  tti  t^wtnChy  far '  beyon4  the 
lafy  for  (he  pttrpbfd  of  a  circuktrng  me^m ;  tftd  as 
ifdiit^e  fame  tiniff  fpecific  funds  to  reft  on  fof  their' 
i^  th'-y  fiiMr  th^r  pap4hr*currency  daily  (ink  in  value*) 
6ciation  contiriiied,  by  a  kind  of  gradtl^al  progrelfion, 
A  777  ^^  1786;  fo  that  at  the  latter  period,  the  con- 
irs  n/ere  paffed,  by  common  confent,  in  moft  parts 
a^  at  the  ijate  of  at  leaft  |§ths  below  their  norhinal  vaU 
lMf*^^!jjlie  impoflibilily  of  keeping  up  thd  credit  of  the  currency 
i^llijl  fixed  iiandard,  occafioned  great  and  alnioft  inftirmountablef 
i||dbtt¥«irinenf*  m  aftertetnidg  the  value  of  property,  or  carrying 
OB  trade  with  any  fuStcient  certainty^  lliofe  who  fold,  andf 
thofe  who  bought,  were  left  without  a  rule  whereon  to  form  a 
Judgiffent  of  their  profit  or  lofs :  and  every  fpecies  of  commercef 
of  exchange,  whether  foreign  or  dcmeftic,  Was  expofed  to  nub- 
berWs  «nd  increaftng  difficulties.  The  confequences  of  the  de- 
preciation of  the  paper-currency  Were  affo  fctt  V/ifh  peculiar  fe- 
Verity  by  fuch  of  the  Americans  as  Were  engaged  in  their  military 
ferviecs,  and  greatly  augtnenfcd  by  their  other  hartlfhips.  The 
i-equifitlons  made  by  the  congreHi  to  the  feveral  colonies  for  fup- 
plies,  were  alfo  far  from  always  being  regularly  complied  with  . 
and  their  troops  were  not  unfrequently  in  want  of  the  moft  com- 
motrneveffitries;  ^hich  naturally  occafionod  complaints  and  dif- 
content  Mwa^ff  thefti.  Some  of  thefe  difficulties,  reffulting  front 
their  circumftahces  and  fituation,  perhaps  no  wifdom  could  have 
prevented;  but  they  feem  to  have  arifen  in  part  from  the  con- 
grefs not  beiing  fuf&ciently  acquainted  with  the  principles  oi 
finance,  and  from  ai  defeft  of  fyliem  in  the  departments  of  their 
government.  The  caufe  of  the  Americans  appears  alfo  to  ha^re 
fufFered  fomcwhat  by  their  depending  too  much  on  temporary 
enliftments.  But  the  congrefs  iendeavoured,  towards  the  clofe  of 
the  year  1 780,  to  put  their  army  upon  a  more  permanent  footing 
ftd  to  give  all  the  failisfaftJon  to  their  officers  and  foldiers  which 
their  circumftanccs  would  permit.  Th^y  appointed  a  committee  j 
for  arranging  their  finances,  and  made  fome  new  regulations  ref- 
pefting  their  war-offire  and  trca fury- board,  and  other  public  de- 
paftmcnts. 

Notwithflandingthc  difadvantages  under  which  they  laboured, 
the  Americans  feemcdto  entertain  no  doubts  but  that  they  ftould 


AMZRfCA^  RBymUTJClf. 


m 


b^able  t^'vuai^taia  their  independency.  The  ^tl^  of  Juty.i(fi« 
celebrated  this  year  at  Philadelphia  with  fume  pompt;  w  th|| 
tnhivcrCiry  of  Ainericaii  mdependence.  A  commencqiunfit  for 
cqktvf^vei^  ^t§;[tm  in  the  arU  was  held  thejame  day,  ii;^^  kiatt 
of  the  tiaiverfity^  there  %  at  which  the  p^efl{||ht  and  nw;4i^  of^ 
the  eotigrefl  attended!,  and  other  pecfons  in  public  ol^ees^ , .  S^lif 
Cllevalicr  De  ia  Etiicerne,,  minil^r  plenipotentiary  fro^i  tM 
j^rcneh  king  «o  the  Ignited  Stitet,  WM  alfo  prefipnt  oi)l^^i{ip«e«- 
^n»  A  charge  was  publicly  .addreflCbd  l^y  the  provofiftjif  thf 
imivcrfity  to  the  ftudenta}  in  whieh  h9  f^^^that  he^i^uld  no! 
but  congratulate  them  "on  that- «u^ij(ioua  daf ,  whichi  amidfl; 
tiw  cdiifufions  and  defolations  of  wat,  beheld  learning,  beginning 
to  revive;  and  animated  them  with  the  pleating  profpe^  of  ice^ 
ing  the  fiicred  lamp  of  fcience  burning  with  a  ftill  brighter  flame^ 
and  feathering  its  invigorating  rays  over  the  unexplored  deferU 
of  that  cxtenfive  continent,  until  the  whole  World  (hodl4  be  in- 
volved in  the  united  blaze  of  knowledge,  liberty,  and  fellflQO* 
When  he  ftretched  his  viewsfbrward  (he  fftid),  and  furveyed  the 
i^ag  glories  of  America,  the  enriching  confequences  of  their  db» 
termined  ftruggle  /or  liberty,  the  extenfive  fields  of  ihtclleftual 
improvement  and  ufeful  invention,  in  fcience  and  arts,  in  agrt« 
culture  and  commerce,  in  religion  add  government,  through 
which  the  unftsttered  mind  would  range,  with  increaftCtg  delight,* 
in  queft  of.  the  undifcoyered  treafure  which  yet  lay  concealed 
in  the  animal,  vegetable,  and  mineral  kingdoms  of  that  new 
world,  or  in  the  other  fertile  fources  of  knowledge  with  which 
it  abounded;  his  heart  fwelled  with  the  pleafing  profped,  that 
the  fons  of  that  inftitution  would  diftingulfli  themfelves,  in 
the' different  walks  of  life,  by  their  literary  contribu*-ions  to  the 
embellifhment  and  increafe  of  human  happinefs." 

On  the  ipth  of  July,  M.  Ternay,  with  a  fleet  conltftirig  of 
feven  (hips  of  the  line,  befides  frigates,  and  a  largebbdy  of  French 
troops^  commanded  by  Count  de  Rochambed:u,  arrived  at  j^ode 
Ifland ;  and  the  following  day  fix  thoufand  men  were  landed 
there.  A  committee  from  the  gen'>ril  aflembly  of  Rhode  Ifland, 
was  appointed  to  congratulate  the  French  general  on  his  arrival : 
whereupon  he  returned  an  anfwer,  in  which  he  informrd  them, 
that  the  king  his  mafler  had  fent  him  to  the  afliftanceof  his  good 
and  faithful  allies  the  United  States  of  America.  At  prefen*:,  he 
faid  he  only  brought  over  the  vanguard  of  a  much  greater  force 
deftined  for  their  aid  ;  and  the  king  had  ordered  him  to  afl*ure 
them,  that  his  whole  power  fhould  be  exerted  for'  their  fupport. 
He  added,  that  the  French  troops  were  under  the  flri^^eft  dil'u- 

Vol.1.  4  B 


.  y.i   «^^. 


msTi^My  dF  tkM 


plii)e;nid,  aAing  under  the  orders  of  Gcnei^l  Wa^ingtoM| 
would  live  with  the  Americans  as  their  brethren. 

A  fchetne  was  foon  formed,  of  making  a  combined  jtttltk  witll 
£nglifii  (hips  and  troops,  under  the  command  of  Sir  f^nrj  Clin' 
ton-  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  againft  the  French  fleet  «ld  tt^pf 
«t  ]il%ode-Ifland.  Accordtngly  a  confiderabte  part  <^  thD  iy<lops  it 
New -York  we're  etabarked  for  that  purpofo.  General  Waih- 
hngtoQ  having  received  information  of  thiS)  pi0ed  the  Ncnrtlt 
Rfverylly  a  very  rapid  movement,  and,  with  an  army  increftfedtcr 
tWelve  iilQufand  men,  proceeded  with  celerity  towards  King^ 
Bridge,  in  order  to  attack  New- York  }  but  learning  that  tht  Brt* 
Cifli  general  had  changed  hi  J  intentions,  and  dilei^barked  hit 
troops  on  the  3tft  of  the  month,  General  Wafhington  recroffed 
the  river  and  returned  to  his  former  ftaiioti^  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
and  the  Admiral  had  agreed  to  relinquilh  their  defign  of  attack^ 
ing  the  French  and  Americans  at  Rhode-Illand  as  impu^icable 
for  the  prcfent. 

An  unfuccefsfu)  attempt  yfz%  alft>  made.about  this  time  in  thci 
Jerfcystjby  General  Knyphaufen,  with  Seven  tlraufand  Britifii 
troops  tinder  his  command,  to  furprife  the  advanced  pofts  of  Ge<r 
heral  Wafliington's  army.  They  proceeded  very  rapi^y  towards 
Springfteld,  meeting  with  little  oppofition  till  they  came  to  the 
bridge  there^  which  was  very  ^llantly  defended  by  one  hundred 
and  ieventy  of  the  continental  troops,  for  fifteen  minutes^  againft 
the  Britifit  acmy :  but  they  were  at  length  obliged  to  give  up 
fo  unequal  a  eonteft,  with  the  lofs  of  thirty-icven  men«  After 
fecuring  this  pafsy  the  Briti&  troops  marched  into  the  plaee^  and 
fet  fire  to  moft  of  the  houfes.  They  alfo  committed  fome  other 
depredations  in  the  Jerfeys  ;  but  gained  no  laurels  there^  being: 
obliged  to  return,  about  the  beginning  of  July  without  effe&in^ 
any  thing  material. 

But  in  South  Carolina  the  royal  arms  were  attended' with  more 
fuccefs.  £ari  Cornw^is,  who  commanded  the  Britifh  troops 
there,  obtained  a  very  fignal  vi£lory  over  General  Gate»  on  the 
i6th  of  Auguft.  The  a£tion  began  at  break  of  day,  in  a  Situation 
very  advantageous  for  the  Britifh  troops,  but  very  unfavourable 
to  the  Americans*  The  latter  were  mutih  more  numerous  ;  but 
the  ground  on  which  both  armies  ilood  was  narrowed  by  fwamps 
'  on  the  right  and  kft,  fo  that  the  Americans  could  not  properly 
avail  themlelves  of  their  fuperior  numbers.  There  feems  to  have 
been  i'ome  want  of  generalfhip  in  Gates,  in  fu£Fering  himfclf  to  be 
iurprifed  in  'fo  difadvantageous  a  pofition :  but  this  circumftanee 
was  partly  the  cfteB;  of  acci4cnt ;  for  both  aAnies  fet  out  with  a 
deiign  ot  attacking  each  other  precifely  at  the  fame  time,  at  ten 
the  preceding  evening,  -and  metvtogether  before  day-light  at  the 
place  where  the  a£lion  happened.  The  attack  was  nude  by  the 
Britifh  troops  with  great  vigour,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  a&ion 


1 

AMERICAN  REVJlUTiON.  ^^ 

V2Wtri^A<«agih^yhcX^^nt.    It  ww  at  th»  time  a  d<:«d  elm, 
^Ur.l^e  h.«nef.  in  the  .ir.  which  preventing  the  finoke  from 
n&«(M««fipned  fo  thick  .d.rkneft,th«fc  it  was  difficult  to  fee 
^fta^.^  ""^  ^^^"^  wcU.fup|«rted  fire  on  hpth  fide.. 
Th^Mnm  tWKH,.  either  kept  up  a  conftaht  fire,  or,  made  ufe  of 
biyeiieM^  a.  oKKMTtiwiea  offered .,  and  after  an  ob^^^^^ 
Amm  thrtm%u»ften  of  an  hour,  threw  the  American,  into  toul 
i:onli»ioa,  and  forced  thtm  to  give  way  in  an  quarters.    The  con- 
U^i^l  iroot^  'Ppejr  to  have  hehaved  well,  but  the  militia  were 
Jwwj^en,  and  left  the  former  to  oppofe  i^  whole  ^orce  of  the 
firttiOi  tmop^    Cene«l  Cate.di4  aU  in  hi#  power  to  rally  the 
flulitia,  but  without  effeft:  the  continental,  retreated  infomeorder. 
*»iltaie  rout  of  the  militia  WM  f«  great,  that  the  Britifh  cavalry 
*rc  M  to  Vve  purfued  them  to  the  diftance  of  twenty-ttvo  miles 
from  the  pUce  where  the  adion  happened.    The  Wsof  the  Amc* 
rant  w»  very  confide«ble;  about  onp  thoufand  prifoner.  Were 
^en,  and  more  are  faid  |o  haye  been  killed  and  wounded,  but 
,Wi«  number  U  not  accurately  afcertained.    Seven  pieces  of  braft 
wmuod,  a  number  of  rolour^,  and  ,1}  tbc  tmrnunUion^aggons  of 
the  At^encaa.  were  alfo  taken.    Of  the  Britilh  troops,  The  kit 
Jed  <md  wounded  amounted  to  two  hundred  and  thirteen.^ 

fm  ^  PJ*fo»«.«  **^*»  ^"  Major^eneral  Baron  de  Kalb 
iJPruffian  officer  in  the  American  fervicc,  who  wa.  mortally 
wounM  having  c*hibited  great  gallantry  in  thecourfe  of  the 
aa,on,  and  received  eleven  wounds.  The  Britifl,  troop,  by 
which  this  great  viftory  was  atchieved,  did  pot  much  exceed  two 
thoufand,  while  the  American  army  is  faid to  have  amounted  to  fix 
thoufand  ;  of  which,  ho^yevcr,  the  greateft  part  were  militia. 

himfelf  ,n  thi.  a^on,  was  detached  the  following ^ay/with  Tome 

a^yalry  and  Jight  infantry,  amounting  to  about  tlv:e^  hundred  and 

^^^"^  ^  ?****  *  ^'"'T*  °f  Americans  under  #icral  Sumptcr. 

p|lNcuted  this  fcrvice  with  great  aftivity  arid  miliury  addrefis. 

^^d.good  information  of  Sun^pter's  moveWcntj  and  by 

^^^^  concealed  marches  came  up  with  and  fiirprifed  him  in 

mWyi*  of  the  day  on  the  1 8th,  near  the  Catawba  fords.    He 

l^^f  "'  ^l^f'^  *^"  aetach„,ent,  which  confiftedof 
V^^n  hil»4redmen,  killing  one  hundred  and  fifty  on  the  fi,ot 

Sd  fJTV''  ^''"'  ""^  ^"^*  """°"'  *^'^«  ^""dred  prifopers! 
pq  fidqrty.four  waggoiiSf  ^  * 

,^  Not  long  after  thefe  events,  means  were  found  to  detach  Ma- 

Z;  1  I'^t'  "f  ^  **'^  ^^'^'^  fo  ardently  in  the  caufe  of 

America      and  who  had    exhibited  fo  „,uch  bravery    in    the 

AA'V  fo"'    T  'K  ^"'*'"^*'  °^*^*  *^*>"g'^^*»     Major  Andre, 
Adjudant  General  to  the  Britiih  army,  wa,  a  principal  agent  in 

4  B  ? 


-•*-,:  -^  .?^jK<..   f^'-- 


HISTORY  or  THi 


\ 

thii  tnnfadiloh :  or,  if  the  overture  of  joining  the  ICtiig*«  troopi 
came  firft  from  Arnold,  thi»  gentleman  was  the  perfon  employtd 
to  concert  the  affair  %ith  him.    More  muft  have-heen  Mrif^- 
naily  comprehended  in  the  fcheme  than   thi  ihere  delbrtionof 
the  American  caufe  by  ArAoId;  but  vrhat^er 'defigna  had  been 
formed  for  promoting  the  views  of  the  BritKh  government,  they 
were  fru(^rated  by  the  apprehending  of  Major  Andre.    He  was 
taken  in  dirguife,  after  having  afluihed  afatfename,  on  the'sjd  4 
of  September,  by- three  American  fotdiets;  td  whom  he  dieted 
ieonfiderable  rewards  if  they^  would  have  fufe^Wd  htmtoc^pei 
but  without  effeft.  Several  pipers  written  by  Artiold  ^tre  fdnuk 
upon  him  ;  and  when  Arnold  had  learned  that  Major  Andre  wfet 
was  feized,  he  found  means  to  get  on  hoard  a  birge,  and  toefeape 
to  one  of  the  King's  fhips.    General  Wafliington  referred  thlB 
cafe  of  Major  Andte  to  the  examination  and  decifion  of  a  boaird 
of  general  officers,  confifting  of  Major  Geheral  Green,  Mi^oir 
. -General  Lord  Sterling,  Major  General  the  Marques  de  If  Fayettei 
Major  General  the  Baron  de  Steuben,  two  Other  Majinr  Genenill, 
and  eight  Brigadier  Generals.    Major  Andre  was  examined  befmpe 
them,  and  the  particulaiis  of  his  caiie  inquired  into  ;  and  they  re- 
ported to  the  American  commander   in  chief,  that  Mr.  Andre 
came  on  (hore  from  the  Vulture  floop  of  War  in  the  night,  on  an 
interview  with  General  Arnold,^  in  a  private  and  fecret  manner  j 
that  he  changed  his  drefs  withiti  the  American  lines ;  and,  under 
a  feigned  name,  and  in  a  difguifed  habit,  pafled  the  American 
woiks  at  Stoney  and  Verplank's  Points,   on  the  evening  of  the. 
aad  of  September ;  that  he  was  taken  on  the  niorning  of  the  23d 
at  Tarry-town,  he  being  then  on  his  way  for  New-York  :  and 
that,  when  taken,  he  had  in  his  poiTeflion  feveral  paper*  which 
contained  intelligence  for  the  enemy.    They  therefore  determin- 
ed, that  he  ought  to  be  coniidered  as  a  fpy  from  the  enemy }  aiid 
that,  agrw^bie  to  the  taw  andufage  of  nations,  he  ought  t^||||||r 
death.    Sir  Henry  Clinton,   Lieutenant  General  Robertfc^^pd 
the  late  American  general  Arnold,  all  wrote  preiCng  lettcif.  to 
General  Wafhingten  on  the  occafton,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
decifion  of  the  board  of  general  oi^cers  from  being  put  i0k«te  : 
But    their    applications  were  inefFe£lual.      Major    Anc^  WIS 
hanged  at  Tappan^  in  the  province  of  New-York,  orrthe  ad-or 
Oftobcr.     He  met  his  fate  with  great  firmnefs ;  but  f^eifed 
fcmiewhat  hurt  that  he  was  not  allowed  a  more  military  dei^h,  for 
which   he  had  folicited.     He  was  a  gentleman  of  very  amiable 
qualities,  liad  a  taile  for  literature  and  the  iint  arts,  and  poiTefled 
manyaccompliftiments.     Hi^  death,  therefore,  was  regrettedeven 
by  his  enemies ;  and  the  Icvcrity  of  the  determination  concern- 
ing him  was  much  exclaimed  againfl  in   Great-Britain.     It  was, 
however,  generally  acknowledged  by  impartial  pcrl'ons,  that  there 


AMERICAS  KEVOIVTION. 


m 


mean 
f  the 

as** 
and 

hich 

rmin* 

;ai«i 

Cpd 

to 

lit  the 

srce: 

yr» 

ad  of 
>ea)fed 
th,  for 

tiahle 
IflefTed 
Id  even 

icern- 
^t  was, 
i  there 


%r«t  notlimg  in  the  execution  of  this  utifertimate  gentknltan  but 
what  WM  petfeAly  confonant  to  the  rules  of  war. 

Arnold  was  made  a  brigadier  general  in  Cm  King's  Tervice,  and 
^liihed  an  addrefs  to  the  inhybittnts  of  America,  dated  horn 
New- York,  Oftdber  7,  in  which  he  Endeavoured  to  juftify  hi> 
defertidn  of  their  caufe.  He  faid  that  when  he  firft  engaged  in 
it,  he  conceived  the  rights  of  his  country  to  be  in  danger,  and 
duty  and  honour  called  him  to  her  defence.  A  rediefs  of  griev- 
ant«s  li^SS  his  only  aim  and  objeft:  and  thercfoie  he  acquiefced 
wiwilliiigly  int  tike  declaration  of  independence,  becaufe  be 
thought  it  precipitate.  But  what  now  induced  him  to  defett 
their  caufe  was  the  difguft  he  had  conceived  at  the  French  alli- 
znto,  and  at  the  refufal  of  Congrels  to  comply  with  the  laft  terms 
offered  by  Great-Britain,  which  he  thought  equal  to  "all  their 
expei^tiohs  and  to  all  t!;eir  wiflies. 

The  Americans,  however,  accounted  for  the  conduftof  Ar. 
tioldin  a  diflRerent  manner.  They  alledged  that  he  had  To  kl- 
volved  himfelf  in  debts  and  difficulties  by  his  extravagant  man. 
nier  of  living  in  America,  that  hh  had  rendered  it  very  incon- 
venient for  him  to  continue  there:  that  after  the  evacuation  of 
Philadelphia  by  the  Britifli  troc^s,  Genird  Arnold,  being  in- 
veiled  with  the  comtiiand  oi  that  city,  h\d  made  the  houfe  of 
Mr.  Penn,  which  was  the  beft  in  the  city,  his  head  quarters. 
This  he  had  f limifhed  in  an  elegant  ai;id  expenfive  manner,  and  lived 
in  a  ftyle  far  beyond  his  income.  It  Was  mantfeft,  they  faid,  that  he 
could  at  firft  have  no  great  averfion  to  the  French  alliance,  be- 
caufe that  wheil  M.  Gerard,  minifter  plenipotentiary  from  the 
court  of  France,  arrived  at  Philadelphia  in  July  fj^iif  General 
Arnold  early  and  earneilly  folicited  that  minifter,  with  his  whole 
ipte,  to  take  apartments  and  bed  and  board  at  his  hoofe,  until 
i^nmiji^  houfe  could  be  provided  by  order  of  the  Coflgrels.  This 
dipf  jHl^erard  accepted,  and  continued  with  him  ktmt  weeks. 
1(|if:Fitnch  minifter  refided  upwards  of  fourteen  months  in  Phi- 
!jyipiit|~  during  which  time  General  Arnold  kept  up  the  moft 
ilrleotllj^^lmd  intimate  acquaintance  with  liim,  and  there  was  a 
4W^ili^|£i^  1^^  of  dinners,   balls,,  routes,  and  concerts: 

iltln«t  lil^  muft  have  believed,  that  in  General  Arnold 

hf'uid  mund  and  left  one  of  the  warmeft  friends  the  court  of 
Wiaaaiet^Min  Americii  He  was  alib-one  of  the  firft  in  congra- 
'  |U{ating  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  the  fccond  french  mimT- 
ter.  About  this  time  complaints  and  accui'ations  were  exhibited 
againft  him  by  the  government  of  Philadelphia  for  divers  mal- 
pra£iices:  among  which  charges  were,  tlie  appropriation  of  goods 
and  merchandize  to  his  own  ufe^  which  he  had  feized  as  Britifh 
property  in  Philadelphia  in  July  1778.     It  was  determined  by 


w% 


afiV 


HnrOKYOfTHE 


a  CQurt'^rttal  that  hii  condua  wts  highly  repvehenfibte;  but  h« 
was  indulgently  Ir^ed,  and  was  therefore  only  reprimanded  by 
the  commander  in  chief  General  Waihington.  It  wa»  in  thefe 
ciroimftancet,  th«  Americana  faid,  bankrupted  in  reputation  and 
fortune,  loaded  with  debts,  and  having  a  |rowing  and  enpenfive 
family,  that  General  Arnold  firft  turned  his  thoughts  toward* 
joining  the  royal  army. 

After  the  defeat  of  General  Gates  by  Earl  Cornwallis,  the 
latter  exerted  hioMelf  to  the  utmoa  in  extending  thffprogre^ 
^f  the  Britiib  armt,  and  with  confiderable  effeft.  But  on«  fn- 
terprife  which  was  conduced  by  Major  Fergufom  proved  wr 
fuccefsful*  That  officer  had  taken  abundant  paina  to  difcipline 
fome  of  the  tory  mijitia,  as  they  were  termed;  and  with- a  party 
of  thefe  and  fome  Britilh  troops,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  about 
one  thoufandfour  hundred  men,  made  incurfcons  int9  the  coun- 
try. But  on  the  7th  of  Oaober  he  was  attacked  by  a  fuperior 
bbdy  of  Americans  at  a  place  called  King's  Mountain,  an^  totally 
defeUted,  One  hundred  and  ftfty  were  killed  in  the  aftion,  and 
eight  hundred  and  ten  made  prifqucrs,  of  which  one  hundred 
and  fifty  werf  ^founded.  Fifteen  hundred  (land  of  anna  al(o 
•  fell  into  the  baii^  of  t^  A«n«»'**?»»  ^^o^*  ^^^  ^**  inconfide- 
l«ble.  But  th<s  foUowmg  month  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tarleton, 
who  continued  to  exert  his  ufual  aftivity  and  bravery»  with  a 
party  of  one  hundred  and  fcventy,  chicfty  cawalry,  attacked  and 
defeated  Oeneral  Sumpter,  who  is  faid  to  have  had  one  thoufand 
jncn,.  at  a  place  called  Black  Stocks.  Sumpter  was  wounded, 
'»nd  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  the  Americana  killed, 
wounded,  or  tpken,  Of  the  Briti(h  troops  about  fifty  were  kill- 
ed and  woundiS^* 

On  the  3d  of  September  the  Mercury,  a  cbngrefs  packet,  w?5 

taken  )^  th^Veftal,  Captain  Kcppcl  near  Newfoundl^d,  0<n 
board  thit  pwkct  was  Mr.  Laurens,  late  Prefident  of^QieConv 
grefs,  who  was  bound  on  an  embafly  to  Holland.  He  ha^ihrowii 
his  papers  overboard,  but  great  part  of  them  wereVreciSvered 
without  having  received  much  damage.  He  was  l^e^|(ht  to 
London,  and  examined  before  the  privy  council  j  mcoiite4|uence 
of  which  he  was  committed  clofe  priforicr  to  the  twc!i^  on  the 
6th  of  oaober,  on  a  charge  of  high  treafon,  Jiis  WF^  ^^^'^ 
delivered  to  the  miniftry,  and  continued  to  facilitate'%  rupture 
with  Holland,  as  among  them  was  found  the  ikctch  of  a  treaty  of 
amity  and  commerce  betwcei*  U>e  republic  of  Holland  and  the 
United  States  of  America, 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1781,  an  affair  happened  in 
America,  from  which  expeaations  were  formed  by  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  that  fome  confiderable  advantage  might  be  derived  to  the> 


'■^t%    p??- 


AMEktCA^  AMl^ClUflO^. 


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I  treaty  9^ 
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Ipened  in 
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irdyal  eaufe.  The  long  contimiance  of ,  the  war,  and  th^difficuU 
ties  under  which  the  Congrefa  laboured,  had  prevenral  their 
troopi  from  being  properly  fupplied  with  neceflariet  and  coveni* 
tncict.  In  tonfequence  of  this,  on  the  firftof  January,  the 
American  troops  that  were  hutted  at  Morris  T«wn,|i  and  who 
formed  what  Was  called  the  Pennfylvania  Line,  turned  out,  be- 
ing in  number  ^ut  one  thoufand  three  hundred*  and  declared, 
that  they  would  ferve  no  longer,  unlefs  their  grievancea  were  ror 
drefled,  as  they  had  not  received  their  pay,  or  been  fumifhed 
with  the  neceflary  cloathing  or  provifiona*  It  is  laid  that  they 
were  fomewhat  inflamed  with  liquor,  in  confequence  of  rum 
having  been  diftributed  to  them  more  liberally  than  ufual,  New- 
Year's  Day  being  confidered  as  a  kind  of  feftival*  A  riot  enfued» 
in  which  an  officer  waa  killed^  and  four  wounded:  five  or  fix  of 
the  infurgents  were  alfo  wounded*  They  then  coUeAed  the  ar- 
tillery, ftores,  provifions,  and  waggons,  and  marched  out  of  the ' 
ctmpk  They  paflied  by  the  quarters  of  General  Wayne,  who  fent 
a  meflage  to  them,  requefting  them  to  defift,  or  the  confequences 
would  prove  fatal.  They  refufed,  and  prooeeded  on  their  march 
till  the  evening,  when  they  took  poll  on  an  advantageoua  piece 
of  ground,  and  elefi»d  officers  from-among  themfclves.  On  the 
fecond,  they  marched. to  Middlebrook,  and  on  the  third  to 
Princetown,  where  they  fixed  their  quarters.  On  that  day  a  flag 
of  truce  was  fent  to  than  from  the  officera  of  the  American  camp^ 
with  a  meflage,  defiring  to  know  what  wen  their  intentions^ 
Some  of  them  anfwered*  that  they  had  already  fcrved  longer  than 
the  time  for  which  they  were  enlifted,  and  w  vJi  ferve  no  lon> 
ger;  and  others,  that  they  would  not  return,  ur-'efs  their  griev- 
ances were  redrefled*  But  at  the  fiime  t}me  they  repeatedly,  and 
in  the  ftrongeft  terms,  denied  being  influenced  by  the  lead  dif- 
aflieflion  to  the  American  caufe,  or  having  any  intentions  of 
deferting  to  the  enemy. 

Intelligence  of  this  tranfaftion  was  foon  c<mVeyed  to  New^York^ 
A  large  body  of  Britifli  troops  were  immediately  ordered  to  hold 
themfelvCs  in  readinefs  to  move  on  the  fliorteft  notice,-  it  being 
hoped  that  the  American  revolters  might  be  induced  to  join  the 
royal  army.  Meflengers  were  alfo  fent  to  them  from  General 
Clinton;  acquainting  them  that  they  (hould  direflly  be  taken  un- 
der the  protc&ion  of  the  Britifl)  government;  that  they  (hould 
have  a  free  pardon  for  all  former  offences ;  and  that  the  pay  due 
to  them  from  the  Congrefs  Ihould  be  faithfully  paid  them,  with« 
out  any  expe£tation  of  military  fervice,  unlefs  it  fhould  be  volun* 
tary  upon  condition  of  their  laying  down  their  amis  and  return- 
ing to  their  allegiance.  It  was  alfo  recommended  to  them  to 
move  beyond  the  South  River;  and  they  were  aflured,  that  a 


\ 


Ite 


HISTORY  orytiM^ 


hoAy  olErkUk  tt^ppt  (hould  be  ready  to  proteA  them  whf ntl^f 
they  d^Red  it.  Thefe  propofuion*  were  rejeOod  with  dildain  i 
•nd^they  even  delivered  up  two  of  Sir  Henry  Clintmi's  meflea* 
gcrt  to  the  rongreri.  Jofeph  Recd|  Erq,  prefident  of  the  tUin 
of  Peanrylvania,:  afterward*. repaired  to  them  at  PrincM-town«  *nA 
tn  accommodation  took  place:  fuch  of  them  a*  Jhid  ferved  out 
their  foil  terma  wtire.  permitted  to  Ifetum  tq  their  own  hemef , 
ami  others  again  joined  the  American  army,  upon  receiving  fa- 
tialaAory  afluranoee  that  their  gricvanoia  fHoUld  be  afdrefTed. 

Lord  CemwalUa  now  began  to  make  very  vigovoua  exert  ionSf 
in  ordte  to  penetrate  into  North  Carolina*  On  the  tith  of  Jim«i« 
ary  his  Lordfhip'a  army  was  in  motion,  and  advaiking  towardt 
that  province}  but  was  fomewhat  delayed  by  an  attonpt  made  by 
the  Americans,  under  General  Morgan,  to  make  themfehres  vpat- 
ters  of  the  valuable  diftrift  of  Ninety-fix.     In  order  to  prevent 
this,  Lord  Cornwallis  >  detached  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tarleton, 
With  three  hundred  cavalry,  three  hundred  light  infantry,  (^« 
fievei^th  regiment,  the  firft  battalion  of  the  feventy-firft  regiment 
*nd  two  thrce-poundera,  to  oppofe  the  progrefs  of  Morgan,  not 
doubting  but  that  he  would  be  able  to  perform  thia  fervice  effcc« 
tually.     The  firitiih  troops  came  up  with  the  Americans  under 
General  Morgan  on  the  a  7th  of  January.     The  Americans  were 
dnhvn  up  in  an  open  wood,  and  having  been  lately  joined  by 
fome  militia,  were  more  numerous  than  the  Britifli  troopa  under 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Tarleton ;  but  the  latter  were  fo  much  better 
dtfciplined,  that  they  had  the  utmofl  confidence  of  obtainiag  a 
ipeedy  viAory.     The  attack  was  begun  by  the  &rk  line  of  infant, 
ry,  cbnftfting  of  theieventh  regiment  and  a  corps  of  light  infant' 
ry,  with  a  troop  of  cavalty  placed  on  each  flank.     The  firft  bat* 
talion  of  this  feventy-firft  and  the  remainder  of  the  cavalry  form- 
ed the  refisrve.    The  American  line  foon  gave  way,  and  their 
militia  quitted  the  field ;  upon  which  the  royal  troops,  fuppofing 
the  viftory  already  gained,  engaged  with  ardour  in  the  purfiiit, 
and  were  thereby  thrown  into  fome  deforder:    General  Morgan's 
corps,  who  were  fuppofed  to  have  been  routed,  then  immediate- 
ly faced  about  and  threw  in  a  heavy  fire  upon  the  king*^!  troops, 
which  occafioned  the  utmofl  confufion  araoogft  themj^nd  they 
were  at  length  totally  defeated  by  the  Americans,     ^our  hun- 
^red  of  the  Britiih  infantry  were  either  killed,  wounded,  or 
taked  prifoners :  the  lofs  of  the  cavalry  was  much  Uffs  confident- 
ble ;  but  the  two  thrcc-pounders  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Ame- 
ricans, together  with  the  colotlirs  of  th^  feventh  regiment ;  and 
all  the  detachment  of  royal  artillery  were  either  killed  or  wound- 
ed in  defence  of  their   colours.     Lieutenant-colonel  Tarleton, 
however,  made  another  effort ;  having  affcmbled  about  fifty  of 


A»iERICJIf  RErHlt/TT&if,  ill 

hh  Ctvalry,  he  charged  ind  repulfed  Colonel  Waihington'i  hoffr, 
rttook  hit  baggage^  and.killed  the  AoMricantwho  weraappomtcd 
,  ka  guard  it.  He  then  retreated  to  Hamilton'a  ford^  neaflhe  n^uth 
oCfiuUock'a  creek,  carrjring  with  him  part  of  hit  baggage^  and 
4leftroying  the  reouindei^' 

Thia  defeat  of  the  truopa  under  IWleton  waa  a  fevtre  ftroki*  to 
Lord  Comwallia,  aa  the  lofa  of  hia  Ifght  infantry  waa  agreat  dif- 
'>lvanuge  to  him.    The  day  after  that  events  he  employed  in  coL 
letting  th^  remaifia  of  Tyleton'i  corpa;  and  endeavouring  td  Ibrm 
a  junaibti  with  Ce«eral'Liflie,  ilrho  hid  bein  dl^lered  to  mirth 
to%#arda  Khn  with  ahddy  of  Brlisfk  troopa  front  Wynneftorough. 
Confiderable  exiirtiona  were  ihon  tnadti  by  part  of  the  army, 
Without  baggige,  to  retake  the  prlfonera  in  the  handa  of  thtt  Ame. 
rieaha^  and  to  intercept  General  Morgani  corpi  oh  tta  retreat  to 
the  Catawba.    But  that  American  ofiiceri  after  hia  defeat  of  Tirlei. 
ton^hadaaad#  forced  marchea  up  into  the  country,  and  croffed 
tM  Catawba  the  evening  b^ore  i  great  rain,  which  fwelled  the 
iwer  to  fuch  a  degree^  aa  to  prevent  the  rqyal  army  from  crolSng 
forfeveral  daya;  during  which  time  ihe  firitiih  prifoncra  wero 
gut  Over  th^  Yadkili ;  whence  Ihey  ptttee^ded  to  Dan  River, 
which  th^alfo  pafled,  and  on  the  %%ih  of  February  had  reached 
CcHtrt-hbufe  in  the  province  of  Vjr|ini<^v.^        > 

Lord  Corriwallia  emplojr-sda  halt  of  two  daya  in  coUeaing,  (mi^ 
flour,  an4  in  deftroying  fuperfluov^  haggf ge  and  all  hia  itiM^m 
excepting  thofe  laden  with  ho%ital  ftorca,  lalt,  and  ammu^!^, 
'  and  four  referved  empty  irt  readinefa  for  fick  or  wounded*    B^ing 
thuB  freed  fraroall  unneceffary  incumbrances^  h«  marched  through 
North  Carolina  with  great  rapidity,  and  penetrated  to  the  remtteil 
extremities  of  that  province  on  the  hanks  pf  tbd  O^    Mia  pro- 
ijrefs  waa  foraetimcs  impeded  by  partie^of  thf  l^tia,  and  fome 
ikirmiftes  cnfticd,  but  he  met  with  no  yery^.c^ifinfenWe  oppott- 
tiom    On  the  ift  of  February,   the  k^^«PQop|«t)ae4  the 
Catawba  at  M'Cowan's  Ford,  where  C5f««|ijgi^idfo„,  with  • 
party  of  American  militia,  was  polled,  in  orfef  to  oppofc  their 
paflage  j  but  he  falling  by  the  firft  difcharge,  the  royal  troopa 
made  good  their  landing,  and  the  militia  retreated*    When  Lord 
CornwiUis  arrived  at  Hilllborough,  he  creaed  the  kihg's  ftandard, 
and  invited,  by  proclamation,  all  loyal  fubjca»  to  repair  to  it,  and 
tO^lanH  forth  and  take  an  aaive  part  in  affifting  his  Lord/hip  to 
reftore  order  and  government,    fje  had, been  uught  to  believe 
that  the  king's  frierids  were  numerous  in  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try; but  tjie  event  diU  not  confirm  the  truth  of  the  reprcfcnt^ 
lions  that  had  been  given.     The  royalifts  were  but  few  in  num- 
her,  and  Ibmcof  them  too  timid  to  join  the  king's  ftandard.   There 
Vol.  L  4  C 


\... 


itr^TonroFTJtM 


^w^indeed,  iboM  two  hundred  who  we#e  proccwUiic  to 
HiUANkfOttih,  und«>  Colonel  Pylc,  in  oider  to  avow  their  tt- 
Ucljinent*  the  roytl  mufe  i  but  they  wera  met  atfcidenuUy,  end 
furrounaedbyadettchmentirom  the  American  trmy,  by  whom 
«  number  of  them  are  faid  to  have  been  killed  when  they  weiv 
boding  for  <}uartefv  without  fttliag  the  lead  tefiibneo.  Mean 
while  General  Green  wM  marching  with  gi«at  expediftion  with 
the  tr^pa  under  hia^  coaumud,  in  order  to  form  a  junaion  with 
other  corpa  of  Ameri«a»  troopa,  that  h«  might  tttencl^  be  enabletl 
t9  put  *n  efTeOupi  Aop  to  the  progrefi  of  Lord  CnmwalHi* 

In  other  plAueafoaie  confsdamble  idvtntaget  were  obtained  by 
the  royal, armi.  4ki  thte  4th  V  January,  Tome  (hips  of  war  with 
a  nttmber  of  Iranfportty  on  board  whieh  wai  a  larg^  body  of 
troop*  under  the  command  of  Brigadter-Oeneral  Arnold^  arrived 
M  Weftover,  about  on«  hundred  andtorty  miles  foom  the  Capeatir 
Virginia,  where  the  trtiopa  immediately  tended  Mdmirched  to 
Richmond ;  which  they  reached  wiUhout  oppoTitiony  ^  mili^ 
jthat  was  cotteaed  having  vetfeatcd  on  their  approach.  Lieute- 
cnam-Colonel  Simcoe  married  from  lienoe  with  a  detachment  of 
BritifhWoopa  to  W«fth«nH  Where  tWey  dellroyed  Mie  of  the 
iinca  fbundafiea  foricannon  in  America,,  and  a  hi-ge  qatn^y  of 
ftoretand  cannon.  General  Arnold,  on  hia  arnval  at  Rkh. 
mond,  found  there  krge^uahibiei  of  (alt,  rum,  rall-doth,  tobacco^ 
•ri^echer  mei^handife  t  and  that  partof  thefeee^modltiea  which 
It^aipublie  pfttperty  he  deftroyed.'  The  Bthifli  troops  sftcr- 
Wards  attacked  and  dirperfld  fome  faiall  parties  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, took  Tome  ftoresand  a  few  pieces  of  cannon,  and  the  20th 
^f  the  fame  niotith  marched  into  Portfmouth,  On  the  ^sth, 
Captakt  BsvcUy,  with  feveral  Oiips  of  wftr/and  a  body  of  trobp* 
under  the  •onwiMindof  Major  Craig,  irriyed  in  Cape  Fear  riVer, 
-The  troops  ilittJbid:^!  nine  miles  from  Wilmington, and  on  the 
aStH- 4i»t*f^i!4  U*t  W  It  was  underftood  that  their  having 

'poflcffiont*!  thai  iftSWn,  and  being  mafters  of  Cape  Fear  river, 
would  be  pr©^*aive  of  very  beneficial  effeas  toLord  Corn- 
'Wallis's  arttiyy  ^  - 

•  General  Greene  having  effeaed  a  junaion  abbut  the  10th  of 
March  with  a  continental  regiment  of  what  were  called  eighteen 
-months  fneuy  and  two  large  bodies  of  militia  belonging  to  "Virgi- 
nia and  North  Carolina,  fonncd  arcfolution  to  attach  the  Britifh 
troops  under  the  command  of  Lord  CornwaHis*  The  American 
ai-my  marched  from  the  High  Rock  Ford  on  the  tathof  the 
Thqnth  j  and  on  the  i4th  arrived  at  Guildford.  Lord  Cornwallis^ 
fi^m  the  information  he  had  received  of  the  motions  of  the 
American  general,  concluded  what  were  his  deftgns;  As  they 
^pjroached  more  nearly    to  each   other,  a  few  Hurmi/hcs  enfued 


AMERICAN,  MSKOIVTION, 


&Ph 


between  fome  ndvaficed  parties,  in-  w^^ieh  tW  king's  t|«#pt  had 
the  advantage.  On  the  morning  of  t)ie  15th,  Lord  Cornwallis 
inarched  with  hia  troopa  at  day.break  in  order  to  meet  the  Ame- 
ricana, or  to  attack  them  in  tl^eir  engimpmcnt.  About  four 
xnttcs  from  Guildford,  the  advanced  jnani  of  the  Bt^itifh  army, 
4»>mmanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Tarkton,  fell  in  with  a  corps 
4>f  4he  Amer^ans,  confiainf  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee'a  legion, , 
fo^  3ack  Mnuntain  men  and  Virginian  mjlittat  with  whom  he 
M  « Ittvere  fkkmi&i,  haft  whom  he  at  length  ^Ugcd  to  retreat. 

The  greatly  part  of  the  /country  W  which  the  aaipp  happened  , 
lira  wildenMsia,  with  a  few  cleared  field*  in^riperffd^    The 
Anifencan  army*  which  was  fupei ior  to  the  royal  in  point  of 
nn^nbeca,  waa  pofted  on  a  riling  ground  about  a  mile  and.  a  half 
from  Guildford  couij^ufe.     It  waa  drawn  up  in  three  Ijnca: 
tl»cffx»t  line  ;»ra»  compoTed  of  the  VortH  (?arolinia^  n»iUtia,  * 
»«ider  the  command  of  the  Gen^a  Aujt^r  ^n4  IB^ton  j  t'.c  fecond 
line  of  Virginian  militia,  commimded  by  the  Generals  Stephens 
end  Lawfon,  fcsnuing  tw<»  b^Pigpdci ;  the  tbifd  line,  confiaing  of 
two  brigades,  one  of  Virginia  and  one  <>f  Mainland  continental 
ti-oops,  commanded:  by  Cene»rf  Huger  «nd  Colonel  WilUar^, , 
Lieutenani-Colonel  Wafliingtjm,  w:*tb  tbe  dngoona  of  theliril 
and  third  regiments,  a  detachment  of  light  infcn^  compofed  9!, 
continental  troops,  and  a  regiment  of  rilfnwn   under  Colonel. 
Lynch,  formed  a  corps  of  obfervation  £pr  Xht  fecurity  of  thetj^> 
right  flank.     Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee,  with  his  legitjn,  ^  detfch» " 
mentof  light,  infantry,  and  a  corps  of  riflemen  under  Colonel 
Campbell,  formed  a  corps  of  obfervation.  for  the  fecurity  of  their 
left  flank.     The  attack  on  the  Americjin  awy  WJM  difeft^d  to  be, 
made  by  Lord  Oomwallis  ih  the  fo^owing  order:   Otf.  tlie right, 
the^rcgimcnt  of  Bofe  and  t^c  feventy-firft, ;  regiment,  i  led  by 
Major-Gcneral  Leflie,  and  fupported  by  the  |irft  battalion  of 
guards  ;  on  the  left,  the  twenty-third  an,d  thirty ^third  regiments, 
led  by  Licutcnant-Coloncl  Wcbfter,  and  fupported  by  the  grena- 
diers and  fecond  battalion  of  guards  comnwndcd  by  Brigadierr 
General  O'Uara;   the  Yagers  and  light  infantry  of  jthe  guards 
remained  in  a  wood  on  the  left  of  the  guns,  and  the  cavalry  in  the 
road,  ready  to  aft  as  circumflances  might  require. 

About  half  an  hour  after  one  in  the  afternoon,  the  aQion  com- 
menced by  a  cannonade,  which  laired  about  twenty  minutes  ; 
when  the  Britiih  troops  advanced  in  three  columns  and  attacked 
the  North  Carolinian  brigades  with  great  vigour,  and  foon  obli- 
ged parl^  of  thcfe  troops,  wh<?  behsved  very 411,  to  quit  the  field  ; 
but  the  Virginian  militia  gave  them  a  warm  rcceiption,  and  kept  jip 
bpavy   M  for  a  long  time,  tiU  being  beaten  b?ck>  ihe^jaaipp; 


N 


564 


HISTORY  OF  TH$ 


bec<inie  general  almoll  every  wfiere.  The  American  corps  under 
the  Lieutenant-Colonels  Walhin^ton  and  Lee  were  alfo  warmly 
engngedj  and  did  confiderable  execution.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Tarlcton  had  direflions  to  keep  his  cavalry  compafl,  and  not  to> 
charge  without  poHtive  orders^  excepting  to  proteft  any  of  the 
corps  from  the  mod  evident  danger  of  being  defeated.  The 
exc^flive  thicknefs  of  the  Woods  rendered  the.  Britifli  bayonets 
of  little  ufe,  and  enabled  the  broken  fsorps  of  Americans  to  make 
frequent  {lands  wi^h  an  irregular  fire.  The  fecond  battalion  of 
the  guards  firfl  gained  the  clear  ground  near  Guildford  court- 
houfe,  and  found  ji  corps  of  continental  infantry,  fup^rior  in 
fiumber,  formed  ift  ah  open  field  on  the  left  of  the  road^  Defi-r 
rous  of.  Hgnalizing  tbemfelves,  they  immediately  attacked  an^ 
foon  defeated  thern,  taking  twb  fix-pounders :  but  as  they  pur-> 
fued  the  Americans  into  the,\yoqd  with  too  much  ardour,  they 
were  thrown  into  popfufion  by  a  heaVy  fire,  and  inflantly  <:harge4 
and  driven  back  into  the  field  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wafhing- 
ton's  drjigoons,  with  the  lofs  of  (he  fix-pounders  they  had  taken. 
But  the  American  cavalry  were  afterwards  repulfed,  %nd  thei 
|Wo  fix-poundcrs  again  fell  into  the  hanjds  of  the  Britifh  troops. 
The  fpirited  exertions  orBrigadier-C^eneral  O'Haj-a  and  of  LicuH 
tenant-Colonel  Tarleton,  greatly  contnbuted  to  bring  the  a£iion 
to  a  termination.  The  BritHh  troqps  haying  at  length  broken 
^he  fecond  Maryland  regiment,  and  turned  the  left  flank  of  the 
American?,  got  into  the  rfear^of  the  Virginian  brigade,  and  ap- 
peared to  be  gaining  their  right.  Which  would  haye  encircled  the 
whole  of  the  continental  troops,  when  General  Greene  thought 
it  prudent  ^o  order  a  retreat.  Many  of  the  American  miliii<\ 
difperfcd  in  the  kyoods ;  but  the  continental  troops  retreated  in 
good  order  to  Rcfdy  Fork  River,  and  croffcd  at  the  ]Ford  about 
three  miles  from  the  field  of  a£^ion,  and  there  halted.  When 
they  had  polleftcd  their  ftragglers,  they  retreated  to  the  iron- 
works j  ten  miles  diftjfht  from  Guildford,  where  they  encamped. 
They  loft  their  artillery  and  two  waggons  laden  with  ammuni- 
tion. It  w<iS  a  hiari.  fought  a£lIon,  and  lafted  an  hour  and  an 
half.  Of  the  Britifti*  trbbps,  the  lofs,'  as  ftated  by  Lord  Corn- 
wallts,  was  five  hundred  and  thirty-two  killed,  wounded,  «nd 
mifling.  General  Greene,  in  his  account  of  the  attion  tranfmit- 
ted  to  the  congrcl's,  flatcd  the  lofs  of  the  continental  troops  to 
amount  to  three  hundred  and  twenty-nine  UiHed,  wounded,  and 
jniffing  ;  but  he  made  no  eftimate  of  the  lolV  of  the  militia. — 
Lieutenarit-Coloncl  3tU?rt  was  jcillcd  in  the  aftion  ;  and  Lieute- 
nant-Colonel Webfter,  and  the  Captains  Schutr,  Maynard,  an.d 
Goodriche,  died  of  the  wounds  that  they  received  in  it.  Brig«- 
dicr-Gcneral   O'Hara,  Brigadier- General   Howard,   and   Lieutc- 


■■V  i/ 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


5^3 


flint^Goloncl  Tarleton  were  alfo  wounded.  Of  the  Americans 
the  princical  officer  killed  was  Major  Anderfon  of  the  Maryland 
line,  and  the  generals  Stephens  and  Huger  were  wounded. 

The  Britiih  troopii  underwent  great  hardihips  in  the  courfe  of 
this  cantpaign ;  and  in  a  letter  of  Lord  Cornwallis's  to  Lord 
George  Germain,  dated  March  1 7th,  he  obferved,  that  "  the  fol- 
diers  had  been  two  days  without  bread."     His  lordfhip  quitted 
Guildford  three  days  after  the  battle  which  was  fought  in  that 
place;  and  on  the  yth  of  Apriji  arrived  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Wilmington.     Soop  »fter,  Qeneral  Qreene,  notwithilanding  his 
latede^e^it^  endeavoured  to  make  fome  vigorous  attempts  againft 
the  Icing's  forces  in  Scmth  Carolina.     Lord  Rawdon  had  been  ap^ 
pointed  to  defend  the  poftof  Camden,  with  about  eight  hundred 
^ritiih  and  provincials ;  ^nd  on  the  )9th  of  April  General  Greene 
appeared  before  that  place  with  a  )arge  body  of  continentals  and 
militia,     fie  found  it,  ho\yevcr,  impoflible  to  attempt  to  dorm 
the  town  with  any  profpeft  of  fuccefs ;  and  therefore  endeavoured 
to  take  fuch  a  pbfltion  as  fliould  induce  the  Britifh  troops  to  fally  v 
from  their  worjcs,     ^e  pofted  the  A^ei-icans  about  a  mile  from 
the  town,  on  an  eminence  ^v^hich  was  covered  with  woods,  and 
flanked  6n  the  left  by  an  impaflable  fwamp.    But  on  the  morning 
of  the   25th,  Lord  Rawdon  marched  out  of  Camden,   and  with 
great  gallantry  attacked  General  Greene  ill  his  camp.     The  Ame- 
ricans made  a  vigorous   reii{]^nce,  buf  were  at  laft  compelled  tp 
give  way  ;  and  the  purfuit  is  faid  to  have  bcei^  continued  thrpc 
mites.     For  fome  time  after  the  a£lion  commenced,  General  Gates 
entertained  great  hopes  of  defeating  the  Britifh  troops ;  in  which, 
as  the  Americans  were  fuperior  in  point  Of  numbers,  he  would 
probably  have  fucceeded,  had  not  fome  capital   ihilitary  errors 
been  committed  by  one  or  two  of  the  offices  who  fcrved  under 
him.    On   the   American  fide  Colonel  Wafliington  behaved  ex- 
tremely Well  in  thisadion,  having  made  upwards  of  two  hundred 
pf  the  Englifh  prifoners,   with  ten  or  twelve  officers,  before,  he 
perceived  that  the  Americans  were  abandoning  the  field  of  battle. 
The  lofs  of  the  Englifli  was  about  one  hundredScilled  and  wound- 
ed.    Upwards  of  one  hundred  of  the  Americd*hs  were  taken  pri- 
foners ;    and,   according  to   the  account  publiflicd  by  General 
Greene,  they  had  one  hundred  and  twenty-fix  killed  and  wound- 
^  «d.     After  this  a£lion,  Greene  retreated  to  Rugeley's  mills,  twelve 
miles  frorn  Camden,   in  order  to  colle£l  his  troops  and  wait  for 
reinforcements. 

Notwithftanding  the  advantage  which  Lord  Rawdon  had  ob- 
tained over  General  Greene  at  Camden,  that  nobleman  foon  after 
found  it  ncccffary  to  quit  that  port; ;  and  the  Americans  made 
ihemlclvcs  mailers  of  icveral  other  pofts  that  were  occupied  by 


S66 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


i\it  king's  troopt ,  and  the  |;arrtfons  of  which  were-  obliged .  lo 
itirrender  themfelves  prifoncrs  of  war,    Thefe  troops  were  after^ 
wards  exchanged  under  a  cartel  which  took  placQ  between  I*Qrd 
GornwalUs  and  Genera^  Grtenc  for  the  relcafe  of  all  prifonert  eJF 
vrar  in  the  foutherti  di(lri£t.    After  thefe  events.  General  Greene* 
laid  clofe  fiege  to  Ninety^fix,  which   was  confidered  as  the  mod , 
commanding  and  important  of  alt  the  pofts  in  th<i  b?ck-cquntry  ; 
and  on  the  19th  of  June  he  attempted  to  ftorm  the  garrifon,  but 
was  repulfed  l>y  the  gallantry  of  the  Britifli  trpops,  with  the  lofs, 
as  k  is  faid,  of  feventyrfive  killed  and  one  hundred  and  fiifty 
woupded.    General  Greene  then  raifed  the  fiege,  and  retired » 
with  hi?  army  behind  the  $^uda,  to  a  ftrong  f^tuation  within  (ix:>, 
teen  miles  of  Ninety-ftx, 

On  the  18th  of  April  a  large  body  of  Britiih  troops^  under  the 
tl^e  cpmmand  of  Major-General  Philips  and  Qrtgadier-<General 
Arnold,  embarked  «t  Tprtfmouth  in  Virginia,  in  order  to  proceed 
on  an  expedition  for  tiie  purpoie  of  dcftroying  fome  of  thci  Ame^ 
ricaa  fb^res.     A  part  of  light-infantry  were  fti^t  ten  Qr  twelve '. 
miles  up  the  Chickahomany :  w^ere  they  dc^royed  feyeral  aimed 
fliips,  fundry  warchoufes,  and  the  American  fbte  fhip  yards.     At 
Peterfburghj  the  Englifh  ^eftk'oyed  four  thoutand  hoglheads  of 
tobacco,  one  (hip,  and  9  nundier  of  fijnaU  veifels  on  tihe  t^ks  and 
in  the  river.     At  Cheftorfiebl  court-houfe,  tKey  burnt  a  range  of 
barracks  for .  two  thoufand  men  and  three  hundred   barrels  of 
flour.    At  a  place  called  Ofiorn'Si  they  made  themfelves  mafliers 
of  feveral  vfiTels  loaded  with  cordage  and  dour,  and  deftroyed 
about  two  thou,fand  hogiheads,  pf  tobacco,  and  fundry  velTels  were 
,  funk  and  bunfit.     At  Warwick,  they  burnt,  a  magaa^ine  of  five 
hundred  barrels  of  fiour,  fome  fine  mills  belonging .  to  Colonel 
Carey,  a  large  range  of  public  rope- walks  and  ftorehoufes,  tan>  and 
barl^  houfea  full  of  hides  and  bark,  and  great  (Quantities  of  tobac- 
c%     A  like  deftru^on  of  ilores  and  goods  was  made  in  other 
pjtirts  of  yirginia. 

From  the  aocpupt  already  given  of  fome  of  the  principal  mili-> 
tary  operations  of  the  preient  year  in  America,  it  appears,  that 
though  f:pcifiderablel^  advantages  had  been  gained  by  the  royal 
troops,  yet  no  event  had  taken  place  fi'om  which  it  could  ration- 
]illy, be  expe£led  that  the  iina|  termination  of  the  war  would  be. 
favourable  to  Great-3ritain.  It  was  alfo  a  disadvantageous  cir-r. 
cumftancc  that  there  was  a  mifunderilanding  between  Admiral 
Arbuthnot  and.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  a  mutual  difapp.rohation 
of  each  other's  condu£l.  Ihis  was^manifcfl  from  their  difpatches 
to  government,  and  efpecially  from  thofe  of  General  Clinton, 
whpfe  cxpreflions  refpc6ling  the  condu^  of  the  Admiral  W'tix  by 
r^o  means  c<|uivocal,  ' 


'    Or 

Gapd 
cOnfil 
Frenc 
line  ai 
ceivec 
£ngli{ 
<hip  H 

confid( 
and  wi 
troops 

impede 
imte  ci 
Romuh 
Cfffthe  I 
lord 

Guildfb 
he  anil 
place,  h 
^9  (land 
g<>vem« 
prefent 
now  cpn 
duty  an 
with  thci 
commanc 
of  reHdei 
permittee 
they  wou 
of  yiolem 
as  poilibf* 
ment*    B 
V  ^^e  Amer 
dcnces  of 
On  the 
V  irgmia, 
wnder  the 
of  which, 
ed  upon  I 
encounter 
procuring 
Clinton,  1 
and  his  inf 
pcricncedi 
chiefly  hof 
gencc,  and 


.^^*f 


AMEktCAlf  kEVOLUTtON, 


B^i 


'  Dn  the  t6th  tH  March  i^Cti)  a  partial  aftipii  happened  off  the 
Capes  of  Viif  inia,  between  the  fleet  undkr  Admiral  Arbuthnof^  > 
cOnfifting  of  (even  fliipft  ^f  the  line  and  one  ftfty-gun  (hip,  and  h 
French  fqukdron,  conrifliiig  of  the  farw  number  of  fliips  trf  tlte 
line  and  one  forty-gun  lhip«  Some  of  the  ibrps:  in  both  fleets  re- 
ceived confiderable  damt^e  in  the  lAion,  and  the  lefs  of  the 
Engliflt  was  thirty  killed^  and  feventy-throe  wounded;  but  n« 
fliip  was  taken  on  either  fide.  The  Biritifb  fleet  hdd,  hoMrever^ 
confiderdbly  the  advantage  ;  as  the  French  Were  obliged  to  retire, 
and  were  fuppofed  to  be  prevented  by  this  a^.ion  from  carrying 
troops  up  the  Che&peak,  in  order  to  attack  Cenelral  Arnold  and 
impede  the  progrefs  of  Lord  Comwallis.  But  it  was;  an  unfortut- 
tiate  cirCumftance,  that  fome  time  befbre  this  engagement  the 
Romulus,  a  (hip  of  forty-four  guns,  was  captured  by  the  Fren^ 
C|ff  the  Capes  of  Virginia. 

JLprd  Comwallis,  after  his  viftory  pVcr  General  Greene  at 
Guildfbird,  proceeded^  as  we  have  feen,  'to  Wilmington,  where 
he  arrived  on  the  7th  of  Ap^iU  But  before  he  reached  ths; 
place,  he  published  a  proclamation,  calling  upon  all  loyal  fubjcfiv 
t^ftand  forth  and  take  an  a£iive  part  in  reftoring  good  order  and 
government ;  and  declaring  to  alt  perfons  who  had  engaged  in  the 
prefent  rebelKon  againft  bis  majcfty's  authority,  but  who  were 
now  convinced  of  their  error,  and  deftrous  of  returning  to  theii' 
duty  and  allegiance^  thsit  if  they  would  furrender  themfclves 
with  their  arms  and  ammunition  at  head  quarters,  or  to  the  officer 
commanding  in  the  diftrift  contiguous  to  their  refpe^ve  places 
of  refidence,  on  or  before  the  soth  of  that  month,  they  would  be 
permitted  to  return  to  their  homes  upon  giving  a  military  parole ; 
they  would  be  prote^ed  in  their  perfons  and  properties  from  all  forts 
of  violence  from  the  Britifb  troops  and  would  be  reftored  as  foon 
as  poffible  to  all  te  privileges  of  legal  and  conftitui  "X  govern- 
ments But  it  does  not  appear  that  any  confiderabL  umber  ol 
^  the  Americans  werfe  allured  by  thefe  promifeS  to  give  any  evi- 
dences of  their  attachment  to  the  royal  caufi;.  s 

On  the  soth  of  May^  hiis  Lordfhip  arrived  at  Peterlburgh  in 
Virginia,  where  he  joined  a  body  of  Britifli  troops  that  hf  d  been 
under  the  command  of  Major-General  Philips ;  but  the  command 
<^  which,  in  confequence  of  the  death  of  that  officer,  had  devolv- 
ed upon  Brigadicr-gencral  Arnold.  Before  thi$  jun£lion  he  had 
encountered  conftdcrable  inconvcriicnccs  from  the  difficulty  of 
procuring  provifvons  and  forage ;  fo  that  in  a  letter  to  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  he  informed  him,  that  his  cavalry  wanted  every  thing, 
and  his  infantry  every  thing  but  (hoes.  He  added,  that  he  had  ex- 
perienced the  diflreffes  of  marching  hundreds  of  miles  in  a  country 
chiefly  hoftile,  without  one  aftive  or  ufeful  friend,  without  intelli- 
gence, and  without  communication  with  any  part  of  the  country. 


itUfdkiroFtMM 


On  the  a6th  b^JUne^  tbou^  fix  milei  fi'bnii  WilliartfliKfgfi^ 
Lteutenant'Colonei  Simccie,  and  three  hundi'ed  and.  fifty  of  tht 
Queen's  rangeri,  iiH^H  eighty  mounted  yagers^  were  attacked  by 
«  much  fuperior  body  of  the  Aiherfcanai  but  whom  they  repuifcd 
with  great  gallantry  and  with  equal  fucctffs,  making  four  ofRceri 
and  twenty  private  Wert  prifoners.  The  lofa  of  the  Ameritans 
^«n  this  uEtioii  ta  faul  to  have  been  upward*  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty,  and  that  ol\he  Britifli  troops  not  more  than  forty. 

On  the  6th  of  July  an  afbion  happened  near  the  Green  Springs 
in  Virginia,  between  a  reconrioiteriMg  party  of  the  Americans  un<» 
der  General  Wayne,  amountiftg  to  about  eight  hundred,  and  a 
Urge  part  of  the  Britifli  army  'under  LOrd  Ccmiwallif  ]  in  which 
the  American)  had  one  hundrefd  and  twenty-feve'n  kilted  and 
wounded,  an^d  the  lofs  of  the  royal  troops  is  fuppbfed  to  baVe 
been  confiderably  greater.'  It  waji  an  aftion  in  Which  iid  fmall 
Yiegree  of  military  Jkill  and  courage  ^as  exhibited  by  the  Ameri- 
vans.  In  a  variety  of  (kirmiihes,  (he  Marquis  la  Fayette  very 
hiuch  diftinguifhid  himfelf,  and  difphyed  the  ntmoft  ardour  io 
the  Afherican  cau(<^k 

In  South  Carolina,  i!A  aftion  happened  oti  the  9th  of  Septeriibeif' 
hekrEifta  Springs,  beti^<ien  a  lai:ge  body  of  Britiflt  firoopl  uiider 
the  cdffimand  of  Lteutehaht>coloneI  Stuart  and  a  much  ftfj^eriof 
body  of  Americans,  faid  to  amount  to  more  thart  four  tTidiifahd, 
under  the  comthand  of  Central  Greene.  It  was  ih  obfliiiati  en-* 
gagcment,  and  lalled  near  tWa  hours ;  but  the  Americans  Were 
^defeated,  ahd  tWo  oT  their  fi^-pounders  fell  into  thfe  hands  of  thd 
£ngli(h.  the  lofs,  hoWcvClr,  of  the  royal  troops  Was  Very  confi- 
derablei  Amounting  to  more  than  four  hundred  killed  and  Wduhd* 
ed,  and  upWafd)i  of  two  hundred  mifllhg. 

In  the  couirfe  pf  the  fame  month,  General  Arnold  was  feoi  on 
tin  expedition  againd:  New-London,  in  Conne£licut,  where  he 
dcftroycd  a  gireal  part  of  the  (hipping,  and  an  immenfc  quantity 
of  naval  ftores,  European  manufa&ures,  ind  Eaft  ahd  Weft  India 
commodities^  The  to^v^n  itfelf  was  alfo  burnt,  Which  is  faid  to 
have  been  unavoidable  on  account  of  the  exploiions  of  great  quan- 
tities of  gunpowder  which  happened  to  be  ixV  the  ftorehoufcs  that 
Were  fet  on  fire.  A  fort^  of  which  it  was  thought  neceflfary  to 
gain  poflenion  in  this  expedition,  was  not  taken  without  conH- 
deraUc  lofs.  This  was  fort  Orifwoldj  which  was  defended  by 
the  Americans  with  great  gallantry,  and  the  aflault  was  made  by 
the  £ngii(h  with  equal  bravery.  The  British  troops  entered  the 
works  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  were  oppol'ed  with  great  vigour 
by  the  garrifon  with  long  fpears.  After  a  moft  obftinate  defence 
of  near  forty  minutes,  the  aCTailantS  gained  potTeilion  of  the  fort, 
in  which  eighty-five    Americans  were    found  dead,   and*  fixty 


AMERICAS  MMVOLUTION. 


5% 


of  th« 

epuired 
oi&ceri 
leriKsm  * 
red  and 

Springt 
am  un* 
,  Aid  a 

Which 
led  tnd 
to  haVe 
loi  fmtU 

Amtri- 
tt«  very 
rdourio 

ptei^be^ 
[>i  ubdet 
ftfjieriof 
hoiifahd, 

iiiatfc  en* 
ns  Were 
ds  of  thd 
ry  confi- 

&  fcoi  on 
rhere  he 
quantity 

ft  India 
faid  to 
eat  quan- 
tufes  that 
effary  to 
(ut  confi- 
inded  by 

made  by 
tercd  the 
It  vigour 
;  defence 

the  fort, 

nd»  fixty 


wonnded,  moft  of  them  mortally.  Of  the  Brttifli  troopi  Major 
Montgomery  was  killed  by  <^  fpear  in  entering  the  American 
works ;  and  one  hundred  and  iiinty«-two  men  were  alfo  killed  and 
wounded  in  this  expedition. 

Notwithftanding  the  fi^al  advantages  that  Lord  Cornwallis  had 
obtained  over  the  AmertcanSi  hia  fituation  in  Virgir^a  began  by 
degrees  to  be  very  critical :  and  the  rather  becaufe  he  did  not  re- 
ceive thofe  reinforcements  and  fuppliikfs  i^om  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
of  which  he  had  formed  expe^tiuns,  and  which  he  conceived 
to  be  neceflfary  to  the  fuccefs  of  his  operatiqns.  Indeed,  the 
commander  in  chief  was  prevented  from  fending  thofe  reinforce- 
ments to  Lord  Cornwallis  which  he  otherwife  might  have  done, 
by  his  feari  refpefting  New-York,  againft  which  he  entertained 
great  apprehenfions  that  General  Wafliington  intended  to  make  a 
very  for^nidable  attack.  In  hCt,  that  able  American  general  ap- 
pears .  to  have  taken  much  pains,  and  to  have  employed  great 
finefle,  in  order  to  lead  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  entertain  this  imagi- 
nation. Letters,  expreflive  of  this  intention,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  Sir  Henry,  which  were  manifeftly  written  with  a  deflgn  that 
they  Oiould  be  intercepted,  and  only  with  a  view  to  amui'e  and  de- 
ceive the  Britifli  General.  The  projeft  was  fuccefsful ;  and  by  a 
variety  of  judicious  military  manoeuvres,  in  which  he  completely 
out-Generalled  the  Britifh  commander,  heincreafed  his  apprehen- 
fions about  NewiYork,  and  prevented  him  from  fending  proper 
afltftance  to  Lord  Cornwallis.  Having  M  a  confiderable  timts 
kept  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in  perpetual  alarm  in  New- York,  though 
with  an  army  much  inferior  to  the  garrifon  of  that  city.  General 
Waihington  fuddenly  quitted  his  camp  at  White  Plains,  croflcd 
the  Delaware,  and  marched  towards  Virginia,  apparently  with  a 
deftgn  to  attack  LoYd  Cornwallis.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  then  re- 
ceived information  that  the  Count  de  Grafle,  With  a  large  French 
fleet,  was  expefled  every  moment  in  the  Chefapeak,  in  order  to 
co-operate  with  General  Wafliington.  He  immediately  endie'a- 
voured,  both  by  land  and  water,  to  communicate  this  information 
to  Lord  Cornwallis ;  and  alfo  fent  him  aflurances,  that  he  would 
either  reinforce  him  by  every  poilible  means  in  bis  power,  or 
make  the  bed  diverfions  he  could  in  his  favour.    In  the  mean  time  , 

^  Lord  Cornwallis  had  taken  pofTcIfion  of  the.  polls  of  York  Town 
and  Glouceller  in  Virginia,  where  he  fortified  himielf  in  the  bed 
manner  he  was  able. 

On  the  a8th  of  Auguft,  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  with  a  fquadron  from 
the  Weft-Indies,  joined  the  fquadron  under  the  command  of  Ad- 

,   miral  Graves  before  New- York.     It   was  then  neceffary,   on  ac- 
4;ount  of  the  fituation  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  that  they  ihould  im- 
Vol.  I.  4  D 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


mediately  proceed  to  the  Chefapeak  ;  but  Tottie  time  appears  t9 
have  been  needlefsly  loft,  though  Admiral  Hood  waa  extremely 
anxious  that  no  delay  might  be  made.  They  arrived,  however, 
in  the  Chefapcaki  oh  the  5th  of  September,  with  nineteen  fliips 
of  the  line  ;  where  they  found  the  43ount  de  GralTc,  who  had 
anchored  in  that  bay  on  the  3eth  of  Auguft  with  twenty-four  (hips 
of  the  lipe.  The  French  Admiral  had  previoufly  landed  a  large 
body  of  troops,  which  had  been  brought  from  Rhode  Ifland,  and 
who  immediately  marched  to  join  the  American  army  under  Ge- 
neral Wafhington.  The  firitidi  and  French  fleets  came  to  an 
«6iion  on  the  fame  day  in  which  the  former  arrived  in  the  Chefa> 
peak.  On  board  the  Britilh  fleet  ninety  were  killed  "Tand  tWo 
hundred  and  forty-fix  wounded  :  fome  of  the  (hips  were  greatly 
damaged  in  the  engagement ;  and  the  Terrible,  i  fcvcnty-four  gun 
ihip,  was  fo  much  fliattered,  that  it  Was  afterwards  found  necef- 
fary  to  fct  fire  to  it.  That  this  a£lion  had  not  been  favourable  to 
the  £ngli{h,  was  manifefled  from  the  event :  the  fleeti  continued 
in  fight  of  each  other  for  five  days  fucceflively,  and  fometimes 
were  very;  near  ;  but  at  length  the  French  fleet,  all  anchored  with- 
in  the  Cape,  fo  as  to  block  up  the  paflagc.  Admiral  Graves,  who 
was  the  commander  in  chief,  then  called  a  counfel  of  jvar,  in 
which  it  was  refolved  that  the  fleet  fliould  proceed  to  New- York, 
that  thctfliips  might  be  there  put  in  thebefl^  ftate  for  the  fervice  . 
«nd  thus  were  the  French  left  mailers  of  the  navigation  of  the 
Chefapeak. 

Before  the  news  of  this  a£lion  had  reached  New- York,  a  coun- 
cil of  war  was  held  there,  in  which  it  was  refolved,  that  five  thou- 
fand  men  Ih6uld  be  emi)arked  on  board  the  kings  ihips,  In  order 
Co  proceed  to  the  aflTiilance  of  Lqrd  Cornwallis.  But  when  it  was. 
known  that  the  French  were  abfolute  mafters  of  the  navigation  of 
the  Chefapeak,  it  was  thought  inexpedient  to  fend  off  that  rein- 
forcement immediately.  In  another  council  of  war,  it  was  re- 
folved, that  as  Lord  Cornwallis  had  provifions  to  lafl.  him  to  the 
end  of  O&ober,  it  was  advifable  to  wait  for  more  favourable  ac- 
counts  from  Admiral  Graves,  or  for  the  arrival  of  Admiral  Digby, 
who  was  expe£led  with  three  fl\ips  of  the  line.  It  was  not  then 
known  at  New-York,  that  Admiral  Graves  had  determined  to  re- 
turn with  the  whole  fleet  to  that  port. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  mofl:  effcd.ual  meafurcs  were  adopted  by 
General  Waftiington  for  furroundingthe  Britifli  army  under  Lord 
Cornwallis.  A  large  body  of  French  troops  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant-General  the ,  Count  de  Rochambeau,  with  a  very 
confidcrablc  t,rain  of  artillery,  afllflcd  in  the  cntcrprife.  The 
Americans  amounted  to  near  eight  thoufand  continentals,  and  fiv9 
thouiand  militia.    General  Wafhington  was  inveflcd  with  the 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


S7» 


authority  of  commander  in  chief  of  thefc  combined  forces  of  Ame. 
rica  and  France.  On  the  29th  of  September,  the  inveftmcnt  of 
York  Town  wascomplete,  and  the  Britifli  army  quite  blocked  up. 
The  day  following  Sir  Henry  Clinton  wrote  a  letter  to  Lord 
Cornwallii,  containing  affu^ncca  that  "he  would  do  evcr>'  thing 
in  hia  power  to  relieve  him,  and  fome  information  concerning  the 
fteps  that  would  be  taken  for  that  purpofe.  A  duplicate  of  this 
letter  was  Cent  to  his  Lordfliip  by  Major  Cochran,  on  the  3d  of 
Oftober.  That  gentlemen,  Who  was  a  very  gallant  officer,  went 
in  a  veffel  to  the  Capes,  and  made  his  way  to  Lord  Cornwallis, 
through  the  whole  French  fleet,  in  an  open  boat.  Hi  got  to 
York  Town  on  the  10th  of  the  month  ;  and  foon  after  his  arrival 
had  his  head  carried  off  by  a  cannon  ball. 

After  the  return  of  Admiral  Graves  to  New- York,  a  council  of 
War  was  held,  confifting  of  flag  and  general  officers,  in  which  it 
was  rcfolved,  that  a  large  body  of  troops  fhould  be  embarked  on 
board  the  king's  (hips  as  foon  as  they  were  refitted,  and  that  the 
exertions  of  both  fleet  and  army  fliouldbe  mAde  in  order  to  form 
a  junftion  wiih'Lord  Cornwallis.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  himfclf  cm- 
liarked  on  board  the  fleet,  with  upwards  of  fcven  thoufand  troops, 
on  the  18th  ;  they  arrived  off  Cape  Charles,  at  the  entrance  of  the 
Chefapeak,  on  the  24th,  where  they  received  intelligence  that 
l.ord  Cornwallis  had  been  obliged  to  capitulate  five  days  before. 

It  was  on  the  19th  of  Oaober  that  Lord  Cornwallis  furrcndei^ 
e4  himfclf  and  his  whole  army,  by  capitulation,  prifoncrs  to  the 
combined  armies  of  America  and  France,  under  the  command  of 
General  WafKington,  He  made  a  defence  fuitablc  to  the  charac- 
ter he  had  before  acquired  for  courage  and  military  fltill ;  but  was 
compelled  to  fubmit  to  untoward  circumilances  and  fuperior  num» 
bcrs.  It  was  agreed  by  the' articles  of  capitulation,  that  the  Bri- 
ti(h  troops  were  to  be  prifoners  to  the  United  States  of  America, 
and  the  feamen  to  the  French  king,  to  whofe  officers  alfo  the  Bri- 
ti(h  veflels  found  at  York  Town  and  Glouccfter  were  to  be  deli- 
vered up.  The  Britilh  prifoners  amounted  to  more  than  fix  thou- 
fand ;  but>  many  of  them,  at  the  time  of  furrcndcr,  were  incapable 
of  duty.  A  confidcrable  number  of  cannon,  and  a  large  quantity 
of  military  ftorcs,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Arnericans  o«  this 
occafion.  ,. 

As  no  rational  cvpcftation  now  remained  of  a  fubfugatipn  of  the 
colonies,  the  military  operations  that  fuccccdcd  in  Anjeiica  were 
of  little  confequence.  Some  inconfidcrable  aftions  and  fkiimiflies 
did  indeed  take  place  after  that  cycnt ;  in  which  the  refugees 
difl:ingui{hed  themfelvc»,  and  dUcoycrcd  an  inveterate 
:  Americans.    On 


jrjimofity  againft 


4  D  « 


5th  of  May  1 782,  Sir 


67« 


HISTORY  a F  TkE 


: 


Guy  Carletoo  arrived  at  .Kew>York,  being  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Briiirh  trodpa  in  America  in  the  room  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton.     Two  diya  after  his  arrival,  he  wrote  a  If  tter  to  Gene<« 
ral  Wafhington,  acquainting  h'im,  that  Admiral  Digby  waa  joined 
with  liimfeif  in  a  commiffio|i  to  treat  for  peace  with  the  people  ' 
of  America  j   tranfmitting  tc»  hini|  at  the  (ame  time,  fome  papers 
tending  to  manifefl  the  pacific  difpofition  of  the  government  and 
people  of  Britain  towards  thofe  of  America.     He  alfo  defired  a 
paflport  for  Mr.  Morgan,  who^^a  appointed  to  tranfmit  a  fimilar 
letter  of  compliment  to  the  congrefs.     General  Wafliington  de- 
clined ligning  any  padport  till  l^e  hu^  taken  the  opinion  of  con- 
grefs upon  th.it  meafure ;  and  by  ^m  he''waa  dire6ied  to  refufe 
any  pafTport  for  fuch  a  purpofe.     However,  another    letter  waa 
fent  \o  General  Wafhington,  dated  the  ad  of  Auguft,  and  figned 
by  Sir  Guy  Carleton  and  Rear  Admiral  Digby,   in  Which  they 
informed  him,  that  they  were  acquainted  by  authority  that  nego- 
ciatlons  for  a  general  peace  had  already  commenced  at  Paris  ;  that 
Mr.  Grenville  was  invcfled   with  full  powers  to  treat  with  all 
the  parties  Ut  war ;  and  was  then  at  Paris  in  the  execution  of  his 
commiflion.     They   farther   informed  him,  that  his  Majefty,  in 
order  to  remoye  all  obdaclcs  to  that  peace  which  he  fo  ardently 
wiChed  to  reftore^  had  commanded  his  mini (lers   to  direA  Mr.' 
Greriville,  that  the  independency  of  the  thirteen  provinces  fliould 
be  propofed  by  him,  in  thefiifl  inftance,  inflead  of  making  it  the 
condition  of  a  general  treaty.     But  lome  jealoufies  were  Enter- 
tained by  the  Americans,   that  it  was  the  defign  of   the  Britifli 
court  either  to  difunite  them,  or  to  bring  them  to  treat  of  a  peace 
feparately  from  their  ally  the  king  of  France  :   they  therefore  re- 
folved,   that  any  '^.an,  rr  body  of  men,  who  ihould  prefume  to 
make  any  feparatc  or  partial  convention   or  agreement    with  the 
king  of  Great-Britain,  or  with  any  commiflioner  or  commiiTioners 
under  the  crown  of  Great-Britain,  ought  to^  be  confidcred   and 
treated  as  open  and  avowed  enemies  of  the  United  States  of  Ame- 
rica ;  and  alio  that  thofe  ftates  could  not  with  propriety  hol^ 
any  conference  or  treaty  with  any  commiflioners  on  the  -part  of 
Great-Britain,  unlefs  they  fhould,  as  a  preliminary  thereto,  either 
withdraw  their   fleets  and  armies,  or  elfe,  in  pofitive  or  exprefs 
terms,  acknowledge  the  independence    of  the  laid  ftates.     They 
ilfcex^ne  Eciblved,  that  any  propofitions  which  might  be  made  by 
the  coyrt  of  .Great-Britain,  in  any  manner  tending  to  violate  the 
treat5tX4rfbfifting  between  them  and  the  king  of  France,  ought  to 
iW^JU^^d  with  every  mark  of  indignity  and  contempt. 

0^'|he  30th  of  November,  1^82,  the  provifional  articles  of 
-'peaceSrid  reconciliaticm  between  Great-Britain  and  the  Ameri- 
r^l^in  1^        were  figned  at  Paris  ;  by  which  Great^Britain  ac- 


.,.  V 


»* 


in 


re- 

to 

the 


They 
by 
the 

U  to 

s  of 

leri- 
ac- 


AMZRiCAN  RMVOIUTIOS,  573 

knowledged  the  independence  andr  fovereignty  of  the  United 
States  of  Americi.  Thefe  article*  Were  ntificd  by  a  definitive 
treaty,  Septeinber  3d,  «783,  ,  Thia  p^ce  waf  ncgociated  on  the 
part  of  Great-Britain  by  Mr.  Of«vald/%and  the  definitive  treaty 
was  figned  by  Mr.  Hartley  ;  and  on  the  part  of  the  Unitfd  Sute* 
by  John  Adams,  John  Jay,  and  Benjamiil  Franklin,  Efquires.* 

Thus  ended  a  lung  and  arduoui  confii^  in  which  Great-Bri- 
tain expended  near  an  hundred  millions  of  money.  With  an  hun- 
dred thoufand  liveK,  an4  won  nothin^k  Anysrica  endured  every 
cruelty  and  diHrefs  from  her  enemies;  loft  many  lives  and  much 
treal'jr'; ;  but  delivered  h^rfetf -from  |  foreign  dominion,  and 
gainL«^.  a  rank  apidng  the'riitionsTf  the  earth. 

Holland  acknowledged  the  independence  of  the  United  States 
on  the  i9tK  of  April,  1782;  Sweden,  February  5th,  1783; 
Denmark,  the  sjth  of  February ;  Spain,  in  March,  and  Ruifia, 
in  July  1 783. 

No  fooner  was  peace  reftored  by  the  difinitive  treaty,  and  tho 
Britifli  troops  withdrawn  from  the  country,  than  the  United 
States  began  to  experience  the  defefts  of  their  general  govern- 
ment. While  an  enemy  was  in  thd  country,  fear,  which  had 
firft  impelled  thr  colonies  to  aflbciate  in  mutual  defence,  con- 
tinued to  operate  as  a  band  of  political  union.  It  gave  f*  t\^ 
refolutions  and  recommendations  bf  Congrefs  the- force  of  lav.  s» 
and  generally  commanded  a  ready  acquiefcence  on  thepUrt  of  'he 
,  State  legidatures.  Articles  of  confederation  and  perpetual  union 
had  been  framed  in  Congrefs,  and  fubmittcd  to  the  confederation 
of  the  States,  in  the  year  1778.  Some  of  the  States  immediately 
acceded  to  them;  but  others,  which  had  not  unappropriated 
lands,  hefitated  to  fubfcribe  a  compa^,  which  woiild  giv^  an  ad- 
vantage to  the  States  which  pofTefled  large  tra£ls  of  unlocated 
lands,  and  were  thus  capable  of  a  great  fuperiority  in  wealth  and 
population.  All  obje£lions,  however,  had  been  overcome,  and 
by  the  accefTion  of  Maryland,  in  March  1781,  the  articles  of 
confederation  were  ratified,  as  the  frame  of  government  for  the 
United  States. 

Thefe  articles,  however,  were  framed  during  the  rage  of  war, 
when  a  principle  of  common  fafety  fupplied  the  place  of  a  Coer* 
cive  power  in  government,  by  men  who  could  have -had  no  exf 
perience  in  the  art  of  governing  an  extenfive  country,  and  under 
circuindances  the  moil  critical  and' embarrafling.  To  have  ofj^fiir* 
ed  to  the  people,  at  that  time,  a  fyftem  o^  go^(ernnlent  arfge4 
with  the  powers  neceflary  to  regulate  and  tontroiil the  cohtenapjj^^ 

interefts  of  Thirteen  States,  and  the  poifeifions  of  million^^ 

-     .  J 

*  This  IVeaty,  with  other  Paperi,  will  be  found  in  the  Appeadix 
Fourth  Volume  of  tbi«  work. 


,574  JfiSttfRYCFT/tE 

people,  might  hive  raifed  f  Jploufy  between  the  States  of  in  th« 
minds  of  the  people  at  Urge,  that  wuuld  have  weakened  the  ope- 
rations of  the  war,  and  perhaps  have  rendered  an  union  impradi> 
cable.     Hence  the  numerous  defers  of  the  ccmfederation. 

On'  the  conclufton  of  peace,  thele  defef^s  began  to  be  felt. 
Kach  (late  aiTumed  the  right  of  difputing  the  propriety  of  the  re- 
folutions  of  Congress,  and  the  intereA  of  an  individual  State 
was  placed  in  oppofition  to  the  common  intereft  of  the  union. 
In  addition  to  this  lource  of  divifion,  a  jealoufy  of  the  powers  of 
Congrcfs  began  to  be  excited  in  the  minds  of  the  people. 
'  This  jcaloufy  of  the  priv,ilpgcs  of  freemen  had  been  roufed  by 
the  opprelfive  afts  of  the  Britiih  parliament :  and  ito  fooner  had 
the  danger  from  this  quarter  ceafcd,  than  the  fears  of  people 
changed  their  objeffc,  and  were  turned  againd  their  own  rulers. 

In  this  fituation,  there  were  not  wanting  men  of  induftry  and 
talents,  who  had  been  enemies  to  the  revolution,  and  who  em- 
braced  the  opportunity  to  multiply  the  apptchcnfions  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  increafethe  popular  difcontentP,  A  remarkable  inftancc 
6f  this  happened  in  ConneAicut.  As  foon  as  the  tumults  of  yrar 
had  fubfided,  an  attempt  was  made  to  convince  the  people,  that 
the  aft  of  Congrefs  paffed  in  1778,  granting  to  the  officers  of  the 
ermy  half-pay  for  life,  was  highly  unjuft  and  tyrannical;  and 
that  it  was  but  the  firft  ftep  towards  the  cftablllhment  of  pen- 
fions,  and  an  uncontrouilable  dcrpotifm.  The  aft  of  Congrcfs, 
paiTed  in  1783,  commuting  half-pay  for  life,  for  five  years  full 
pay,  was  dcfigned  to  appekfe  the  apprehcnfions  of  the  people, 
and  to  convince  them  that  this  gratuity  was  intended  merely  to 
indemnify  the  ofi&cers  for  their  loffes  by  the  depreciating  of  the 
paper  currency,  and  not  to"eftabli(b  a  precedent  for  the  granting 
of  pcnfions.  This  aft,  however  did  not  iatisfy  the  people,  who 
luppofcd  liiat  the  officers  had  been  generally  indemnified  for 
the  lofs  of  their  pay  by  the  grants  made  them  from  time  to 
time  by  the  Icgifliturcs  of  the  fcveral  States.  Befides,  the  aft^ 
while  it  gave  live  years  full  pay  to  the  officers,  allowed  but 
one  year's  pay  to  the  privates;  a  didinftion  which  had  great 
influence  in  exciting  and  continuing  the  popular  fcrmeuj,  and 
one  that  turned  a  large  fhare  of  the-  public  rage  agaipft  the 
rtflhiccrs  thcmfelvcs. 

The  moment  an  alann  was  raifed  refpefting- this  oft  of  Con^ 
grcfs,  the  cncjnies  of  their  independence  became  aftivc  in  blow- 
ing up  the  (lame,  by  fpreading  reports  unfavoijrable  to  the  general 
povcrnmevnt,  and  tcn<.Ung  to  create  public  diirenfions.  Ncwfpa- 
pers,  in  fomc  parts  of  the  country,  were  filled  with  inJlanlmatory 
publicaiious;  while  falfc  reports,  and  giountllofs  infinuationS 
W?re  Jndullriouny  ciiculated  to  the  prejudice  of  Congrcfs.  and 


the  offi 

•very  i 

.,.':f«Hsten( 

ipeAj. 

•trwy,  i 

the  dill 

tyrant! 

Conn 

States  V 

of  chat  I 

liws,  di 

coUeftin 

appointi 

meafiifei 

cet.     In 

n'ugator) 

the  half. 

five  year 

the  aflei 

Againft  tl 

ofRepre 

to  concu 

Durin 

officers  « 

juftbefor 

had  form 

Whatc 

its  defign 

The  ofte 

from  pop 

Notwi) 

end  read; 

viz.  the  0 

education 

taken  by 

fupported 

converfati 

were  nece 

would  noi 

year  178^ 

people,  ar 

minority,  1 

tion  fubfi( 

reftored  to 

Several  me 


!>f  in  tK« 
the  ope* 
impradi> 
I. 

be  felt, 
(f  the  re- 
nal State 
ke  union* 
owera  of 

t 

•  t 

oufcd  by 
oner  had 
I  people 
I  rulers, 
iftry  and 
who  em» 
the  pco- 
:  inftance 
ta  of  yrar 
iple,  that 
era  of  the 
ical;  and 
t  of  per>- 
Congrcfs, 
^'cars  full 
I  people, 
ncrely  to 
ig  of  the 

granting 
)plc,  who 
lificd   for 

time  to 
,  the  aft^ 
iwed  but 
liad  great 
leu^,  and 
ainii   the 

i  of  Con. 

in  blow- 
ic  general 

Ncvvfpa- 
anlmatory 
finuationS 
|rcfs.  and 


^tVi 


the  oificerf  of  iM >te  amiy.    Among  •  pcopUi  f«elin.I«  .live  to 

ZZn^'^V'^'^'^'^''  '«^'»^*'"  '^y  had  beca 
fSTi;?  1^  "?"••  **"**  "**  '"*  «'  *"**"«  •  powerful 
•#cftj.thi  ^t^Umm  fltnerUi   the  officer,  of  the 

t^„t  J!r  "^  '^"'  «»o''-ciU«en.,  ««|  Congreli  become  the 
tynnt.  of  their  country. 

Connearcut  w.i  the  fe.t  of  thi.  un«ifi„ef.,  .hbough  other 

!  ItT!  '^'^:^  *»»]»»«  o^"fio».  Bur  the  inhabifntl 
of  .h.t  State  «cuftomed  to  order,  .„d  e  due  fubordinaikm  to  the 
law.,  did  not  proceed  to  outrage.;  they  took  their  ufual  mode  of 
««    ri  ''•  ''""^ -"'*''  State^ffembled  in  town  m.^^ 

£^n,'T.T*?  '^r''  '""  ""^'^«»»<'".  «d  confult  Chat 
meafure.  ihould  be  adopted  to  procure  .  redref.  of  their  grievan- 
ce.. In  thia. convention,  which  was  held  at  Middletowm  fome 
migttonr  relolve.  were  paffed.  expreffing  the  dilapprobatioii  of 
the  half-pay  aft,  a„d  the  fubfe,uent  commutatipn  of  the  grant  for 
five  year,  whole  pay.     The  feme  fpirit  alfo  difcovcred  itfelf  iiv 

•gainft  thp  afts  m  favour  of  the  officer,  wa.  framed  in  the  Houfa 
ot  Reprefentativea,  »nd  notwithftanding  the  Upper  Houfe  rcfufed  - 
to  concur  in  the  incafure,  it  wa.  fent  to  Congref^ 

During  thi.  fituation  of  affair.,  the  public  pdiitta  againft  ,h« 
officer,  wa.  augmented  by  another  circumftance.    The  officer, 
juftbcfore  the  dilbanding  of  the  army,  a.  ha.  already  been  not  cS 
had  formed  a  focicty,  called  by  the  name  of  the  cLnnati, 

Whatever  were  the  real  view,  of  the  f«mer.ofthi.i„ftitution 
.t.  defign  wa.  generally  underftood  to  be.harmlef.  and  honourable. 
The  oftenfible  view,  of  the  fociety  could  not  however  fcreen  it 
from  popular  jealoufy. 

Notxvithftanding^  the  difco,;tent.  of  the  people  were  general, 
and  ready^to  burft  forth  in  fedition,  yet  me/of  information 
via.  the  officers  of  government,  the  clergy,  and  perlbn.  of  liberal 
education,  were  moftly  oppofed  to  the  unconftitutional  ftcps 
taken  by  the  committees  and  convention  at  Middlctown.  They 
lupported  the  propriety  of  the  mcafures  of  Congreft.  both  bv 
converfation  and  writing,  proved  that  luch  grants  to  the  army 
were  neceffary  to  keep  the  troop,  together,  and  that  the  expence 
womtl  not  be  enormous  nor  opprcffivc.  During  the  clofe  of  the 
year  1783  every  pofliblc  exertion  was  made  to  enlighten  the 
people,  and  fuch  was  the  effeft  of  the  arguments  ulcd  by  the 

TVlc'I""^  V^" *"'«'""•"«  "^ '^'  ^^""^^"8  y^'^  *he oppon. 
on  fubfidcd,  the  com:„ittccs^  were  difmiffed,  and  tranquHUty 
leftored  to  the  State.     In  May,  the  Icgilkture  Were  able  to  car.y 
i-evcral  meafures  which  had  before  been  extremely  unpopular 


^9< 


MiSTfikYOirMM 


An  rA  wm  (Mffcd  gnntihg  tht  Inpc^  of  ftvf  |llt  Iwnl.  to  Coin* 
grefs;  anotlMr  giving  grot  tncMMf^!"''^''^  *^  •^P"^*  *  ""^  ^ 
veral  town*  wtn  ineorpoiil^  ili^tb  iKIflnftyi  |ff^it!i|M^  f9rl$itt^ 
puq>o(e  of  raguUting  the  expfiri|of  thckitjil^  Slid  Acu£tating  tW  , 
collcAion  of  dabtt.  ,v 

The  oppofuion  to  thi  congieffiowl' tft*  in  fiwrour  of  the  oSL 
cers,  and  to  the  order  of  tbm  Ci^cinoalJ,  did  net  rile  to  the  kmm 
pitch  in  the  other  Stutct  M  in  Connefticut  i  yet  U  produced  much 
difturbance  in  Maflachufettt,  and  fome  others.  JeaUmfy  of 
power  had  been  univerfally  fprcad  amoilg  the  people  of  the 
United  States.  The  deftniAion  of  the  old  forms  of  govemments» 
end  the  licentioufnefs  of  wiir,  had,  in  a  great  mealiire,  broken 
their  habita  of  obedience;  their  paffiona  had  been  inflamed  by  the 
cry  of  defpotifm;  and  like  centineb,  who  have  been  fuddudy 
fiirprifed  by  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  the  ruftling  of  a  leaf 
was  fuflBcieht  to  give  them  an  alarm.  This  fpirit  of  jeatoufy 
operated  with  other  caufes  to  relax  the  energy  of  federal  o{|enu 

tiona. 

DuiUng  the  war,  Vaft  fums  of  paper  currency  had  been  emit- 
ted by  Congrefa,  and  large  quantitiea  of  fpecie  had  been  intro- 
duced, towards  the  clofe  of  the  war,  by  the  French  army,  and 
the  Spanifh  Hide*  Thia  plenty  of  money  enabled  the  States  to 
comply  with^  the  irft^  requifitions  of  Congrcft;  fo  that  during 
two  or  three  y^nrti-  the  federal  treafury  waa,  in  fome  meafure, 
fupplied.  But  when  the  danger  of  war  had  ceafed,  and  the  vaft 
importationa  of  foreign  goods  had  leflened  the  quantity  of  circu- 
lating fpecie,'  the  Statea  began  to  be  Very  remifs  in  furnifhing 
their  proportion  of  moniea.  The  antithilation  of  the  credit 
of  the  paper  bills  had  tptally  %pped  their  circulation,  and  t|ie 
fpecie  waa  leaving  the  country  in  cargoes  for  remittances  to 
Great-Britain ;  ftill  the  luxurious  habits  of  the  people,  contrafted 
during  the  war,  called  for  new  fupplies  of  goods,  and  private 
gratification  feconded  the  narrow  policy  of  ftate  intercft  in  de- 
feating the  operationa  of  the  general  government. 

Thusthercvenueaof  Congrefs  were  annually  diminifhing;  fome 
of  the  States  wholly  negleaing  to  make  provifion  for  paying 
the  intercft  of  the  national  debt;  others  making  but  a  partial 
provifion,  until  the  fcanty  fupplies  received  from  a  few  of 
the  richeft  States,  would  hardly  fatisfy  the  demands  of  the  civil 

lift. 

This  weaknefs  of  the  federal  government,  in  conjunftion  with 
the  flbod  of  cirtificates  or  public  fccurities,  which  Congrefs 
could  neither  fund  nor  pay,  occafioned  them  to  depreciate  to  a 
very  in'confidcrable  value.  The  officers  and  foldters  of  the  late 
army,  and   thofe  who  furnifliod  fupplies  for  public  exigencies, 


'm 


to  Conw 
\  anddto 

•tingttttr 


tilt 
thtfeaw 
«(lmuch 
Umfy  of 
B  of  th« 
rntnentit 
f  broken 
id  by  the 
(vMuAy 
9f  a  ieaf 
jeidoufy 
»1  openu 

sen  emit- 
en  intro- 
rmy,  and 
States  to 
it  during 
meafure, 
1  the  vail 
of  circu- 
irniihing 
le  credit 
,  and  t}ie 
tances  to 
ontra£led 
d  private 
ft  in  de- 

Ing;  fome 

»r  paying 

a  partial 

few    of 

the  civil 

:ion  with 
Congrcfs 
:ciate  to  a 
f  the  late 
(igencics, 


fff'''h-£ 


577 

ffiry 

heir  no- 

ft  part  of 

lited  by  ipo>'  ' 

luch  at  ¥Mrt 

4  of  that  fup- 

ieinand  from  their 

»Syly»y»lmM  wi«i|M(w^W  intereaof 

b«r  dtbli,  <w4'.i»|JB<l'  «ilcral ;  ll&iming  her  fuppofed  propor* 
4j«ii  of  the  «oMiM^  debt,  alid  giving  the  creditors  of  >nr  own 
Ulic  nolM  in  «pihiii|e  for  thofe  of  the  WnUed  Stwef .  The  re- 
feUTift  of  iHm  SlM«:ir«  imiiifiifiiy.but  ih«  wm  not  abl^to  aUkt 
{iin^Mal  payments,  even  in  •  4tpreci«t«4  paper  curr»nq|.f 

*  l||irachuliitts,  in  her  le^  to  coO^y'lMy  ^ith  t|i»ie^ailt. 
tions  of  (^ongrefs,  and  fatitfy  |he  4«na«dl  4f  ^  own  dreditori, 
Iftid  a  heavy  tax  upon  the  peofle*    t1>it  was  the  iaunediitt  Cittle 
or  the  rebellion  in  that  State,  m  17!$,^  t^i^vy  «M|kiying  . 
on  the  States  added  to  bunlcnt  of  th^  fikioie  nitt^  upqyi  '||lboft 
every  eorporation  within  it  t  e,  decline^  «r  1^^  in  ^itin^tofi  of 
public  credit }  a  relaxation  and  ^omsptioH  of  jUpkaers,  md  •  fi«e 
ufe  of  foreign  luxuries }  ^  decay  of  tra4|  ahd  i^Mfaftures,  with 
a  prevailing  Scarcity  of  money;  and>i«|^»I^Miliv>4M«Uin. 
volved  in  debt  to  each  other.    TheGt  iH^4|)p|ii  l^^hdugh  more 
remote  caut'es  of  the  infurreaion.     It  wIl'lAMvi^ w|tich the  peo- 
pie   were  required  to  pay,   that  called  |lk||| Jto  feel  t^e  evil*, 
yrhich  we  have  enumerated— this  caUed  forth  all  th^tr  rtther 
grievances.;  and  the  firfl  aft  of  violence  Committed  wa*  the  burn- 
ing or  deftroying  of  the  tax-bill.     This  feditiun  thrfw  the  State 
into  a  convulfion  which  laded  about  a  year  ;  courts  of  juftice. 
were  violently  obftrufted }  the  coll«£bion  of  debts  was  fufpended  i 
and  a  body  of  armed  troops,  under  the  command  of  General 
Lincoln,  was  employed  during  the  winter  of  1786,  todi^perie 
the  infurgents.     Yet  fo  numerous  were,  the   itter  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Worcefter,  Hampfhire,  and  |l>f  r^bfliirt      ud  fo  obftinatcly 
combined  to  oppoie  the  execution  of  law  by  force,  that  the  go- 
vernor and  council  of  the  State  thought  proper  not  to  intruft 
General  Lincoln  with  military  powers,  except  to -lift  on  the  de- 
fenfive,  and  to  repel  force  with  fwce,  in  cafe,  the  infurgents 
fhould  attack  hiin.     The  leaders  of  tlie  rebels,  however,  were  not 
men  of  talewts;  they  were  defperate«  but  without  fortitude  *,  and 
even  Avhile!^  they  .were  fupported  ,<iith  a  (uperior  force,  they  ap- 
peai-ed  to  be  impreffed  with  that  confcioufncfs  of  guilt,  which 
awes  the  moft  dii-ing  wretch,   and  makes  him  fhrink  from  hi* 
Vol.  J.  \    4  E 


578 


MI0^m0^,,  TffS 


the: 
,orca,- 
tucie 


purpofe.     This  appears  by  the  ccnidj^^  df  jt  }|i 
rebels  befttpe  the  magazine  at  -Spriiii 
with  a  final!  w||Ni^ was  ilationedi  ti 
The  mlurgentsl|ppearea  up^n  t 
of  numbers,  but^wfew  Ihot  f rpm  tl 
Retreat  in  diforder^vith  the  loHi 
duft  of  General   Shopard,  ^ith  tbc  Ir 

prudent  firmnefs  of  Gen(;;nii|;LtM<>Iii|  difperfed  the  nflielft-rdrove 
the  leaders  from  thft' State;  «fftdre^or«<i  tnincptiUity.  An  afi:  of 
indemnity  was  pafled  in  the  Icgiflature  for  alt  ihe  iiilurgents,  ex- 
cept a  few  of  the  leaders,  on  condition  thcy.fhoulctbefome  peace- 
able citizens,  and  take  the  oath  pf  allegiance.  The  kaf^n  after- 
wards petitioned  for  pardon,  which,  from  motives  of  pdiicy,  wa* 
granted  by  the  legiflature.* 

But  the  lofs  of  publie  credit,  popular  diflurbances,  and  infar- 
rcftlons,  were  not  the  only  evils  which  were  generated  by  the 
peculiar  circumftances  of  the  times.  The  emiflions  of  bills  of 
credit  and  tender  laws  were  added  to  the  black  catalogue  of 
political  diforders. 

The  expedient  of  fupplying  the  deficiencies  of  fpecie,  by  emifo 
fions  of  paper  bills,  was  adopted  very  early  in  the  colonies.  The 
expedient  waf  ,^J?yipu8'  and  produced  good  effefls^  In  a  new 
country,  where  f population  is  rapid,  and  the  value  of  lands  in- 
creafmg,  the  |&nner  finds  an  advantage  in  paying  legal  intered 
for  money  ;  for  if  he  can  pay  the  intereft  by  his  profits,  the 
iticreafmg  value  of  his  lands  will  in  a  few  years  dii'charge  the 
principal. 

In  no  colony  was  this  advantage  more  fenfibly  experienced 
than  in  Pennfylvania.  The  emigrations  to  that  province  were 
numerous — the  natural  population  rapid — and  thefe  circumdances 
combined,  advanced  the  value  of  real  property  to  an  aflonifliing 
degree.  As  the  firft  fcttlers  there,  as  well  as  in  other  provinces, 
were  poor,  the  purchafe  of  a  few  foreign  articles  drained  them  of 
fpecie. '  Indeed  for  many  years,  the  balance  of  trade  muft  have 
neceflarily  been  greatly  againft  the  colonies. 

But  bills  of  credit,  emitted  by  the  State,  and  loaned  to  the  in- 
duftrious  inhabitants,  fiipplied  the  want  of  fpecie,  and  enabled 
Ihc  farmer  to  purchafe  flock.  Thefe  bills  were  generally  a  legal 
tender  in  all  colonial  or  private  contmfts,  and  the  fums  iffued 
did  not  generally  exceed  the  quantity  requifite  for  a  medium  of 
trade;  they  retained  their  full  nominal  value  in  the  purchafe  of 
comrrodities :  but  as  they  were  not  received  by  the  Britifh  mer- 
chants, in  payment  of  their  goods,  there  was  a  great  demand    for 

*  Sec  an  elegant  and  impartial  Hiftcry  of  this  Rebellion,  by  George  Richardx 
Alinot,  ETq. 


AMERICAN  REVCltJTlON. 


579 


>d  tnfar- 
d  by  the 
F  bills  of 
logue  of 

by  emif- 
ics.  The 
I  a  new 
iiids  in- 
intereft 
(its,  the 
irgc  the 

irienced 
ce  were 
n  (lances 
)nifliing 
winces, 
them  of 
iH:  have 

the  in- 
enablcd 
a  legal 
i  iflued 
Hum  of 
hafe  of 
h  mer- 
id   for 

lichard.1 


^^t  and  bill*,  which  occaftoned  the  latter  at 'various  times  to 
«ppi^e<;iate.     Thus   was    introduced  a  difference   Ipwecn   the 
Bul^fli  fterling  mo^ey  and  the  currencies  of  the  cdonics,  which 
.4remailis  ttt  this  day;*  ^,  ^^ 

,Th6  adwntai^  th^  c6loat«*had  derived  ,S0ha.  bills  of  criedit, 
vnder  the  Britift  govemm^,  fugg«»ft^  to  Cohgrefs,  in  1 775, 
the  idea  of  iffuing  biUs  for  tljeypurji;^  of  ctrryijpg  on  the  war  -, 
and  this  was  perhkps  their  onlydcpg^ient.    -Money  could  not  be 
raifed  by  taK8tionwi«>it  could  not  be  borrowed.     The  fir (l  emi (hons 
liad  no  other  effe&  upon  the  niedium  of  commerce,  than  to  drive 
ihe  fpecie  froni  circulation.     But  when  the  paper  lubftituted  foV 
fpecie  had,  by  repeated  emifltons,  augmented  the  funVjin  ciriduU- 
tion,  much   beyond   the  ufual  fum  of  fp4cic,  the  bitti»  begah'to 
lofe  their  value.     The  depreciation  toiitinU^  in   pro|>ortioh  to 
the  fums  emitted,  until  feventy,  «n<t^ven  one  hundrtsd  and  fifty 
nominal  paper  dollars,  were  hardly  an  equivalent  for  one  Spanifh 
,  milled  dollar.     Still,  from  the  year  j^y^  tc^'l^Si,  this,deprcfciat- 
tng  paper  currency  was  almoil  the  only  medium  of  trade.     It 
fupplied  the  place  of  fpecie,  and  enabled  Cbngrefs  tb  fuppbrt  a 
numerous  anny ;  until  the  fum  in  circulation J^oounted  to  two 
hundred  millions   of  dollars.     But  about  the  year  1780,   fpecie 
began  to  be  plentiful,  being  introduced  by  t)|)^|iih^ch  army,  a 
private  trade   with  the  Spanifli  iflands,  and  an'^||pCtt  intercoufc 
with  the  Britiih  garril'on  at  New-York.     This   c^umdance  ac- 
celerated  the  depreciation  of  paper  bills,  until  their  value  had 
funk  almoft  to  nothing.     In    1781,  the  merchants  and  brokers 
in  the    Ibuthem  States,  apprehenfive  of  the  approaching  fate  of 
the   currency,  pufhed   immenfe  quantities  of  it   fuddenly  into 
New-England — made  vaft  purchafes  of  goods  in  Bofton — ind  in. 
ftantly  the  bills  Vanilhed  from  circulation. 

The  whole  hiftory  of  this  continental  paper  is  a  hiftory  of 
public  and  private  frauds.  Old  fpecie  debts  were  often  paid  in 
a  depreciated  currency — ^and  even  new  contrails  for  a  few  wecUs 
or  days  were  often  difcharged' with  a  fmall  part  of  the  value  rc» 
ceived.  From  this  plenty  and  ilu£luating  ^ftate  of  tha  mcdiupti 
fprung  hofts  of  fpeculators  and  itinerant  traders,  who  left  their 
honcft  occupations  for  the  profpeft  of  immenfe  gains,  in  a  fradu- 
lent  bufinels,  that  depended  on  no  fixed  pf-inciples,  and  the  profits 
of  which  could  be  reduced  to  no  certain  calculations. 

•  A  Dollar  it^  fterling  money  is  4s.  6d.  But  the  price  of  a  Dollar  rofe  In 
New-England  currency  to  6$.  in  Ncv*-York  to  8t.  in  Newr Jerfcy,  Prnnfylvwhi, 
and  Maryland  to  7s.  6d.  in  Virginia  to  61.  in  North-Carolina  to  8s.  in  South-C»» 
folina  and  Georgia  to  4s.  8d.  This  difference,  originating  between  paper  and 
fpecie,  or  bills,  continued  afterwards  to  cxift  in  the  nominal  cftimation  of  goli 
so4  iilver 

4  £  a 


MlSraRYOFTHE 


«8os 

To  increife  thefe  evils,  a  pfojeA  wa»  formed  to  fix  the 
of  articles^  and  rcftrain  perfona  fipin  giving  or  receiving  jnore 
for  any  comtnodity  than  the  price  ftated  by  authority.  Tb^fi^ 
regulating  a6^  were  reprobated  by  every  man  acic|uainte4  ^vith 
conf^ercc  «nd  fi«tjince  I,  ;as  tb$y  Mrere^  intended  to  prevent  an - 
effcft  without  removing j|ie  caiafcV  To  attempt  to  fix  the  valup 
of  monfy,  whIle{lrcatp|i|;H^|^ilU  were  inceflantly  flowing  frcunthe 
'  treafury  of  the  United  States,  was  as  ridiculojus  as  an  attempt  to 
reftrain  the  rifing  of  Water i«  rivers  amtdil  Ih^wers  of  rain. 

Notwithftanding  all  oppofitidn,  fome  States  framed  and  at- 
tempted to  enforce  thefe  regulating  afts.  The  e{fe£i  was,  a  mt>. 
inentary  apparent  fbnd  in  the  pHte  of  articles;  innumerable  a&A 
of  collufipa  and  evafion  among  the  diihonefl: ;  numbcrlefs  injuries 
done  to, the  honeft;  and  finally  a  total  diCrcgard  of  all  fuch  regu- 
lations, ffftf^  the  confequential  Qontcmpt  of  laws  and  the  authority 
of  the  magiflrate.      ,  ,    ;?  <  :        ;  '         , 

During  thefe  (liquations  of  bufincfs,  occafioncd  by  the  varia- 
ble value  of  toioney,  people  lofl  fight,  in  fome  meafure,  of  the 
fteady  principlies  which  had  before  governed  their  intercnurft: 
with  each  othjQI'*  Speculation  followed  and  relaxed  the  rigour 
of  conunercial  i^blig^ioiis. 

Indui^iy  l|||^ife  hfd  .fuffered  by  the  flood  of  money  which 
had  del^gflR|MpS^tatep«r  The  prices  of  produce  had  rifen  in  pro* 
portion  to  t^^uantity  of  money  in  circulation,  and  the  demand 
for  the  commodities  of  the  country.  This  made  the  acquifition 
of  money  eafy,  and  indolence  and  luxury,  with  their  train  of 
defolating  confequences,  fpread  themlelvcs  among  all  defcriptiuns 
of  people. 

But  as  foon  as  hoflilities  between  Great-Britain  and  America 
were  fufpeYided,  the  fcenc  was  changed.  The  bills  emitted  by 
Congrefs  had  for  fome  time  before  ceafed  to  circulate;  and  the 
ipecie  of  the  country  was  foon  drained  off  to  pay  for  foreign 
goods,  the  importations  of  which  exceeded  all  calculation. 
Within  two  years  from  the  clofe  of  the  war,  a  fcardty  of  mo-nty 
was  the  general  cry.  The  merchants  found  it  inipoirible  to  coU 
left  their  debts,  and  make  pun6iual  remittances  to  their  creditors 
in  Great-Britain ;  and  the  coni'umers  were  driven  to  the  neceffity 
^  of  retrenching  their  fuperfluities  In  living,  and  of  returning  to 
their  ancient  habits  of  induflry  and  economy. 

This  change  was  however  progrefhve  and  flow.  In  many  of 
the  States  which  fuffered  by  the  numerous  debts  they  had  con- 
trailed,  and  by  the  diftreffcsof  war,  the  people  called  aloild  for 
cmiflions  of  paper  bills  to  fupply  the  deficiency  of  a  medium. 
The  de{)reciation  of  the  Continental  bills  was  a  recent  example 
•  of  the  ill  elFcfts  of  fuch  an  expedient,  and  the  impoflibility  of 


AMERICAN  REVOIVTION, 


5«t 


fi^Pll^inf;  the  credit  of  p^>Qr  wa$  .urgtd  by  the  bppbrers  of 
tbi  Hitt^ure  as  a  fubftantial  argument  ugainft  adopting  it.  But 
n!#hi(t^  would  ftlence  the  popular  clamour;  and  tqilkny  tMii  oi 
the  Hrlib  talents  ^d  eminence  united  their  «;p|ce#  with  tliat  of 
the  populace.  P^per  money  had  formerly  maififaincd  its  credit^ 
su^  been  of  Tingular  utility;  and  pail  exp^bence,  notwithftanding 
a  change  of  circumftances,^^  was  a|i  argulnent  in  itft  favoar  that 
hore  down  all  oppofition. 

^,  Pennfylvania^  i(lthQugh  one  of  the  richcd  States  in  the  union,  ~ 
wit  the  firftv-to.ecnit  bills  of  credit,  as  a  fubflitute  for  fpecie. 
But  the  revolution  had  removed  the  necedity  of  it,  at  the  fame 
time  that  it  had  deftroyed  the  means  by  which  its  former  credit 
had  been  fupported.  Lands,  at  the  ckvfe  of  the  war,  were  not 
riftngin  value-^ills  on  London  could  not  fo  readily  be  jportihix 
fed,  as  while  the  province  was  dependent  on  Great-Britf  iii9->-the 
State  was  fplit  into  parties,  one  of  which  attempted  to  defeat  tht 
meafures  moft  popular  with  the  other-^attid  the  jdepreciMion  of 
continental  bills,  with  the  injuries  which  >it  had  done  to  indivi- 
duals, infpired  a  general  diftruft  of  all  pubK&proniiles* 

Notwithftandinga  part  of  the  money  was  IdmBied  0Q  good  land- 
ed fecurity,  and  the  faith  of  that  wealthy  Stitei^edj|is<l  for  thie 
redemption  of  the  whole  at  its  nominal  v^ue,  y4n|M|Mp^ntages 
of  fpecie  as  a  medium  of  commerce,  fpecially  as  IliwPirle  of  re- 
mittance to  London,  foon  made  a  difference  of  ^^||^  cent,  bie- 
tween  the  bills  of  credit  and  fpecie.  This  diffe^eiloies may  be  con- 
fidered  rather  as  an  appreciation  of  gold  kfid  filVet,  than  a 
depreciation  of  paper ;  but  its  <  ffcfts,  in  a  commercial  ftate,  mull 
be  highly  prejudicial.  It  opens  the  door  to  frauds  of  all  kinds, 
and  frauds  are  ufually  praftifed  on  the  honeil  and  unfufpe^ling, 
efpecially  upon  all  clafles  of  labourers. 

North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia,  had  recourfe  to 
the  fame  wretched  expedient  to  fupply  themfelves  with  money, 
not  refle6ling  that  induftry,  frugality,  and  good  commercial  taws 
are  the  only  means  of  turning  the  balance  of  trade  in  favour  of  a 
Countr}',  and  that  this  balance  is  the  only  permanent  fource  of 
folid  wealth  and  ready  money.  But  the  bills  they  emitted  fhared 
a  worfe  fate  than  thoie  of  Pennfylvania  ;  they  expelled  almoil  all 
the  cirtulating  calh  from  the  States;  they  loft  a  great  part  of  their 
nominal  value,  they  impovcriihed  the  merchants,  and  embarraffed 
the  planters,  ' 

The  State  of  Virginia  tolerated  a  bafc  praflice  among  the  inha- 
bitants of  cutting  dollars  and  fmaller  pieces  of  filvcr,  in  order  to 
prevent  it  from  leaving  the  State.  I'his  pernicious  practice  pre- 
vailed alfo  in  Georgia.* 

•  A  Dollar  was  ufually  cut  in  five  pieces,  and  cacli  palTcd  by  toll  for  a  (quarter  j 
fo  that  the  man  who  cut  it  gainevl  a  ({uartcr,  or  rather  a  fifth. 


it 


■d^ 


'  iifufrs  was  viJem  aii4f  IwmiKtS^f 
anarchy;  but  the  q^^n  vm 

Ncw-Jerfey  is ftt Wcileti-Ma  ti^ 
towns  in  America,  and  «oiifiiqttenl||^> 

ftWealfo  emitted  a  large  {i^liviihi 

^  p«y  the  intetcft  of  thepublic  aebt  i  but  the  iu 


,r  ..VI*  't  «*W*»le4  ^  n'ehncholy  proof  (if  thtt,l^»Mifi|R|^ 
«*f»  »g  »»^f  ^liich  al^yt  feUowft  4  MUsialMm  of  the  vm^ 

^l^fvery  mt^'tfocket  without  obUging  hhtrto  earnir  %>  Mft 
''^%*j|l^^  the|^ftituto-piflfed  in  a&  for  making  one  hunilred, 
th«b£lli4|fQiliHi^  J9^^^^  much  more  than  ftiflkient  lof  % 

**^*^1?FiWll^^^*  Stttftt  «*wn  .without  any  ipeete.    JKi^ 

rlinhd  Proirtfltnt^  c^poM  the  a^with^  Skm* 
rgtiini. added  f^relhrVigbr  te.  the  relblikionNif 
P^l^ip^d  them  to  enforce  the (Hieme by  alligal 
liiwry  nature.     They  pafied  an  ad,  or- 
■#fditor  Oioukl  rofufe  to  take  their  biU$^  for 
>^e  debtor  might  lodge  the  fum  due,  with  a 
i  'p<8icf,  who  (hould  give  notice  of  it  in  the  pid^ic 
paperrj  and  if  tlie  creditor  did  not  appear  »nd  receive  the  mopey 
within  fix  nionths  from  the  firft  notice,  his  debt  ftould  be  fe#* 
fci^ed.    This  ^a  aftoniftied  all  honeft  ^en ;  and  even  the  promo- 
ters of  paper  inoncy-making  in  other  ftates,  and  other  puinciplei, 
reprobated  this  aa  of  Rhode  Wand,  as  wicked  and  oi^reflivc, 
3u^  the  State  was  governed  by  faaion.     During  the  cry  for  paper 
mon^y,  a  number  of  hoifterous,  ignorant  m*n  were  eleaed  into 
the  legiflaturc,  fronj  t^  fmaller  towns  in  the  State.    Finding 
thcmfelvca  united  with  a  majority  in  opinion^  th^y  formedand 
exect»ted;any  plan  theii;  inclination  fuggcftcd;  thifeyoppofed  every 
jne^tire  that  was  agreeable  to  the  mercantile  intcrcft  j  they  not 
'only  mad«^  ba^  laws  to  fuit  their  own  wicked  purpofes,  but  ip. 
pQintcdthelt  own  corrupi^^ics^tursM^  fill  ihe  judicial  and  esecu- 
tive  departments.    Theii  mon«y  depreciated  lufficicntjy  to  aor 
iAver  all  their  vile  purpilfiiiiin  the  dilcharge  of  debts-^ufinela 
almoft  totally  ccafed»  aU  0nftdence  was  loft,  the  State  was  thrown 
into  confufton  at  hom^  and  was  executed  abroad; 

Maffachufetts  Bay  had  the  good  fortMne».amidft  her  political 
calamities,  to  prevent  an  emimon  of  bills  of  credit.     N^w  Hamp. 


any 
juftice 


N>r 


lilifictl 


Btnt 


'    It  1»  d 


H0m¥ 


>  Jil/ 


r  i»«nira^>w~  irtWttm^itKm  at  thp 
^cortnnfc#(ici»  Which  ^ik  to  fc 

^^^^\^\  or ^^M  fKe^^ 
lli#  whi<!»  iliifoieed  the  t« 

li^.Oii«teaii«|tJt,"  optiooil  with 

or*,  bin  ta«  taKUy  '^f^i^***'.'^ 

fonnprobttea  «•  tottc*rf«*id.«a  r" 
^'l^t™.  of  H«*f  «*.  •  St.« 
WmhI  «i»IoW  *f*  <"•"«*  W^  ™ 
^IMM«  dwTyifumift  h«r  with  1)«« 

Utter  tlan th« currency  of  tny  oiher  Site.    -—7-' 

<d  the  vd»«  of  fpecie,  which  i>  tlwty.  1*  AaMM  ft.  ---, 

««expXco»»....to"»ft  4:»>«  i»i.hven««e.  refulung 

. ,  Wh^e  the^^vatcs  were  in  ^      t»,fi«efsbylWiiow», 

.^i,l  reguUtion..t^t  ^^'^'^'^^^^Jymy.^.^ktA 


,0  Ae  Weft-lndie.  W<  ^"^ir^^ilSjoo  «»*ch.n..  for 


m  ■  -   ■        . 


ir^d'l 


«fUUflnjui 

Jl||»ip^#*'P(fW^^^  ^  the  part  of  Ameticf, 

l^.«l#|^«^^^:^^^  th.  States.-^ 

lo  h^W  .poff#««  «  P^x^  vTere  infcfted  With  popular  rt»: 
Many  of  the  State.  »«'^»^?*"V  L  L^UrtLv  w^^^  ^^ 

.  pu^.4i*UV  the  a^^^^^^^^^^^  objeas  of  fpeculation ;  C^- 

;;^»  «»a  f*':?"^*!'"^^   ;„d  the  Umtt«l%Uteithci^  oedit 
grefc  loft  tlicir  rf li?e^« W  »"***'"'  ^^t- 

»ri4.wp«"rtapce.  s  _      >  :  J  ^j  the  ttf^cftaWiihrnent  of 

^^*w«..0b  evils  of  themfclvcs.  were  ov^.     aeu  i«r  & 
pwce.  <!««8^^'*  ^^-  |,a„„  of  their  expettations  of  an  in««di. 
«,.iV.gp«4j  ^3S'&fr,thelcArW»ofHbert^  -f  "»^- 
^^^^^^if'^^^Zuh^^     in  their hopea  from  thd Ain^- 

Tcau  rcvolutV,  »^.%^ .^^  ^^  public  tirtut ;  hut  thit 
of  gpvertment  o»  *H«  J^^^^^TlS  U^i»t«red  by  free  c«^ 


tiipll 


■Iml 


i^^y,  y 


♦•■-■i, 


\fL^ 


j£f2SL'l!!!^S^^*^    While  tlT^untry.  f«» 

m^»W«.«B,  for  ilMr r«f]>d« of  di,,ftu.g ,  fom  of  govZ- 
ig^«4ual  to  the  omiMiciMofUw  union.  The  firft%«ioB 
.1^  |H.rpo(o   w«  tt^  hy  Mr.  Mtddifon,  and  he   iS^  2 

S^iL^.fr^?*'*"'  i^  ■  ^•'^  Conftitmion,  which  bi<te 

SdSLr^  Ji!!!!***"****"-  *"»*  fundamental  4i^ 
S5r^S!?*u.  •f*«»«fof  confederation  and  the  new  con- 
3gg*  «*  « thu  J  the  former  aded  only  on  Sutet,  the  letter 
oaMvidwUs  the  former  could  neither  nifo  «e»norm«^ 
Vu.  own  .i,t|»ority  butler  ^  the  dUemion  oltlSSTS 
fenmt  fcgUlatiiwi,  and  without  their  unaniaoo,  ™«SJ«i 

2;':?.in^:;^'t^ 

gre,  oieci^tive,  and  judicuil  power  perveS 

Thia  enfurea  an  uniform  obfervance  of  txcai '    * 

lity  to  the  general  government^  which  mm 

white  the  aaa  and  r«gut(itiona  of  C<mmm 

sevifion  of  thirteen  legiilatuiea,  and  .wh^; ' 

unconne£Udjudicttries  had  a  conftitutioiud  f 

fame  fubjcft.     The  people  of  the  United 

powera  to  their  rulcra,^but made  a  more  judictol|ll«»|«ment  of 

what  they^had   formerly  ceded.     They-Wlarged  Z^S^  of 

fr«iT"L*7f™r"*'  "***  **y  ^'""^  fhwi  the  people,  but 
from  the  State  leg,  flaturcs.  They  took  from  the  Ut^r  J  pUer 
oflevymg  duties  on  the  importation ofmerehandife  from  ^^ 
countnea.  and  t«nsferrcd  it  to  Cong«f,  for  the  comntonSt 
of  theumon.    They  a^fo  inveiled  the  general  governm^ut^ 

Jfte^  ^TT^  ***?'*:?"'*»°"'  CongHa,  which  formetly  coSI. 
fitted  of  only  one  body,  was  made  to  confift  of  two;  one  of 

ntt^the  ottt'^^wJ  **»r^l^-  P-ponU^^o  ;kJr 
^mbm,aie  other  by  theStg^^uiea.    Tho  execution  of 

^^  M  '^  ^'^!'^^mlm^  was  committed  to  . 
Supreme  Magiame.  with  the  t^le  of  Prefident.  The  conftitu, 
tion  of  which  thcfe  were  the  wbiete^  fcaturcL  y,^%M^^^2 
to  the  people  for  ratification.   ^S^^uTe,  t^ok  nl^ 

tiea  into  their  treafiinea,  v^*^ctvcrfc  from  the  givinj  of  them  iio 
to  the^unu>n.     Other.,  who  we^confuming  L  nSt Imp:"!:^ 


J 


'%^T 


States,  had  ui  intM^Aad  tndtMMtmMi  oi  91% jOffoCm^v^  iw4ti^ 
pq^  the  propofed  pi^^OttfUwfetjtwftjij'^^Thcff rofpie&l <^ IwcriilM 
fiQplo)«Miiit  for  IhWingt  tvd'tlte  cfilif|iaient  of  tvmmv^til 
Tfmghcd MMtMihok  Sta«^  which  sbomi^bi  fta«rtaiMt«^' 
an4  Ufo  with  fe«p(m,t««Kiiif  to^advoctt«(  f9nf  adoptkA  ttCllM  Iwi^ 
iyiUo} ;  but  thofeStaei^  or  parts  of  Stateaj  il4iieh  dep(nitti4^i|f|f 
oti  agriculture,  were  afraid  that  x«al  foreiicouragHif  «n  Aitl0$m 
arurin^^y  narrowing  the  grounds  of  competkioaainoni  Mklncr* 
for  poachafiog  and  carrying  their  pt^ee,  wwld  iHfnilkliii' 
profits.  Some  of  this  dcfcription  ther»f{»re  coiiedivtd  flat'  \tii6f 
had  a. local  intereft  ill  refuting  the  neWi^ftem. 

Individuals  who  had  great  infl^<^nc6  |n  Slate  1«|ri|bfiiilt<  i^ 
1irh|>  held  pro&uble  pUeei  under  them,  were  unw«p||  t4«0||jkV 
agosrernmenl'  which,  hy  dimiiiiaiing  the  piHjif'er  d&^^^ 
>^puIde«^tu»Uy  diminifh  thdr  own  foKpomnei^V  others,  whtf 
loo)ted  forward  to  feau  in '  the  Keneral  governiiehl,  e)r  kif  #ft<^ 
under  i««  authority,  had  the  faqae  inte^ie^  realbn  f#  fi^tmt&ng 
^  action.  Some  from  jeatcni^plliiertywitfeafiraiflo^l^ing 
tod  lit^lil^  power  to^hcir  raters  $  otfters,  fi;om  an  honcfl:  atfmttipn 
to^^agifan%|:t|iei«^^«f^ii»tfy4 were £t>rp»jring the  w^y tdnaiiofUl 
iJi^6miLH^n  the  lepanlt$  State!  iiito  a  nitiohal  maftt 
«ew  coitftittitlon }  the  Httel-  gloried  fti  it» 
whtth  could  agtiiib  the  hurnsn  br«a%1ti» 
duals  for  and  agatnft  the  action  el"  thc( 
:  fome  whnle  elaffer of  pcKypIe  weri 
of  public  creditors  expeiEled  payihent  0 
emblifhment  of  an  efficient  government^ 
fecidcdly  for  its  adoption.  Such  at  tiVed  ort 
trho^  being  cjiear  of  debt,  wi(hed  faf  a  fixed 
«aedium  ofeimilation  and  the  free  courfe  of  law,  were  friends  of 
4  conilituti(»i  whjch  jpr6hibits  the  iffuing  of  paper  money  and  all 
interference  between  debtor  and  creditor/  ]n  addition  tothefe« 
the  ^peat  body  of  independent  men,  who  faW  the  ncceflity  of  ait 
Energetic  general  government,  and  who,  from  the  jarring  hiterefts 
ef  the  different  States,  eould  not  forefee  any  probability  of  getting 
i  better  oncAhan  was  projpofcd,  gave  their  fupport  to  what  the 
federal  ccm^ention  had  pr«)j*ded,  and  their  influence  effe&ed  its 
eftahliC^ment.  After  a  full  conflderation^  and  thorough  diftuf- 
4ion  of  its  pti^cfples,  it  was  ratified  by  the  conventions  of  eleven 
of  the  eHgittM^htneen  Stales,  ahd  the  accefllon  of  the  other  two 
was  foon  e«|^3bed^*  1  ne  ratification  of  it  was  celebrated  in  mbA; 
■  •  The  fotlowiity  «tT»tt>^  ift  1^  irfcW  ibc  order,  time,  Ac.  in  which  the^e- 
tal  States  i^iifisdlUiri^iiisf at  f:lMi^ 

Kkjtrity, 


their 

ind 

iklaries, 


Dslawirf, 

Oetenher  ji 

Peniifylvania, 

Oscember  13, 

Nevr-Jtr&y, 

Oeeemhertgii 

Georgia, 

JaniMFy      t| 

Connc£Ucut, 

January      9, 

Mailtt«hufett», 

fcbruaty     ^ 

»7•^ 


17W. 


MSaisBOttfly 
46  to  aj 
unantnoufly 
lananimottfly 
laS  to  40 
>89    to  168' 


*9 


.  i,"i 


^*:f'^! 


ttitipli 
liogMl 

oTthct 

rot  #1 

iment« . 

red  oit 

fixed 

tndali 
thefe< 
'  of  an 
terefb 
jettinif 
lat  the; 
d  iti 
irtuf. 
levea 
rtWQ 
mo(t> 

4iwe- 
*9 


ifUM 


4*7 

tlte  St^^hilirs«nt  prdctffi     %  Wliich  iMr 

^MjWlltritiyflitiilt  dFtHi  tinffi^vef  befott  ex^ibUta  in  Airteritt, 

Wii^lpA  «»Berienc4  o^  wthOlf  dUc^rcr  |Im  dfea*  ^f  thlf 

BClir  ^#k^HbutiM|^(^^  |0vev«iiiid«^-$lNiUii  theory;i| 

fttmsSm  |:iitdif»^.  tmit^^aiMif  ^tllft'  httty,  and  tp  Uy  thf 

^Wa^Moik^  national  greatineft,  white  it  abrid|ei  nbne  of  th^ 

Itltf;' States,  or  Off  the  vepjtle,  ^ 

conftHuli^  havl(ig  been  nltiled  by  eleven  of  th^ 

(bit  and  t^^entativet  having  bieen  chofepk^^^cf^ 

'tk  theri^i  they  met  at  KeW- York,  and  coi&ii^ 

imderit*^   tlieoUConi^  and  confedliil^ 

money,  expired  without  t  figh  or  groan,  iu 

iMw  Congreft,  with  mdj^  imd^  powers,  t^^^ 

^, .  _  ,_„,^^,^,i,  partly  Mtionil,  and  p*rtly  ic^ktfUkcefvMim 

therr  place;  #iy»  great  hy  6f  aU  w^  wiihed  fivr^llWlpil 

4i,t»».5unM^st«^^^- ;  ^.  "'  '    .  .  ^<-^  ^ 

ThMi|h  ||^  had  prevised  miN 

)60iiftiliition,  there  fris^iSiw  die ^j^^n  about  the  V^-^^,. 
ihould  be  appobted  its  Tufit^e  exo^i^  e|i^cr,  "jfli^iiiit! 
aswellantifederaliftsufeder^HJfoF       '"  " 

for  ajod  «Minft  the  nevr  tat^f^foemi   , 
tamed  (hdr  eyet'on  tb^  Ivti^'i^fMsmitM^ 
Rioft  propet  pfklbn  to  1^  their  flirft  Ptt6i"^ 
pot  a  weU.iixfonh^d  ih4*vidu4  in  the  Ut 
in^On  himfelf  only  excited)  wHpwatI 
be  called  to  the  executive  adminiftratipj|°i 
of  government.    Unambitious  of  farther 
to  hi»  farm  in  Virginia,  and  hoped  to  be  e] 
public  fervice ;  but  his  country  called  him 
to  fill  the  higheft  ftation  in  its  gift.  That  hoi  , 

lie  good,  which  had  uniformly  influenced  him  to  devote  both  hji  y> 
time  and  talents  to  the  Service  of  his  country,  got  the  better  #j^^' 
love  of  r'etirement,  and  induced  him  once  more  to  ^pga(||^|^^^  ' 
great  bullnefs  of  making  a  nation  happy.^  ITie  imelUg^cseft  1||^ 
eleftion  being  communicated  to  hitti,  whi|e  on  his  farmio  Virj^st^ 
he  fet  out  fooq  after  for  NcwrYork^  OiiW  w»y  thither,  the  road . 
was  Crowded  with  numbers  inxiouf  to  fee  the  Man  of  the  people. 
Eicorts  of  militia,  and  of  gentlemen  of  the  ^r^  chaqtfi^  and  fla^ 
tion,  attended  him  from  State  to  State,  and  he  \^  euery  wnere 


received  with  the  highcil  honours  whiah  a  gralelul  i&d  admir. 

i  Mw4^ad,          April 

aS,           tiVk          «3   tfrjft              J5I 

SoMlbiGarolina    May 
NemrKimpihire,  June 

»3»                            «49    t6-  f^               76 
a»,        _     .                57   *>    i^'  r-"  :      11 

Virgiaia,              June 

»6.                              ^9    «»    79               »« 

New-York,          July 

b6,                                JO    t©    tj                 J 

North  Carolina     Nov. 

87,      ,.     I7t9i           »93    to    75              ut 

Rhode  Illaod,       May 

*9»    -       »79P»                                              • 

Vermont,             Janu^  >Oft           >79>i    by  a  great  majority, 

lUmXW^Yt 

,                    i-                     ■■?,ltf>a     .-        ;          ■ 

ing  iMopto  couU  coolbr.  ^iipi  of  ow|niiili^i«p  wtw.f^ii^ 
fe$te4  to  bim  by  llUt  ittl^Mtwm'if'JbmaSL  wtij  pkw*  of  oqfife' 
auence  througb  wMi^  U  MflH  to  ^l^  «f  w>>><;>>  b^  jMpM 
fu«h  moaei!^  umfum^  i|ifw«rtptin«re  Ml  ;fyery  iffai|#J|ill|^ 
to  hit  fittMUob.  So  grMi  were  Um  lumpfitt  wkb  wjiicl^>e  w«t 
lotded,  that  tbev  could  (fureety  hsvc  COmI  to  pro||p|i 
neft  iin  the  mind  of  eny  ordinary  man ;  but  nothUif 
WM  ever  difcovered  in  thia  extnordHMu 
oteaiioat  he  behaved  to  all  «en  with  th^ 
CO  another.  He  wai  tn^y  ^real  in  ddbrviag 
coninry,  but  much  ireate r  m  not  ))ein|  .elated 
Gny'a  Bridge. oyer  the  S^HuykiU^  which 
liad  to  pafa,  waa  ht|^  decorated  wi|h  laurela 
At  each  p|!!fit^!iw|re  «rf£M  ma|nifi|^t  archei 
fcia,  efl«KpM»t.  of  the  ancient  iteman  tr;uti«^ 
on  each  Im  dribe  bridgietbaa)in»relih#ubbe,7.  Aa  Mr^  W^t 
Innoin  pittti^  the  bridge,  a  youth  e«rn9metiud  wUh  fpHga  of 
UwN^  affifted  by  machinery,  1^  dtNy^' above  hia  head;  tttMigV 
imf^ktHtsmd  by  hii|»,  a  ilvic  crown  of  wutili  Upwarda  of  twen- 
ty ^Koiiilid  citiiMH^  linpl  the  fences,  Setds,  and  avcnuet,  between 
"  ^       '  l^fkiyie^b,^^^^^^^  !^^       thejp  lie  waa  cow. 

"  t  numei^  u»d  relpeMle  Itody  of  the 
ik  <^jn  (d^^  enter^nnpent  provi<|^ 
of  th .  %y..  were  (ttcc9i4cd  fay  a  bapdf 
ia  the  evei^llig,.' '    ■'  .:-^i'' 

Cf9fed  tlie  Delaware,  and  landed  on 
a^  with  three  cheer*  by  the  inhabit 
When  he  came  to  tHe  brow  of  the  hill^. 
itoD,  a  triumphal  arch 'wa»  ereftcd  on  the 
bridge,  t^^^'^Aion  of  the  la<uea  of  the  place.     The  crow^ 
of  the  arch  Wu  highly  ornamented  with  imperial  laurels  and 
HoWera,  and  on  it  waa  difplayed  in  large  figures,  Decembtr  96th 
'17^76.    On  the  fwcep  of  the  arch,  beneath  was  this  infcription, 
7J1C  4^»4*r .  of  the  Mothers  will  affo  froteB  their  Daughters,    On 
the  nprth  fide  were  ranged  a  number  of  young  girls  dreffed  in 
white^  with  garlands  of  flowers  on  their  heads,  and  baikets  of 
flowers  on  their  arms}  in  the  fecond  row  ftood  the  young  ladies, 
and  behind  them  the  ^larried  Mies  of  the  town^     The  inllant  he 
pafited  the  arch,  the  young  girls  began  to  fing  the  following  ode ; 

(i  Welcome,  mighty  chief,  once  more, 
"Welcome  to  this  gpteful  (horc; 
•*  Now  fiblhercenary  foe 
**  Aiat  again  the  httX  blow, 
**  Aiiitt  at  thee  the  fatal  blow. 
*^  Virgins  fair,  and  inatrons  jurcve, 
"  Tiusle  thy  conquermg  arin^dr&ye, 
**  Build  for  thee  triuiiij^i^  bowers} 
"  Strew,  ye  fiiir,  his  if  »|f^  with  flowers, 
*♦  Slrcw  your  Hero*»~|li|'  with  flowers," 


the  J. 

fanta 

onlil 


TicdW^roiuTiJE 


S% 


Wft 


of  twi»ii- 
JbMween 
wai  cmir 
iy  of  the 
provoy 
'  %■  htwA'' 
-■'  './  > ' 

le  inhabU 
FthebUl,. 
ed  OR  the 
he  crowfi 
tirels  and 
fiber  a6th 
ifcription, 
ters.  On 
dreffed  in 
baikets  of 
ing  hdies, 
inlUnt  he 
wins  ode ; 


ftmvwl  tlieir  4owm  on  the 
Hit  fitattion  on  thb  occa. 
in  Dec.  tf^hUfm  eiame 
tfweet  ttebm«;ft«|ikefae. 


A«^iir  A»«|  tiM  left  1 
iM(fililoit  their  belo^ 
itti;  iiMit|ift«l  with  vllat  . 
;  ^t,  wfani  the  liliivi^lliBi  _ 

li^  -|fll  the  veflUi  U.%M  herhour 
APpIl^^  oreAed  end  defjMWted  tot  M$ 
"     *  "  ',1  jpf^i«ufed  itfelf  throiiii 


r 


.:Ki 


Br]rMfi%l 


..1H<*. 


.-the  StO^i 
itheli 


liMtved  and  congntulalld 
•W****  of^  cornoration. 
H^  totMl^frw^h  hMl 

'OV  UMB  llWinRlliiil  tMtTB 

feonel^hleiitlljll 
W9t  19  the  mmfitd 


wei 

citixiBiH^    tn 

htUJm^}lg  iBtti 

Iem- l^ft  tihing  the 
Wgniet  <*  J  do  iblemnl)^ 

Ihirllnited  States.'*    Qtk^^c$e»&^^, 

their  «*n|Afna  in^^titeir  refpearie 
offered  up^Sc  P«yert  for  the  Plffii 
^n»**<*  St^MpAbout  noon  a  proceflion., 
tudc  of  ci|^«,  moved  ffom  the  PraSdei 
H|U.     Whe^k  they  came  vjthin  a  fin^t 
the  troops  formed  a  line  on  both  fides  of  t™  w.y,  »„, 
Mr.  Waftiington,  accompanied  by  the  Vlee,Prefidenti  i 
Adams,  pafTed  into  th?  Senate  Chamber.     Immcdiat* 
accompanied  by  both  honfes,  he  went  into  the  ga 
Broad-ftrcet,   and  before  them,  aAd  an   |D|menfe  ^pcwme  «t 
cmeens,  took  the  oath  prefcribed  by  the*conftitutio«,  which  was 
.dminiftered  by-R.  R.  Livingfton,  th?  ChanceHor  of  the  Sutc 
Of  If cw. Yori^,     An  awful  aicncc  prevailed  amo^  tl»  fpeftators 
dunng  this  part  of  the  ceremony.     It  was  a  mimi^^l'moa 
^bhme  political  joy.      The  Cha«c,%,thc^r^^him 
Prefident  of  the  United  States,    Thit^  i^J^^^^ 
charge  of  thirteen  guns,  and  by  thr^l^ifion  lii^ts,  from¥ 
near  ten  thoufand  grateful  and  a|Feaio^te  hearts.     Thef  reftdent 
hoMred  moft  relpeafiilly  «,  the  p«^^  and  ^he  iir«lkunded 
»jpm  with  their  scclamatiplis.    M  tim  retired  to  ie  Senate 
Chai^er*  ^herc  he  made  an  anima^flKech  to  both  houfes ;  in 
Vhich  his  language  notonly^pi^^s  own  feelings  on  thi* 


k:i  1 


iMT^m 


tke  people  in  iwiitiiiiAlM    ' 


'|l»  Wren  ^  eanh  tt  once.    ti^HHAije^  bf'thif 
J  nujf,  l^lMggfi  Wao  «BliMlfiM^f  but,  WnfeCir  I  wa| 

^  'likT^'VllJgioMAeifiil^ 

o^  hil  <iltttt»est%M  to  very  Wj^qAaaf.  .  ^adtr  Uiif  JiopirHJSoii,  when 
ejkw  pronounce^  in  a  very  f^jpliog  nuiui|^,  *«XpNO  liiVa  Gxoroc 
.««»»■"  my  (enfib|l^wa«i|ilbg4ttp  to  fudiaiiitcli,  that  I  could  do  no 
f  v^e  my  hat  wi^m  reft,*^iUiout  the  power  of  joining  in  the  repeat? 
f#ae^«»tiQju  wKldtreot  the^*}^/* 


.'J 


r 


!*4'"        ... 
kNDOJP^tHE  FfRSTVOl(/M£, 


'^M' 


i'A  ■. 


■?, 


^v.^ 


t  * 


ShUkU 
tiai 


^fcbi  I  wif 

rthe  Calvcrftr' 

tfliaA,  wbtisll, 

itHJSoni  vheq 

Vk  Gioroc 

could  do  no 

iatbe  repeat? 


,>••' 


a. 


->  . 


